An interview with Garry Costello. 2011 GB F Class Open League Champion
Either way, you will be keen to get down to some serious testing and already, I’ve had a glimpse of a few new ideas for the coming season concerned. Really, with a single cartridge (OK Laurie, I know you love the 223) and a very rigid set of rules, it’s difficult to come up with something new but our rifles continue to evolve.
Not only that, bullet development seems to be directed to the 308 more than any other cartridge. Of course, let’s not forget that Russell Simmonds once again won the GBFCA League with his very conventional rifle but of course, it’s always preferable to buy something new in an attempt to boost performance rather than spend more time on the range learning to shoot what you already have! And maybe this is part of World Champion Russell’s secret – his equipment is very modest and similar to what he started out with five or six years ago but boy, he knows how to use it!
We did have a new Open Class League Champion in 2011 and that was current World Champion, Gary Costello. As is the tradition, we caught up with Gary following the Europeans where he battled all weekend with eventual winner, Vyacheslav Kovalshii
Interview with 2011 F-Open Class League Winner
TS – Gary, congratulations on winning the 2011 GBFCA League - just beating Simon Rogers in the final round – but just losing out to Vyacheslav Kovalshii in the final stage of the ‘Europeans’ to take runner-up spot.
We always like to start off with a bit of background. Tell us about your working background and what got you into shooting?
GC –I currently run two companies mainly involved in specialist transportation and freight forwarding, we are approved for weapons, explosives and sect. 5 items. I have always been interested in shooting from a very early age with air rifles however I started shooting firearms about 10 years ago, most of this was informal plinking and fun stuff.
TS – You’ve been shooting with the League more or less from the start but what did you shoot before that?
GC - I started clay shooting, I got into it in a big way, a business associate (now a very good friend) used to shoot rifles and black powder competitively and he got me into accurate rifles and re-loading. It all went downhill from there and I got the bug!
TS – Tell us about your current rifle – what cartridge, action, stock, scope etc are you using?
GC - I have shot several rifles this year, I started with a 7 SAUM built by Pete Walker, BAT 8.5 inch M action, Lee Six tracker stock in African Obeche walnut Bartlein barrel and a March 10x60x52 tactical scope.
TS – Gary, that’s a beautiful rifle – almost too nice to shoot! Pete’s work is faultless.
GC - I did try the second Bartlein barrel for my WFCC winning gun - Stolle Panda and heavily modified Masterclass F Class Thumbhole stock but, after 400 rounds I gave up with it, just not accurate enough. This barrel was produced at the same time as the WFCC barrel and chambered with the same reamer but it just would not work!
I shot my other BAT rifle built by Pete at Blair Atholl and in the Europeans - this is the same action (8.5 BAT) with 32” Bartliein barrel and McMillan F Class stock.
TS – Of course, you are the UK importer for the fabulous March scopes – how are sales going – are there any new models in the pipeline?
GC - Actually pretty good considering the current economy and the cost of the scopes. We have a new Tactical first focal plane scope the 3-24x42 this is a direct competitor to the Schmidt & Bender PMII - very similar features (with a lower starting magnification) but half the weight and smaller. Also a fixed 40X which has tactical turrets, zero stop and 70MOA elevation, I am going to try this next season for F Class.
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