Where do you live and what is your home range?

Live in Melbourne and my home range was Little River (now called Eagle Park).

Do you still actively compete?

Retired from all shooting completely before Christmas 2008. My last National titles were in 2007, fittingly at Little River. The decision for retirement was entirely due to age as am almost 80 but have no regrets after being fortunate enough to compete for 32 years.

When did you join SSAA and when did you first shoot your first benchrest ?

Joined SSAA in 1977. First discipline contested was a Field Rifle event at Little River where I finished at the tail of the field but was later informed that it was a Victorian State Title event. First Benchrest event was in January 1979, a four target sporter match at Little River in which I shot smallest 200yd group of 1.022 and was placed 3rd in the grand aggregate in what was described as bad even by Little River conditions. Continued shooting benchrest regularly and in the 1979 Victorian Championships took smallest 100 yard group in sporter with a .441. Scores and results improved over the years with one satisfying aggregate being in May 1998 at Portland in very windy conditions when I recorded my first under .2 agg of .1926 in a LV 100 yd aggregate.

Who assisted you in the early days?

Throughout my involvement with the sport learnt by observation and questioning top shooters. For example Nev Madden explained that by putting sighters up on different conditions and waiting for that condition to arise one could hold accordingly. Herb Valerius explained the various changes at Canberra. The advice worked for me when I was patient but when the clock was ticking down nervousness prevailed and at times I did not wait as long as I should have.

What was your first benchrest rifle?

Shot my Diamond medal in late 1978 so that could be classed as my first. It had a Sako action, Hart barrel chambered in .222 Rem with a 12X Leupold scope.

When did you get your first HOF point?

Actually collected 2 points for winning Sporter at the 1980 Nationals held in Brisbane. My rifle was a 6PPC, self made action and stock, Hart barrel smithed by Kevin Davey and topped with a 12X Leupold. Had a degree of confidence going into these Nationals as earlier in the year shot a sporter class match at Little River for a clean sweep of the aggregates and groups including a new State 200 yard group record of .380 which was the first time any of the 200 yard Victorian records had been broken or set at Little River.

When did you qualify?

At the 1999 Nationals again held in Brisbane. Attained my 10th point by winning the LV 100 yard aggregate however must admit was beginning to think it was never going to happen having sat on 9 points since 1987 – a long 12 years of competing at Nationals. The 10th point was the only one won outside Sporter class. The rifles used to score all my points sported my own custom made actions, bolts, stocks, triggers and all but point #1 was chambered by my own hand, aspects I am very proud of and considered a unique achievement.

As you have retired from all shooting what hobbies fill the void?

Really enjoy golf, am no expert but play up to three times a week and of course the past time has health spin offs. Add to that golf is akin to benchrest, one wayward shot and your score suffers. Also enjoy fishing, salt water, estuary and inland a great way to relax.

C Beck appears in most areas of the equipment lists would you like to enlighten?

Put it down to my enquiring mind and pedantic nature. Interested in accuracy, metallurgy and machining and when I took a close look at actions, stock, bolts, triggers etc. that were commercially available considered I could make a superior article or as they say build a better mousetrap. Over the years built 11 complete rifles made up of the action, bolt, trigger, stock (mainly carbon fibre) with each one slightly different from its predecessor. Stocks in my view were not substantial enough and considered this a very important component in accuracy so made changes such as filling and adding more layers of carbon fibre to “beef” them up.
Commercial factory made actions were too sloppy for my liking, the later custom made were an improvement but not as good as the solid ones made to very close not just close tolerances. This is exemplified by the fact I never needed to resize cases shot in my actions. Also built a light weight bolt out of special aluminium that the purveyors of doom both here and overseas said would disintegrate however my metallurgy investigations and experiments said otherwise and was able to prove the pundits wrong and as the rifle with this bolt in my action shot extremely well and never faltered despite exhaustive and extreme tests.

Where did you shoot most?

Little River (aka Geelong, Eagle Park) but do not shoot now as explained earlier.

What ranges did you like or dislike?

Like. Canberra – tricky place but as Herb Valerius explained could be handled by being patient and waiting for the change or ease.
Like – Coffs Harbour – really like this range and considered it the best range in Australia but people who have shot there more times than me say it can be diabolical but on my visits was always kind and rather benign.
Dislike – Silverdale – never got a handle on this place, the flags go in all directions no doubt because of all the walls and obstructions that makes it more akin to a washing machine.

What matches did you enjoy attending?

Australia Day especially in the earlier years when Sporter was always contested.

Have you shot overseas and how did you go?

Shot overseas in 1982 in Frances at a range in Cannes near Monaco. Peter Hammerich was at the Australian titles in 1982 and whilst overseas met up with him and decided to shoot at the match. Was a very interesting day very different attitude to Australian shoots, a real social event with a formal social lunch. The range is set in steep country and Peter’s Porsche was unable to negotiate the terrain and we had to walk the last kilometre into the range. Shooters came from Germany and Italy as well as the French, there were no wind flags, a bit of a lottery however had a great time and came 4th in the overall event.

What’s your current equipment?

As of June 2009 have two rifles, both entirely C Beck manufactured that are for sale at Pro-Cal Trading (Peter van Meurs).

Do you have a Philosophy on benchrest?

Found you need to have a good memory with the sighters to assist in conquering conditions as Nev Madden explained.
Sporters – found you have to really hang on to them. Many will argue against this sentiment but I have nine HOF points from Sporter to back up the theory and have proved the point time and time again to myself.

What advice would you give a new shooter?

Don’t buy the most expensive bits and pieces they won’t help you win. Concentrate on good action, scope, barrel, trigger and chamber, good technique and practise condition reading. Consider the epitome of this principle has to be the late Alan Peake who took everything before him from club to World titles with a worked and trued Remington action and his condition reading skills.