After a dismal March I had an even more dismal April. My lubed leather patches
had degraded to the consistency of wet cardboard and split as soon as I started
them down the bore. Gave up in disgust.

Then we hit tourist season, the traffic became diabolical and for someone who
hates driving anyway I got put off doing the 170 mile round trip to Aldershot and
shooting stopped.

In August I did the annual pigeon watch shoot at Bisley. Only got one day, no
300-600 yard Sunday shoot because a leaky pipe at the nearby Pirbright germ
factory released foot and mouth virus on to a local farm and they closed the
blooming ranges. Any one else have this kind of luck?

However Saturday on the Short Siberia range gave the Baker a chance to shine, I
even shot one of the competitions. Not having a huge telescopic sight I couldn't
actually see the tiny target on the deer silhouette but I was assured it was one
dead deer even if I did only score 5 out of 100 with my 10 shots.

For the most part I was shooting at a weed growing out of the 100 yard berm, a
ragwort I believe. There was a good cross wind to clear the smoke so the sand
splash was easy to see. I aimed to cut it off at the root and I really don't know how
it survived because I was spot on. Others took up the challenge of my weed in a
hail of lead, I tried a few shots at it with a .357 magnum bolt action but couldn't say
it was any better than Zeke Baker's offering. Okay I had a couple of fliers but they
were definately the exception. The strangest part is I wasn't really trying.

I usually rest it but here I was shooting off hand.

I usually measure the powder, now I was using my shotgun flask.

I usually load a felt wad to stop blow by, but I forgot to take any.

I usually shoot TPPH but I used the whole can loading my wall piece. I borrowed
some fine Wano, but nothing changed when I switched.

I usually grease the patch meticulously rather than just giving it a squirt of Lehigh
Valley Original but the Baker was loving it.

I did have a new soft stretchy leather for the patches, but as I changed everything
else who can say if that was it? Maybe having a much smaller target was
important, it was certainly a lot more fun than March and April.

If you're wondering about the fate of the weed, someone did manage to nick it with
a 22 and it leaned over a bit but otherwise okay. Rather a stupid place to live if you
ask me, that's a fresh one in the pic..

Raring to go again in October, apologies to Fred for the interrruption. .