Precision rifle shooting is not a unique phenomenon. A long time in different countries and on different continents civilian shooters clubs, sports organizations, hold various competitions close in form and content to the military and / or police sniping. The diversity of opinions and ideas about this leads to the fact that in countries, sometimes even in different regions of one country, the idea of sniping as a sports discipline has its own “unique”, as well as the rules of the competition.

I’m optimistic that a consensus has emerged in Europe on this issue. The name of this consensus is the sport of T-Class with disciplines where not only accurate bolt-action rifles but also semi-automatic and pistols are used. You can imagine a variety of interesting, complicated scenarios stages and exercises in such combinations in the discipline of Tactical Sniper [TS].

For the first time in years, I want to look back and ask those involved in the T-Class, do you remember how it all started in 2014 and continued in a next years?

It’s been a little over three years since I met Ivan Barzilov and the Bulgarian team at the 15th Police and Military Sniper Wolrd cup in Hungary. Participating in competitions together with military and police officers we discussed options of civil, sports sniping. It was not easy to find the right formula for assessing the skill of the shooter in such a complex, dynamic and diverse shooting.

Of course, the ideas are in the air, but the practical implementation of the idea of tactical sniping issued Bulgarian colleagues. Every T-Class competition held in the [TS] discipline confirmed the correctness of the chosen method of scoring. It is perfectly justified to divide multi-faceted shooting at short, medium and long distances into modules and determine the best result in each of them, which is the basis for determining the winner.

To win such competitions, you must be equally good at all aspects of sniper shooting. Applied in the T-Class parameter “hit-factor” stimulates a shooters not just accurately hit the target, but to do it as quickly as possible. All together, this makes it possible to infinitely improve their skills in the pursuit of maximum results.

The most dynamically developing discipline is the Tactical Sniper. Interesting and complex annual international competitions in Bulgaria at the Slivnitsa shooting range gather shooters from different countries of Europe and the United States. Great interest was aroused by the first multigun match “International T-Class Multigun Cup 2019”.

Given the ambiguous attitude to our passion and sport in many countries, we have yet to assess the huge amount of work done by our Bulgarian colleagues in the interests of the entire shooting community, regardless of the countries that we represent.

It’s probably not an exaggeration to say T-Class is a sport that may be of interest to those for whom it’s a profession. Fans of sniping in various formats, I can say that this is worth a try.

I hope that next year will be successful for the development of this interesting, young sport and will be another step on the way to the T-Class European Championship and the World Cup.

I wish all of us interesting meetings, exciting matches and success in 2020.

Sergei Gorobets
Regional Director of the Russian Federation

International T-Class Multigun Cup 2019 – You can’t describe it, you have to live it!

A three-day international competition of the T-Class Multigun discipline was held on September 27-29th 2019. It was a team event, which means that the shooters were divided into two-men teams and simultaneously or sequentially they had to complete the scenarios of the exercises. T-Class Multigun discipline demands shooting with sniper rifles, semi auto assault rifles and pistols, which poses the greatest level of challenge for the competitors. To make it even more complicated, this event included daytime and nighttime stages, with only few hours apart for taking a rest. All of the above contributed to the fact that probably this T-Class competition proved to be the hardest and most exhausting one ever held in Bulgaria till now.

The start of the competition was struck on the afternoon of September 27th 2019 with the stages from Module 1. This was the first ever nighttime shooting for exercises of Module 1. The true action script was manifested in the next two days and in the evening between them. This was the time for Module 2 and 3 stages, which were incredibly diverse and truly integrated all of the advantages and available requisites of the Slivnitsa military range. Most of the exercises of Module 3 were with hit-factor which greatly elevated the level of tension among the shooters. This competition used the greatest number of stages with smart target systems so far. There were designs with moving targets, daytime and nighttime contra sniper stages, simulation of real shooting scenarios, shooting from trenches, windows, bunkers, barricades, helicopter platform and so on. A total of 21 exercises with 6 night guard stages were completed. All of this was associated with the use of three different kinds of weapons and with irregular distribution of tasks and targets between the members of the team.

