I have visited recently one of the most experienced IRO and trainers in the region: Stefanos Chairopoulos. And used the opportunity to train with one of the best lady shooters in the Production division on the Balkans: Jelena Savkovic.
IPSC shooters in the Balkans know Stefanos: he often plays Range Master or CRO.
What many do not know is that Stefanos has built up a small shooting paradise: a 360 degrees safety angle 11 bays shooting range. The back-stop ranges from 12 to about 50 meters in height – so perfectly safe all way round.
The range can easily host a level three plus IPSC match (if he borrows a few bays from the neighbours even a level four is doable).
Little by little over the last decade, he has set-up this paradise with sun, fruit trees that spend a lot of natural shade (including the in Greece mandatory olive trees :-)) and tap water on each stage! This is one of the most hospitable range I have seen.
But what is technically outstanding is Stefanos’ knowledge about building moving targets.
If you are a bit (or more) afraid of moving targets, pay a visit to Stefanos: there is no moving target existing that he has not built and refined to perfection. There is a good chance that you get cured.
As one video says more than many words, I have posted below videos of four of Stefanos’ stages.
THE CHERRY ON THE PIE
This is a perfect example of what one can do if one has a double headed swinger with a movable metal no shoot in front.
Opening the metal box (the gun is inside) activates all three moving targets.
Each moves differently though: either (a) the swinger moves and the no-shoot is stationary or (b) the other way round or (c) both are moving (to make it more juicy this swinger – the most difficult one to shoot – had mini targets). That coupled with four small metal targets and challenging shooting positions makes a challenging stage where a stage factor above 2 is a very good one. No extra shots is the name of the game.
Jelena is making a good run of this stage.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
This stage was a good example of how important timing is. There were many ways to shoot it. My choice: only two shooting positions (one could see only one swinger at a time) with as little running as possible and take both shots at the swingers at the first chance. What came out was a 12 seconds stage with two charlies.
BONUS OR NOT?
This is a good example of how important calculations are when shooting a stage.
Out of three targets on the swinger, the one to the right was not visible at rest = bonus.
Question was: is it worth speeding up shooting the two other targets so there is enough time left to shoot a double tap on the bonus?
Since wayting for a second swing would have taken 1.5 extra seconds, I have decided to shoot only the left and middle target on the first swing. What came out was a 3.7 seconds stage with a factor of almost 7. Not bad.
SEQUENCE
One had to run around 3 meters and step on an activator (that activates the swinger with moving no shoot) before inserting the magazine, loading and shooting.
The best run was 9 seconds here: big popper, swinger (with double tap on small targets in 15 meters only finger length away from the moving no-shoot), mini popper (activating the turner) and finishing with the mini popper far away.
METAL
The last two videos are about shooting mostly mini poppers in 20 meters on the move (U-shape: front-right-back) respectively with strong (=right) hand. ENJOY!
&
Sebastian Gutiu