Yes, I need to change the rules & will. This set of rules was from the first year's attempt. Not having direct access to the web site causes some problems with changes to it.
Pictures were provided of shoots in the States for people to see what chunk rests looked like - indeed, for prizes the first year, I handed out 12 of them - this year, only 4 to first prize shooters.
The changes will reflect as people were informed this year, that people do not have to shoot a 'spotter' target. I made the rule on that because people had never shot this match before, and most people at rendezvous have no idea where their rifles are actually shooting. Shooting at steel plates on a normal trail breeds carelessness.
Too, we fired 5 shots on each of two scoring targets to attempt to speed up the process. I only have an afternoon to put on the match, from 1PM to about 4:30 - after which I need to measure and score all targets. I ran one relay of 20 or maybe 21 shooters and one relay of 6 or 7. That takes time plus - 2 or 2 1/2 hours this year for scoring, with three of us doing it.
I thought I'd included no match rifles in the rules, only trail-walk or hunting rifles. The sights, I don't care about as many TC's and other production rifles with adjustable sights are shot by rendezvous competitors for me to not allow those. Note- no peep sights. Any open topped sights, ie: buckhorns, are OK. It's an original type, open sight for a hunting rifle.
I equate 'cant' blocks with match rifles. As match rifles are/were not supposed to be used in our ALR chunk matches, they are not allowed in the shoot I put on at Rendezvous BC. I feel a direct need to 'contain' the match to close 'hunting rifle' parameters for the general shooter's benefit. Specialized equipment that pushes rules, defeats this 'hunting rifle' flavour and ultimately ends up with rules being changed to allow other small changes to rifles due to this reason or that and ultimately deteriorates the shoot into a zip or space-gun match just as modern IPSC shooting has done over the years to the original shoot and it's intention by Jeff Cooper.
This year, I allowed sitting, as complaints of not being able to get up and down abounded. Because I allowed it for some shooters, I had to allow anyone to shoot sitting - then cross-sticks for those who wanted to. This didn't create any problems that I could see, however next year a new rule will be added - all shooting will be prone, no sitting.
Too, everyone must load their own rifle behind the shooting positions. In the interest of having as many people compete as possible, I allowed one couple to work together - she stayed prone and he loaded for her. That won't happen next year. It was not fair to the other ladies who loaded their own rifles, getting down to shoot and up to load. The 'prone' lady didn't win and wasn't even close but other's were distressed that it was allowed. Distressed shooters are distracted shooters. I don't want that.
Too - in the Gary Cooper movie where he portrayed Alvin York, I didn't see any 'cant' blocks at the chunk shoot.
By all means use a cant block to teach you to hold your rifle level. for the match, it comes off.
Here are the chunk rests I gave out for 1st prize last year (leather covered centre rest) and 1st prize this year with plain centre rest. The centre-rest is hemlock while the frame is hardrock maple.
