Palma rule change.

J

Jack Roberts

Moderator - Deceased
There has been a major rule change for the Palma matches. You can now shoot any bullet. Previously the only bullet allowed was the Sierra 155gr Palma bullet, which is a very fine bullet. But now anything goes, any bullet from any maker.

The British, New Zealand, and South African teams have already announced that they will be shooting Berger bullets in the 2007 International Palma match in Ottawa. The US team will continue with the Sierra bullet.

For those not familiar with international competition, the Palma match is a very prestigious match that is as highly contested as the Olympics, if not moreso. It is shot at 800, 900, and 1000 yards, prone, with a sling, no rests, with iron sights. Only 308 caliber is allowed.

Jack
 
Jack, any more info you would pass along such as number of rounds per target, target style & size, sighters allowed, spotters allowed, etc.?
 
You'll be surprised with the result of shoot at that distance with a open sight, than again those sights cost as much as some of the high end scopes
 
http://www.isegames.com/products/ISE/NHP/manual/Chapter_RealWorldShooting.htm

http://www.nrahq.org/compete/rules/rul_hpr_06.pdf

Palma

A Palma Match, known as the " America's Cup " of rifle shooting, is a special type of international High Power long range match. There are currently very few Palma ranges in the United States.

A Palma match course of fire consist of a total of 45 shots fired for record. The match starts at 800 yards. An unlimited amount of sighters and 15 shots for record are fired in 20 minutes. After shooting has completed, all shooters then move back to the 900 yard firing line. At this point, the shooters are allowed 2 sighter shots and 15 shots for record in 20 minutes. The final stage is then fired at 1000 yards, again 2 sighter shots and 15 shots for record are fired in 20 minutes.

International Palma rules limit matches to a Palma rifle. A Palma rifle consists of a single shot bolt action rifle weighing less than 6 kg (13.2lbs) in 7.62mm NATO caliber (.308 Winchester) firing a 155 grain palma bullet. US Palma rules allow any weight bullets, NRA Match and Service Rifles.

Palma Equipment

Equipment used in a Palma match is identical for that used in a regular High Power rifle competition except that a Palma rifle is used.
 
Mike Paul doesn't shoot high power or Palma to my knowledge. As faras I know , he shoots BR matches 1-2 and 300 yrds. Not sure of the class names he shoots.
 
Thanks crapshoot. One other question. Are all record shots fired at the same target, or is a new target posted for each distance?

If my memory is correct, at the Irish/American showdown at creedmoor, the irish were shooting muzzle loaders and the americans the new fangled breech loader.
 
Quote:
Thanks crapshoot. One other question. Are all record shots fired at the same target, or is a new target posted for each distance?



I am going to make a feeble attempt to answer this question. I have never shot a Palma. I have shot Highpower. The scoring is close to the same. My brother is currently working with a Palma rifle and getting good results. He plans to shoot at Perry.

A high power match follows this scoring system

The targets are on sliding rails and as each shot is fired the targets are pulled down in a pit and marked. The score is recorded based on a 10 ring count. The target is run back up and the shooter fires another round till he has fired all shot for that string. There is no firing for group. After all relays are fired, the totals are tallied and the winner is declared by highest count. If a sixty shot course was fired the winning score could well be 599-30X, meaning he shot all tens, and one 9, with 30 X's. If the closest shooter was 599-29 X he comes in second. The x is a smaller circle with in the 10 ring. If a ring line is cut, regardless if the POI is on the outside of the line, the shooter will get the higher score.

I hope this helps to give an rudimentary understanding of the scoring system.
 
i have (had) a good friend that shot palma for years until his eyes went south. Rudy had exceptional vision, even after his eyes went to hell he could still see better than most younger men could. After he quite shooting the match he coached it for awhile and remained active in the us team coaching. I believe the exceptional vision is what is need for this match, along with exceptional shooting skills. Rudy Wadekamper died about 7 years ago, just before we opened our new rifle range which has the 600 yard line named after him.
 
I forgot - he died at home during the palma match. When the teams found out they lowered the flags to half mast and stopped the matches for the rest of the day.
 


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