The Rifle Bounce

Now's a good as time as any to talk about this, a practical shooting test, for all those practical rifles we've been discussing.  This one is called The Rifle Bounce, and comes to us courtesy of Jeff Cooper:

The test is conducted on steel Pepper Poppers placed at 100, 200 and 300 meters from the firing line. Three firing points are specified, three paces apart, and the shooter attempts to hit each target from a different firing point. The shooter starts outside the first firing point with his rifle at "Ready" and carrying six cartridges. On signal he leaps into the first firing point, knocks the 100-meter target down, bounces to the second firing point and takes down the 200-meter target, and then bounces to the third firing point and engages the 300-meter target. He is allowed six shots only, and if he does not take down all three targets with six rounds he has no score. If he does knock down the three his score is his time in seconds. An elapsed time of 30 seconds is good. Twenty seconds is excellent.

 If the Rifle Bounce is used as a contest, shooting is entirely free-style in accordance with the principles of practical shooting competition. If it is used as an evaluation of rifle skill, the 100-meter target must be taken standing erect, the second target from kneeling, squatting or sitting, and the third target from prone. A shooting sling is permissible, but a bipod is not. As a point of caution it should be noted that a Pepper Popper will not be knocked down by a low hit if it is properly calibrated, thus a clang does not necessarily signify a valid hit.

 If you regard yourself as a good rifle shot, I suggest you give this one a try. The world's record was held by Russ Showers at 18 seconds for quite a long time, but this has now been lowered to about 15. If you can produce a 25 on demand, you can join the club.

The only problem I can see, hereabouts, is a shortage of 300 meter ranges.  I may have to play with this idea some more and see if I can't come up with a valid solution.  Perhaps a reduced range with .22 rimfire rifles might be fun.

I'll have to ponder this some more.