Olympic Biathlon: Hardest shooting?

[Rhoyland4]

Curling, aka the Olympic Floor Sweeping Competition.

I used to laugh at curling. Then I went up to Minnesota on a trip and tried it. I now have a new respect for how hard it really is!

 

[DieJager]

Mainly watch Shorttrack and Speedskating. But Biathlon is really fun to watch and great athletes.

 

[coreydb]

The biathlon is one sport I greatly admired. Decades ago my military unit did winter warfare training and for "fun" held a internal unit competition on an Olympic biathlon training course. The highest shooting score was the slowest soldier and ........the fastest had the worst. It was a blast, but we all ate humble pie. I didn't last long myself.......minutes.

 

[Garciamarquez1918]

Pretty interesting video about making Biathlon rifles.

I was kind of surprised that a 15mm group is considered acceptable, given the relatively short range and what's at stake.

The target is 45mm so the person on the video kind of says -- you can't miss. But unless I'm missing something, you could be 14mm within the target area -- 31% from the outside -- and miss.

 

[Garciamarquez1918]

Pretty interesting video about making Biathlon rifles.

I was kind of surprised that a 15mm group is considered acceptable, given the relatively short range and what's at stake.

The target is 45mm so the person on the video kind of says -- you can't miss. But unless I'm missing something, you could be 14mm within the target area -- 31% from the outside -- and miss.

Ok so the prone targets are 45mm and the standing are 115mm. So there's a bit more room for error. Still at 50 meters from a vise you'd think the variance would be less.

 

[skydiver386]

Ok so the prone targets are 45mm and the standing are 115mm. So there's a bit more room for error. Still at 50 meters from a vise you'd think the variance would be less.

For anyone used to 10 meter rifle, Metallic Silhouette, or Service Rifle competition, those are easy shots.

Now go run 2 miles as fast as you can, stop and shoot those same targets.

When they stop skiing, unsling the rifle then lay down in the prone position, you can see their chest heave up and down, and the muzzle move several inches with each breath. They basically hold their breath while shooting.

It's a safe bet there aren't any 2 pack a day smokers doing Biathlon.

 

[steve white]

Pretty interesting video about making Biathlon rifles.

I was kind of surprised that a 15mm group is considered acceptable, given the relatively short range and what's at stake.

The target is 45mm so the person on the video kind of says -- you can't miss. But unless I'm missing something, you could be 14mm within the target area -- 31% from the outside -- and miss.

The day I pay $5000 for a dogs bollocks group like that, someone should commit me to an institution! My Shilen barrel shoots one ragged hole at 50 yds. I think a Marlin would shoot a group like that, easy--yet the worker says "that's great"

Of course, there's no way they are NOT culling through a lot of them to find the ones that do shoot better....

 

[CJW]

From my reading I found that most reports of accuracy are much better than the Anschutz minimum. It has to be for those out of breath, rushing athletes to hit anything. They also require them to do it at -20C. Anschutz I'm sure pays a pretty penny for those Fortner actions as well. Not to mention their own manufacturing of the triggers and sights and the rest of the rifle.

I'm just saying that price probably isn't complete bollocks.

 

[Zinz]

Pretty interesting video about making Biathlon rifles.

Did y’all notice towards the beginning of the video how the one guy was straightening the barrels by eye?

 

[Tanks]

I watched the women's biathlon this morning. Amazing athletes. Wasn't long before I was on Anschutz website pricing rifles. I would love to have one of those.

They are great rifles. I used one of the target ones on the college rifle team and have one in my safe.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

In the Nordic countries, full bore rifles are used quite often in this type of shoot. A Moose Shoot is very similar and targets are between 50 and 200 meters.

Rimfire 22s make it easier to have a proper backstop and less damaging for competitors and spectators. Going to the 22 just made sense because it levels the playing field.

A high 90% of shooters use the Anschutz 1827n

1827 F Comfort (013759)

Anschutz Importation for North America

www.anschutznorthamerica.com

and the 22 ammo is made for that rifle only, I once talked to an Olympic shoot who was sent to Federal and they worked up the load for his rifle. I once won a silhouette match and the 1 st place prize was a case of Ultra Match Olympic ammo, that stuff was crazy accurate my rifle shoot 1/2 in groups at 100 meters, would love to have more of it

 

[CJW]

They are great rifles. I used one of the target ones on the college rifle team and have one in my safe.

Nice. So what kind of accuracy would you say is to be expected out of one? Let's say off the bench at 50 yds. I would expect it to be like other high end rifles and to offer up 1/4" to 3/8" groups with top of the line ammo. Obviously either side of that given the situation and ammo used.

 

[WAB]

The day I pay $5000 for a dogs bollocks group like that, someone should commit me to an institution! My Shilen barrel shoots one ragged hole at 50 yds. I think a Marlin would shoot a group like that, easy--yet the worker says "that's great"

Of course, there's no way they are NOT culling through a lot of them to find the ones that do shoot better....