Teams from the regions of Bulgaria, USA and the Russian Federation competed in this event and there were observers from Malta and Latvia. All of the participants explicitly conveyed their approval of the competition for stage designs, complexity and difficulty as well as of the proper organization. The realization of this event would not have been possible without the support from members of the Bulgarian Armed Forces of all levels. The interest for this competition was so high that even the Bulgarian Minister of Defense Mr. Karakachanov became one of the official guests. This was a formidable experience for all the organizers, competitors and observers and their reactions can be followed through different online forums: here, here.

Those who have lived through the International T-Class Multigun Cup 2019 for sure will retain their bright memories.

The winners of this competition de facto were all of the participants who completed the course and the rankings can be found here.

The level has been set up high enough and for the next events of BTCF will remain the goal to become at least as interesting as this one.

Photos and videos can be found at the ITCC Facebook page and the Gallery section of the ITCC website.

Author: Plamen Nikolov

The following basic principles and shooting fundamentals are recommended to be included in the design of the stages of a T-Class competition – alone or as a combination of several elements in one exercise.

Module 1
In this module are evaluated the basic marksmanship skills of the competitor
The exercises in this module should include the following shooting fundamentals:

1. Accuracy and precision of shooting from stable positions
2. Accuracy in complex situations:
   a. Time limit
   b. Unsupported shooting or usage of unstable supports (backpack, no rear support, etc)
   c. Zeroing of the score, after a miss
   d. Targets with unsymmetrical shape in relation to the center or similar, which will be difficult to be aimed.
   e. Physical stress
   f. Complex order or shooting
3. Differentiation of targets
4. Weapon manipulation and equipment control
   a. Fast bolt/action manipulation
   b. Fast preparation for shot placement from fully secured state and variously placed additional equipment (on the shooter’s body, at a distance from the shooter, on the shooting line, etc.)
   c. Magazine reloading/changing during the scoring time
5. Fast moving and assuming of final shooting position (standing behind the rifle, after moving from a given distance, etc.)
6. Transfer of shooting direction at different targets
7. Shooting “of hand” (without additional support, only sling support) – prone, kneeling, standing
8. Communication and target evaluation (TeamWork)
9. Shooting at paper targets, reactive and 3D targets

Module 2
In this module are evaluated the competitor’s skills to react in dynamic and quickly changing conditions under the influence of time limitations and complex shooting scenarios.
The exercises in this module should include the following shooting fundamentals:

1. Time limit
2. A group of targets placed at different distances in front of the shooting position, often with different direction of fire.
3. Unstable and untraditional shooting positions – from windows, barricade, uncomfortable supports, holes, rocking platforms, etc.
4. Mid-range distances (described in the T-Class Set of Rules for each discipline)
5. Complex order of target engagements
6. Fast switching of different weapons – weapon manipulation and shooting under time limitations in the Multi Gun division
7. Development of unpredicted complications during the course of fire (falling, slipping or similar, maybe associated with light trauma, dropping of equipment, problems with the weapon, etc.) and the ability of the competitor to adapt under time limitations.
8. Proper communication and tasks arrangement between the shooters in the Team Work discipline.
9. Shooting at static, reactive, appearing and moving targets.
10. Shooting at Smart Target systems, which can provide realistic scenarios daytime and nighttime.

The scoring method in Module 2 is “Hit Factor” in which the points from the hits are divided to the time for execution of the exercise in order to calculate the coefficient – “Hit Factor”. In order to be successful in Module 2, the competitor needs to achieve balance between accuracy and speed.

It is also required that the competitor understands the two methods for scoring “Virginia count” and “Comstock”. The first one represents a given number of shots for one target, most often just one shot. The second one means shooting with unlimited number of shots until the target is hit or the shooter resigns.

Module 3
In this module are evaluated the competitor’s skills for long range shooting. It requires practical approach for solving the bullet trajectory in relation to all variables which can influence the bullet path along with the shooting skills to complete such a shot. In Team Work competitions are tested also the skills of the team for communication, observation, target acquisition and target dispersion.
The exercises in this module should include the following shooting fundamentals:

1. Shooting at distances from 600 to 1000 meters from a stable shooting position
2. Preparation of the shooting position during the time limits for preparation
3. Not so rigorous time limit
4. Decision for shot abandonment opposed to penalty for a miss
5. Shooting at Smart Target systems, which can provide realistic scenarios daytime and nighttime.
6. Shooting on the “Hit Factor” method

