This past weekend Cactus Match League of Phoenix Az. hosted the Arizona Steel Challenge State Championship with nearly 140 guns signed up for the chance to win but about 40 left the range do to rain and mud.
Setup was Wednesday and the weather was real nice. High of 98 the crew worked hard not being able to leave the range until 5 p.m. The Range Master decided that three stages that were approved and had been shot that way for 4 years had to be moved, stands recut and re lasered to be exact to Level II standards.
The RO staff got to shoot Thursday in beautiful weather as well, Friday proved nice for a practice day but it was a warning with clouds overhead all day. Friday night brought the rain and subsequently the mud. Most of the range was flooded but we shoot in the rain, just not in lightning.
Saturday morning squads only had to worry about a light rain. Not many people come to Arizona prepared for weather like this. The Monsoons are normally over and October is one of the best months to choose for a match. By noon the rain was coming down in sheets and it looked like the match would be canceled do to lightning but that past by 1 pm and the afternoon squads proceeded to shoot. Many got in 3 stages before the deluge. About half of the afternoon squads left the range hoping to come back Sunday morning to finish up.
Seven O'clock Sunday the range was under water for about 40 yards before the shooting boxes. We warned people to go to Walmart and pick up waders because it was going to be very muddy and at this range you can sink in almost a foot.
I saw 5 people walk their stage and refuse to get over the puddles and left. Many others followed suit. Too bad. By 8 O'clock the clouds were gone and it turned out to be a nice day.
I was the only lucky staff member. My job was doing check-in so I stayed dry. I left at 2 and people were still shooting. When I read the scores on Practiscore I noticed that almost 40 guns did not finish the match. Awards were held at 5 and the people that stuck around received some nice trophies.
Hopefully next year more people will come out and it will be a prize instead of trophy match. If you get a chance come to Az in October when it's supposed to be in the 90s and sunny.
Setup was Wednesday and the weather was real nice. High of 98 the crew worked hard not being able to leave the range until 5 p.m. The Range Master decided that three stages that were approved and had been shot that way for 4 years had to be moved, stands recut and re lasered to be exact to Level II standards.
The RO staff got to shoot Thursday in beautiful weather as well, Friday proved nice for a practice day but it was a warning with clouds overhead all day. Friday night brought the rain and subsequently the mud. Most of the range was flooded but we shoot in the rain, just not in lightning.
Saturday morning squads only had to worry about a light rain. Not many people come to Arizona prepared for weather like this. The Monsoons are normally over and October is one of the best months to choose for a match. By noon the rain was coming down in sheets and it looked like the match would be canceled do to lightning but that past by 1 pm and the afternoon squads proceeded to shoot. Many got in 3 stages before the deluge. About half of the afternoon squads left the range hoping to come back Sunday morning to finish up.
Seven O'clock Sunday the range was under water for about 40 yards before the shooting boxes. We warned people to go to Walmart and pick up waders because it was going to be very muddy and at this range you can sink in almost a foot.
I saw 5 people walk their stage and refuse to get over the puddles and left. Many others followed suit. Too bad. By 8 O'clock the clouds were gone and it turned out to be a nice day.
I was the only lucky staff member. My job was doing check-in so I stayed dry. I left at 2 and people were still shooting. When I read the scores on Practiscore I noticed that almost 40 guns did not finish the match. Awards were held at 5 and the people that stuck around received some nice trophies.
Hopefully next year more people will come out and it will be a prize instead of trophy match. If you get a chance come to Az in October when it's supposed to be in the 90s and sunny.
Last edited:
