>Al Nyhus had high X count of all classes last year at the 200 yard leg of the 100/200 yard IBS nationals - with a 6x scope. <

Al (25X) was POUNDED into the dirt by my 30BR (26X!)! ;)

More seriously, what Jim points out has become common place; the thirty caliber Hunter rigs and those who use them have developed to a very competitive level. The last 1/2 decade has witnessed an astonishing increase in HBR scoring . . and since many have begun shooting in the VH class, the VH scores, which have lagged behing HBR scores for a decade, are beginning to catch up to the Hunter scores again.

Just 5 years ago, a 17x score with a Hunter rifle turned heads - today, it is the least EXPECTED of the 100 Yd. Agg winner! The NBRSA Hunter Class & World Record 100 Yd Aggregate score ( 250-22X), established by Elzie Scott, during the 1998 season, eclipsed a record which stood unchallenged for TEN YEARS! During that span, Frank McKee raised the IBS Recored to 21X - and very shortly following Elzie's 22x, Mr. McKee raised the IBS record to the same level.

During my last three seasons of managing the American Conference of the TcL, as the match reports arrived, I could guarANteeeEE that a top individual score of 18x WOULD NOT be the top score of the month . . . a 17x was often in jeopardy of not making the Top Ten! Prior to THAT, a 17X was "pretty good shootin'" . . . .  to nab Top Dog,20 and 21X scores became the norm.

During my initial season as AmeriCon dictator, Frank McKee AVERAGED 250-17X - And THAT included his shoot off score (thus, five 'qualifying' scores)! Yes, THAT was during a era when the rest of the competitors complied a total of only 19 250 scores - for ENTIRE season! Frank shot fully 20% of the 250 score recorded that season!

Further, his phenomenal 17X average has been equaled by few - except, of course, Mr. McKee himself! I guess the bottom line here is that competition drives the boat; if we want to win, we've gotta get better!

One more Hunter record worthy of mention was the 250-16X IBS and World established by [the late] Guy Green - that record stood for over a decade also! I can remember being at a tournament, during the summer of 1977, in Missoula, MT, where the BUZZzz was : "if Gene (Streetz) can stay 'clean' on the last match, he'll have a 250!"

Yep, the Hunter/6x rifles and competitors have "come a LONG way, baby!" We owe a good deal of respect to those who led the charge!

Keep 'em ON the X! R.G.