The Diggle Egg Shoot 2011

On the 30th May the annual Diggle Egg Shoot took place. This year because it is Diggle's 150th Anniversary they were planning on holding a special one off, never to be repeated 1000yd shoot but because of lack of interest this was cancelled at the last minute and the usual 100, 300, 500yd comp was held instead.

Despite the weather which was appalling there was a good turn out. About 30 people attended this years egg shoot.

Because of the weather it was decided to shoot from the covered firing points. I much prefer firing prone but under the covered firing point you have to fire off benches which I have to say Diggle has some of the better ones that I've used.

The course of fire was the same as usual for the first two rounds. 3 shots from 100 and 300yds at a gopher target for score and group. Usually the last target round is shot at 500yds but because of the weather everyone voted to move back to 600yds and use the covered firing point, so rounds three and four were 3 shots at the same gopher target as used at 100 and 300yds for group and score and 1 shot at a chicken egg at 600yds.

The thing I like about the egg shoot is no sighters or wind flags are allowed. So although it is known distances you must know your drops and be good at wind reading without any aids, much like you would if you were hunting. There is also an element of KYL (know your limits) in that the head is worth more than the body target on the gopher but is a smaller target. So there is potential for a very high score if you think you can hit the smaller target but if it goes wrong you have more chance of scoring nothing. Considering that some people haven't even hit the paper at 500yds before it's easy to get zero at the longer distances.

Wind wasn't a problem this year, unlike previous years. What little there was, was coming straight down range from 12 o clock but on the firing point you couldn't feel any, which I think will have helped a few (including myself) with the scores this year. Usually even if there is not much wind it can be tricky to read it at Diggle.

Prizes are given for group at each range as well as an overall prize for best score and to anyone who breaks the egg. The results will be published in next July's Target Shooter.