Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Cindi Baudhuin was among an elite group of sportsmen and women competing at the 2020 Berger Southwest F-Class Nationals, a contest held in Phoenix, Arizona earlier this month. Her performance in the 1000-yard open division netted her the National Rifle League (NRA) Women’s 1000 Yard F-Open National Record and also the NRA’s High Master classification.
“I participate in the open category, which allows for a front and rear rest, and the rifle to weigh up to 22 lbs (with optics),” Baudhuin says.
“The rifle is shot from the prone position. Target sizes vary based on the distance you are shooting. For 1000 yards the ‘10’ ring is 10” in diameter and the ‘X’ ring is 5” in diameter.”
The distance to the target is the equivalent of ten football fields. To be accurate at that kind of range means to figure a long list of factors into your calculations, Baudhuin says.
“There are many, many factors that come into play when determining where to shoot on the target to hit the coveted ‘X’ ring: the caliber of the rifle you are shooting, the load developed for the ammunition (grains of powder, bullet weight, seating depth of bullet etc.), wind speed, sun, clouds, air temperature, humidity, just to name a few,” she lists.
Competitors have 30 minutes to shoot their “sighter” shots, which help you determine those factors, followed by 20 shots for the record. Targets are then scored by other competitors, who pull them down on the pulley system and mark the last bullet location and scoring marker.
Almost 400 competitors took part in the event, in divisions including mid-range (600 yards), long range (1000 yards), Palma (800, 900 and 1000 yards) and team. Selection is first-come, first-serve, says Baudhuin, but consists of the top shooters in the world.
On Sunday, February 9, Baudhuin, tied the Women’s 1000 Yard F-Open National Record with a score of 200-14x.
“That means I hit inside of the 10” ten ring with all 20 shots for record, 14 of those 20 piercing the 5” X ring,” she explains.
Over the three days Baudhuin competed, she also bested the 98% requirement to reach long-range High Master classification by five points. This is the highest classification awarded by the NRA for any shooting discipline.
