Could this become the 21st century postal match? Eley, well-known British maker of top-tier .22 Long Rifle match ammunition, is now offering Eley x-shot, a target and smartphone app combination for competitors to track their training performance—and to compete in remote matches anywhere.
Eley x-shot is a software application program for smartphones designed to work in conjunction with specific printed targets matched to the software. After shooting, the user photographs the target sheet with his or her smartphone, which the program scans and automatically scores. Each target sheet has 25 individual one-shot scoring rings (each an individual target) in the manner of European rimfire benchrest targets, which the app scores simultaneously.
While Europeans have trusted in electronic targets for many years, many American shooters still look askance at them, though we’re coming around. Recognizing this, and that digital technology isn’t perfect, the Eley x-shot app will highlight in red any score that the software algorithm determines might be questionable, and if the app mis-records a score, the user can manually correct it. The training and competition information is then uploaded to cloud data storage, Eley’s Competition Dashboard Cloud, for future shooter reference.
The app is free; the special-purpose targets are available now from Killough Shooting Sports for $20 per 25 or $60 per 100, plus $15 shipping.
Training aside, Eley x-shot has the potential to replace or revive the concept of the postal match which, admittedly, has declined in popularity over the years. Imagine match results being instantly available to competitors anywhere in the world. “Global connectivity enables one-on-one events or multiple user competitions from the comfort of your own shooting club,” Eley says. No more licking envelopes or buying postage stamps or long waits for snail mail. It would be about as close as possible to actually shooting shoulder-to-shoulder with a friend or competitor overseas.
Speaking of that, later this year Eley will introduce a live camera scoring device to compliment the Eley x-shot phone app. One must wonder whether this might bring competitive shooting a step closer to eventually becoming a spectator sport in the United States. Live, televised shooting competitions might not become as staggeringly popular as football, but it would certainly have more brisk action than televised poker games.
For more detailed information, visit the Eley x-shot website to download a brief step-by-step User Guide. To buy targets, go to killoughshootingsports.com.