The ones I shot were one ragged hole. Of course that was 40 years ago and the rifles were modified anschutz match rifles with standard configuration bolts. It sounds like they may have sacrificed accuracy for speed.

 

[skydiver386]

The ones I shot were one ragged hole. Of course that was 40 years ago and the rifles were modified anschutz match rifles with standard configuration bolts. It sounds like they may have sacrificed accuracy for speed.

You have to consider the -20 temps, and what this does to priming compounds, bullet lubricants, powder burn rates, etc. The lubricants and clearances in these rifles are different than what you can get by with at normal room temperature. The camming power of a bolt action is far greater than one of these straight pull rifles. Reliability and speed at sub freezing temperatures are probably a higher priority than all out accuracy.

Any rifle or ammo malfunction, and your time is screwed.

 

[WAB]

You have to consider the -20 temps, and what this does to priming compounds, bullet lubricants, powder burn rates, etc. The lubricants and clearances in these rifles are different than what you can get by with at normal room temperature. The camming power of a bolt action is far greater than one of these straight pull rifles. Reliability and speed at sub freezing temperatures are probably a higher priority than all out accuracy.

Any rifle or ammo malfunction, and your time is screwed.

Those are the conditions I was shooting in, although I do believe that -15’F was our cutoff.

 

[steve white]

From my reading I found that most reports of accuracy are much better than the Anschutz minimum. It has to be for those out of breath, rushing athletes to hit anything. They also require them to do it at -20C. Anschutz I'm sure pays a pretty penny for those Fortner actions as well. Not to mention their own manufacturing of the triggers and sights and the rest of the rifle.

I'm just saying that price probably isn't complete bollocks.

no, just the group was bollocks. As to Zinz post next after yours, straightening barrels by eye is an ANCIENT German practice that NO ONE does with quality barrels today, purely debunked in Jim Carmicheal's "Book of the Rifle" and probably the biggest reason they are getting imperfect groups!
Sorry to pop anyone's bubble, but at the end of the day, "only accurate rifles are interesting"

 

[steve white]

and the 22 ammo is made for that rifle only, I once talked to an Olympic shoot who was sent to Federal and they worked up the load for his rifle. I once won a silhouette match and the 1 st place prize was a case of Ultra Match Olympic ammo, that stuff was crazy accurate my rifle shoot 1/2 in groups at 100 meters, would love to have more of it

^^^^this^^^^^
Ammo in rimfire rifles is as important as barrel quality, and the specific lubricant wax on the bullets is a key part of the equation. I have said many times, if you have not shot enough of ONE ammo type to season the barrel with it thoroughly--say 30/50 rounds, then you don't truly know what that ammo will do in your rifle. A cousin just goes ahead and coats all 22 bullets with Alox--and he gets dime sized groups at 100 yds with ammo that otherwise wouldn't come close to that.
Reading wind is super important with 22's. Even around the target baffles in BR22 comp.
My BIL was foundational in BR22 competitions. It was nothing to see $40K in 22 rifles leaning against walls in his living room, and premium ammo of all types by the caseloads so that you could actually gauge rifle potential, and then have a store to compete with.
Even hunting wise, nothing worse than a Rem 541 was welcome in his house. So sub par accuracy in Biathlon is just unbelievable to me, I cannot fathom it.

 

[WAB]

^^^^this^^^^^
Ammo in rimfire rifles is as important as barrel quality, and the specific lubricant wax on the bullets is a key part of the equation. I have said many times, if you have not shot enough of ONE ammo type to season the barrel with it thoroughly--say 30/50 rounds, then you don't truly know what that ammo will do in your rifle. A cousin just goes ahead and coats all 22 bullets with Alox--and he gets dime sized groups at 100 yds with ammo that otherwise wouldn't come close to that.
Reading wind is super important with 22's. Even around the target baffles in BR22 comp.
My BIL was foundational in BR22 competitions. It was nothing to see $40K in 22 rifles leaning against walls in his living room, and premium ammo of all types by the caseloads so that you could actually gauge rifle potential, and then have a store to compete with.
Even hunting wise, nothing worse than a Rem 541 was welcome in his house. So sub par accuracy in Biathlon is just unbelievable to me, I cannot fathom it.

I totally agree. I’ve got an anschutz rifle and have shot many others. They have all been insanely accurate. I wonder if there is a misunderstanding?

 

[C.W. Richter]

My local HS had a biathalon team in the '80s and prior (because it's a tourist/retiree area, there's more tax $ allotted to the school district to fund such things!) 'NOT knocking the school as both my kids (called it "Boot Camp") attended and both are Doctors today. 'Went to college with a gal that was on the team in HS. There was just a small bore rifle team at college. Anschutz/RWS w/ target peep were a super combo (while not skiing!) I distinctly recall the coach/instructor (N. European accent) saying "Shoot on da Move!" Great Times!!

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I dont understand why America does not do better in the biathlon competitions........after all, we have a great "gun culture" and are supposed to be a "nation of riflemen".

Maybe we need to start recruiting rednecks and change the targets from little metal discs to live possums? Instead of getting a medal for winning, you get a case of beer?