Need counsel on getting to a grudge Bell Target Match in the UK

[45flint]

I find that a very strange question considering you started a thread on the 21st of last month concerning the very same subject?

Actually different question, in the old post I was asking if aperture sights are currently allowed in vintage matches. The current question you quote I was asking if they were allowed historically in the old Bell Target days. I guess my thought was I have to assume they were allowed historically so if your trying to recreate history not allowing them on a old BSA seems a bit of a historical travesty? Lol

http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread....ht=Bell+target

[Josie & John]

Actually different question, in the old post I was asking if aperture sights are currently allowed in vintage matches. The current question you quote I was asking if they were allowed historically in the old Bell Target days. I guess my thought was I have to assume they were allowed historically so if your trying to recreate history not allowing them on a old BSA seems a bit of a historical travesty? Lol

http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread....ht=Bell+target

Aperture sights were indeed allowed back in the day. In fact Guernsey based shooters won most of the air rifle matches between the wars and thought it strange that anybody would want to compete with anything but aperture sights. Our club at Bisley allows their use in the club bell target league - as you say anything else would be somewhat of a historical travesty.

Kind regards,

John

[45flint]

Aperture sights were indeed allowed back in the day. In fact Guernsey based shooters won most of the air rifle matches between the wars and thought it strange that anybody would want to compete with anything but aperture sights. Our club at Bisley allows their use in the club bell target league - as you say anything else would be somewhat of a historical travesty.

Kind regards,

John

Well that settles it, after I land at Heathrow and wrestle my BSA from customs it’s on to Bisley where British history means something!

[edbear2]

Aperture sights were indeed allowed back in the day. In fact Guernsey based shooters won most of the air rifle matches between the wars and thought it strange that anybody would want to compete with anything but aperture sights. Our club at Bisley allows their use in the club bell target league - as you say anything else would be somewhat of a historical travesty.

Kind regards,

John

Hi John, Maybe because our was a rural league,

http://www.belltarget.com/lord-ednam.php

with many farm workers (still has a fair few.....saw two guys literally straight from a muddy field one year when they were working late on harvest) That we are open sights only, and always have been I have been told.

It seems perhaps because of the extra cost back in the day of apertures so they wanted to keep it accessable. I don't know this is 100% correct but will try and find out as there are records going right back as far I am aware. I have seen scorebooks back to the war, but never the original gun specification other than "BSA Air rifles".

All I know is they are very strict about anything other than open sights, even sight hoods have to be removed! and 100% no shooting type clothing or indeed anything that can be construed as a "shooting aid, no butts inside jackets etc. etc.

There again we use only recoilling guns of full power (up to 11.6) so maybe it's just a "in the sticks" thing!.......I think the targets are set at least at 6 pounds, so no chance of any match rifles getting a ding!

ATB, Ed

[45flint]

You fellows have leagues to shoot bell target. Here you are on your own not quite the same to sustain enthusiasm? Competition is field target, nothing vintage.