Although there is a time factor, it should not be so limited or critical as it is for some of the exercises in Module 1 and Module 2. Exercises which are scored by the two methods – points from the hits and “Hit Factor” have to be included in the design of Module 3. The “Hit Factor” method in this module serves to differentiate the results of the competitors with equivalent number of hits, thus giving advantage to those who have completed quickly the process of evaluation of the shooting conditions and successful realization of the exercise. The “Hit Factor” method is necessary in relatively complex designed stages in which there is no opportunity for the shooter to evaluate the targets before the start of the exercise and all calculations for shot trajectory are made within the scoring time. Also, in Team Work competition it will give advantage to the more cohesive team in relation to target acquisition, evaluation of environmentals, observation, spotting and correction of fire.
The “Hit Factor” method can be used for separation of results in Module 3 when the targets are relatively big and easy and the range cannot provide maximum distances of 1000 meters and is limited to shorter shooting distances.

The Bulgarian T-Class Federation is proud to invite you to to The International T-Class Multigun Cup on September 26-29th 2019 at Slivnitsa, Bulgaria.

This event will be organized and conducted according to the T-Class Set of Rules in the Multigun discipline of the T-Class Shooting sport. This means that shooting exercises will involve precision rifles, semi-auto assault rifles and semi-auto pistols simultaneously or sequentially, according to the stage designs.

The competition would be a two men teamwork event and will effectively include daylight and nighttime shooting at the military shooting range of Slivnitsa, Bulgaria. All kinds of shooting conditions, scenarios, positions, static and dynamic targets, distances from 5 m to 1200 m etc. should be expected during the three days competition on the last weekend of September, 2019.

BTCF is proud to announce that T-Class Shooting sport has been officially recognized as a military applicable sport, which means that it will be incorporated in the various programs and activities for the preparation and training of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. This is a step further in the continuing process of coordination between civilians and professionals in the vast field of sniper shooting.

Assault rifles and handguns can be provided by the organizers onsite for rent – for those competitors who do not bring their own, but this will have to be arranged before their arrival. If you would like to use this option, please contact us.

Registration is open.
More info about this competition can be found at: http://scoring.t-class.org/
Registration and questions: info@t-class.bg

Kind Regards to all,
BTCF

During the race, the skills of the snipers needed in real operations will be tested. During the technical meeting, about 18-20 exercises will be discussed and explained.

– 60+ hour competition
– Combined shooting with sniper rifles, semi-automatic rifles and semi-automatic pistols
– Day and night shooting using natural and artificial light
– Distances from 5 to 1200 meters
– Shooting on partially obscured targets
– Smart moving targets
– Shooting from tower, bunker, roof and other realistic positions
– Assessment and assessment of specific situations
– Patrol
– Teamwork

Detailed information: http://scoring.t-class.org/
Registration and questions: info@t-class.bg

On April 12-14th, the International T-Class Kahles Cup 2019 took place at the Slivnitza military range. This was the second major T-Class Competition with international attendance for the Region of Bulgaria. It was hosted by the Bulgarian T-Class Federation with the help from the Bulgarian Armed Forces. There were participants from the Russian Federation, Lithuania, Slovenia and Bulgaria – a total of 18 two-men teams (36 shooters), as well as Range Officers from the Republic of Macedonia.

This T-Class Competition was organized and conducted with the help of Kahles Optics and the organizers would like to express their compliments to Kahles for the support in the promotion of the T-Class shooting sport internationally.

The competition was a three days event of the T-Class Tactical Sniper Discipline. It was a two-men teamwork challenge, which involved many shooting exercises including daylight and nighttime shooting at distances from 10 to 1000 meters on different targets, in various static and dynamic shooting conditions. The design of the stages was developed according to the T-Class Set of Rules. The weather was constantly changing and it was fairly rainy and windy, which greatly contributed to the overall fun. The smart-target systems developed by BTCF were used extensively and again proved their limitless potential for realisation of all kinds of shooting scenarios imaginable.

The timetable of the competition was completed expediently, while the results and rankings were calculated and posted in real time on the online scoring system platform developed particularly for the T-Class shooting sport. This allows for everyone, including the competitors themselves, to be able to monitor their results continuously during the course of the event.

This T-Class competition was dominated by the representative teams from the Russian Federation, which left all the others behind and managed to win the first three places in the Bolt-Action Division.

