22/10/2023
A Ripper Story
I got a lovely note from one of our owners, Richard Green, and thought I must post this up, as it's a wonderful story and some history of one of the finest shots in the country. Please take some time and have a good read. Please join me in wishing him well for future competitions!
Joe
My name is Richard and I have been shooting since the early 80's. It all started during my apprenticeship at a Hovercraft manufacture, where I met a man that ran an air rifle club, and got invited to go along, and try my hand at field target shooting.
Nearly instantly, I was hooked.
Back then, everyone shot spring guns, mainly Weihrauch HW77's. Before I knew it I had bought one, and set about the process of polishing all the components, sleeving the spring, lightening the piston, changing seal and many more tweaks. Even manufacturing my own custom stock.
My life of FT had begun
When I started going to regional shoots a few years later, I started seeing the beginning of the precharge gun era. This was my first contact with the Ripley rifles that would be a firm favourite to a widening number of FT shooters on the circuit. At that time, an AR rifle was out of my reach, so I used a number of other manufacturers FT guns. By the 90's I was going to national events. A fellow club member in ‘96 informed us that he had indeed ordered an AR5, and we were all keen to see it arrive at the club.
The engineering finish on this gun easily beat the other guns in the club, especially the action of the bolt. But at this time, I needed to sell a gun to fund another, which stopped me buying one, as I would be without a gun for too long. Shooting through to 2000 was great fun, going to all the national shoots, and a spell shooting for a manufacturing team.
Then personal circumstances changed everything. A tragic family event and work commitments saw me quit shooting altogether.
Then in 2005 Andy, the same club member that bought the AR5, picked up his new AR5's. Now this gun was another clear step up. Bigger block, bigger bolt, air stripper, and still the very close tolerance fit up on all the mating parts. A beautifully made rifle.I came back to the local club and shot a few winter league team events. I could not go back to shooting properly as work commitments still did not allow, but promised that when I retired, I would.
Years later in 2021, I retired early, and set about re kindling my FT hobby. Going back to where it all started, for a year, I decided to shoot a spring gun. Good for a while, but my heart was not in it, when the trouble set in.
Now a P*P was back on the cards.
This time, it was easier for me to purchase the gun I wanted, but now the 18 month waiting list was holding me back from placing the order. I picked up a Steyr Challenge and shot a season with that. During this time, a 2002 polished Ripley AR5's came up on the circuit for sale, and I managed to get it.
A visit to Ripley Rifles to get it serviced, made it like a brand new rifle again. I wanted to make it look a bit different, and replicate my Steyr for weight and handling, so purchased a Warren Edwards alloy stock, made a grip set for it out of Australian Brown Malee burr. This is a one off, well balanced rifle, that is capable of competing with the best in FT. In the correct hands could take the honours on any course. (Not necessarily mine though!)
During the 2023 GP season, I had the opportunity to buy a XL9 full left hander, how could I refuse? Another afternoon with Steve and Russ whilst they worked their magic on the XL. Once again, basically ending up with a new gun. Beautifully made, and a smooth quiet loading cycle. A great design. Put a big scope on the top. What more could you want. In a club of 6 FT shooters, we now have four Ripley 's, and they still draw plenty of attention when you’re out and about.
The Steyr got me a 3rd place in A grade at the GP series, and 19th overall.
The AR5's got me a Runner up in BFTA plate final, and 18th overall.
At the inaugural British Open a 2nd place in A grade and 11th overall again with my ‘Ripper’
I have enjoyed shooting the Ripley rifle over the last two months, and can acquire the same scores with it as the Steyr, So for the winter league, inter regions, and all next year's National shoots, I'm sticking with the polished AR5's.
Happy shooting everyone.
RG
(Edited and posted by Joe)