The winners are:
Division “Bolt Action”:
First place – Sergei Emelianov and Aleksandr Litvinenko, FVSR, Russia
Second place – Valerii Shits and Alexandr Kremnev, FVSR, Russia
Third place – Kamil Abliazov and Aleksei Chernobrovkin, FVSR, Russia

Division “Semi Auto”:
First place – Petar Dabov and Ivan Minchev, VSK “Desant 68”, Bulgaria
Second place – Stoyan Stoyanov and Dimitar Prisadov, VSK “Desant 68”, Bulgaria
Third place – Anatoli Bojinov and Tsvetan Djorev, VSK “Stryamtsi 61”, Bulgaria

The Award ceremony was led by the Commander of the Bulgarian Special Operation Forces – Brigade General Yavor Mateev.

Complete rankings and all scoring information is available in the ITCC online scoring system platform.

Official sponsors of the event were Kahles Optics and VIP complex.

Many photos of the whole event can be found in the Gallery section of the ITCC website.

The course of fire will test the snipers skills according to the most innovative sniper disciplines. The competition will be conducted according to the Rules of T-Class shooting sport and will consist of 18-20 exercises divided into three modules: 
– Module 1. Marksmanship [M1]
– Module 2. Dynamic [M2]
– Module 3. Long range [M3].

Overall match details:
– Two days competition
– Shooting daytime and after dark using natural and artificial light.
– Distance from 10 to 1000 m
– Shooting at partially covered target
– Shooting from tower, roof and other realistic positions
– Evaluation of certain situations
– Patrol
– Team work
Categories: Team event
Participation: Two men teams
Divisions: Bolt Action and Semi Auto
Weapon: One sniper rifle with telescopic sight for each shooter.
Ammo: 100 per shooter excluding zeroing.
Targets: Paper, steel, falling, moving and the combination of these.
Scoring: According to the T-Class Set of Rule Scoring through an online scoring system

Detailed information: http://scoring.t-class.org/
Registration and questions: info@t-class.bg

The biggest for now and the first international T-Class competition was completed on 28-30th September, 2018 at the “Slivnitsa” Military Range. It was administered by the International T-Class Confederation (ITCC) and was conducted in the Republic of Bulgaria.
The efforts of the Bulgarian T-Class Federation (BTCF) along with the invaluable help from representatives of the Bulgarian Armed Forces have led to yet another great success in the development of the T-Class shooting sport.

This was the eighth competition in the BTCF calendar for 2018, but apart from all previous events, this time there were participants from various countries, a total of 27 teams i.e. 54 competitors. The largest foreign group were the 6 teams from the Russian Federation, there were also two teams from Ukraine, one team from Lithuania and one team from USA. It is not very often for participants in applied shooting disciplines from USA and Russia to compete together, but such an event has happened – in Bulgaria! Even more surprising was the fact that one of the American contestants was an acting senator.

The competition was conducted in the discipline T-Class Tactical Sniper and according to the T-Class Set of Rules variation – TeamWork. This means that every team consists of two competitors who will approach and compete together at their own judgement all the various challenges and shooting drills, while helping each other. The team as a whole will participate in the scoring process and the final rankings. The competition itself was conducted continuously for two days and consisted of various drills and stages of static and dynamic precision shooting from all kinds of shooting positions.

The design of the stages was carefully planned in order to test all the skills and experience of the precision rifle shooters, by placing them in different, realistic and hard scenarios: precision shooting at paper targets from stable and unstable positions, shooting from barricades, windows, platforms imitating helicopters, shooting in stressful circumstances under time limitations, shooting from various distances – from 10 to 1000 meters in constantly changing environmental factors and especially wind variations up to 7-8 m/s, during daylight as well as during the night.

The shooting drills during the night time have made a huge impression on the competitors. These drills involved the so called “smart-target” systems, which were invented and developed solely by the BTCF. These systems can offer limitless possibilities for realization of all kinds of shooting scenarios, without limitations of distance and time. Eventually, very attractive shooting stages in full darkness were completed and the culmination was laid down with shooting at a moving target from 400 meters, during the night.

This competition could not have been organized without the help from representatives of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. They have repeatedly shown their understanding about the cooperation between civilian and military structures, which leads to greater benefit and has mutual potential. The start of the competition was announced by the Deputy Chief of Staff Bulgarian land force command – Col. Deyan Deshkov, and the closing ceremony was conducted by the Commander of the Special Operation Forces – Brigade General Yavor Mateev.

The timely input and calculation of the results is always a challenge in such great competitions. For this purpose, ITCC has its own specially designed and developed online software system, which significantly boosts up the process and provides instant result calculations, while every participant and observer can monitor the temporary rankings online and in real time during the course of the competition. This accomplishment has no comparison in the field of the shooting sports worldwide.

The competition was conducted in two divisions. The winners are:
Division “Bolt Action”:
First place – Valerii Shits and Aleksandr Kravtsov, FVSR, Russia
Second place – Aleksandr Litvinenko and Sergei Pomoshnikov, FVSR, Russia
Third place – Ivan Terziev and Kiril Balabanov, BTCF, Bulgaria
Division “Semi Auto”:
First place – Petar Dabov and Vasil Hlebarski, “68 Brig, SF”, Bulgaria
Second place – Aleksei Dubrovin and Andrei Osnovskii, FVSR, Russia
Third place – Maksim Kadantsev and Sergei Maslov, FVSR, Russia

The prizes were awarded by Brigade General Yavor Mateev.
Complete rankings and all scoring information is available in the ITCC online scoring system platform.

This competition proved to be the next step in the growing popularity of the T-Class shooting sport internationally, which provokes unexpected interest by even the most conservative communities like those in the field of precision shooting.

Official sponsors of the competitions were Aleksis optics and VIP complex.

Author – Sergei Gorobets
On August 25th 2018, for the first time, FVSR conducted a full-scale shooting competition according to the T-Class Set of Rules – in two divisions: “Bolt Action” and “Semi Auto”. Here are some comments on the principles which are the foundation of this innovative and sport-oriented shooting discipline. The new concept which is vital for the development of this shooting sport is that it imposes a standard for valuation. In short, the ratio between the minimal dimensions of the targets related to the shooting distances and the number of rounds give the opportunity to assess the actual level of the shooter’s skill. The organizers and stage designers can use additional “effects” in the form of Hit-Factor and difficulty coefficients, which give the opportunity to train all distinctive routines of the shooter. There is the universal Scoring system software for the preparation of the whole competition, from the briefings texts up to the rankings calculations, which define the classification and the prize holders.

“T-Class Moscow Sniper Cup 2018” was a one-day competition. There were 10 shooting exercises in accordance to the T-Class Set of Rules: Module 1 (Basic Marksmanship) – 5 exercises, Module 2 (Dynamic) – 2 exercises, Module 3 (Long Range) – 3 exercises.
The competition scores confirmed the actual objective levels of the shooters’ capabilities. The match organizers themselves had the opportunity to gain know-how and as I was the Match Director I would like to share some of this experience.

A thorough planning for such competition is mandatory. The exercises were flawlessly designed and the shooting range was prepared. But, the actual success of the competition relies not only on the range conditions but on other factors, which may not be directly connected with the shooting. The awareness of the Range Officers and their abilities to control the timing of the match, along with the technical aspects of the real-time data input of the scoring lists into the Scoring System have to be particularly accentuated. You have to be exact in the estimation of the number of competitors which can be accommodated and in our case – 61 competitors proved to be more than what we could handle as match organizers.

However, the match did happen, the winners were demonstrated and received their prizes! We remain optimistic for the future. We will draw conclusions from this experience and we will begin preparations for the next.
On September 29th and 30th 2018, our team FVSR will participate in the “International T-Class Sniper Cup 2018” in Bulgaria. We will be glad to meet with our colleagues and fellow shooters from the other T-Class Regions.

I want to express my enormous gratitude to the whole ITCC team and particularly to the ITCC President – Mr. Ivan Barzilov for his support and assistance!

Congratulation to the winners:

Division “Bolt Action”
First Place – Sergei Kirichenko
Second Place – Andrei Ivanov
Third Place – Aleksandr Litvinenko

Division “Semi Auto”
First Place – Maksim Kadantsev
Second Place – Aleksei Dubrovin
Third Place – Oleg Akhapkin

Full scoring and final rankings for this competition can be found at: http://scoring.t-class.org/Reports/ReportsMatchRanking/36