Canadian Ranger (CR) Sam Cocquyt, who has served with the Gillam Patrol since 2001, was the top shooter at the Canadian Armed Forces Small Arms Concentration (CAFSAC) 2017 competition in Ottawa in September.He has served as the Patrol Commander, Patrol 2I/C and is presently a Section Commander. He is an electrician and maintenance planner for the Lower Nelson River Generating Stations with Manitoba Hydro in Gillam.
Jones: What was it like shooting those last few rounds of the final match at CAFSAC 2017?
Cocquyt: It was surreal, I was a little apprehensive, you have to settle into a rhythm when you shoot, you hear nothing, you picture your shot, then I closed the disengaged eye, looked through the centre of the rear aperture at the target and picked my point of aim, keeping my sights upright, I ensured my sight picture was in the center of the rear aperture, I squeezed off my last round from my faithful .303 for the Canadian Armed Forces Small Arms Concentration (CAFSAC) in 2017. Every round fired this year was a great memory.
Jones: Where did you learn to shoot?
Cocquyt: Shooting has always been a passion of mine, growing up in rural Manitoba I was exposed to both recreational shooting and hunting. My dad was my teacher and I learned from an early age to respect the firearm and dedication it took to be a crack shot. I am an avid shooter, a reloader and a dedicated hunter. Shooting is just not a seasonal thing for me, it’s a lifestyle, and it’s a mastered Ranger skill I am proud of.
Jones: How did you find out about CAFSAC and competitive shooting?
Cocquyt: Competitive shooting really never entered my mind until I was asked in 2006 by Capt. Wade Jones if I would be interested in trying out for the 4 CRPG CFSAC team. I competed each year from 2007 except for 2010 and 2012. This year, in my opinion, is the culmination of shooting the Enfield .303 as a Canadian Ranger. This year I was the top Canadian Ranger shooter at CAFSAC 17. I’ve come very close in other years but always second or third, it was always just out of reach, and this year was different! The team was great, they were confident; the heckling, the joking, the coaching all fell into place and set the tone for me to focus and give it my best.
Jones: How have you done at CAFSAC in previous years compared to this year?
Cocquyt: I’ve done well over the years, winning 13 individual or team medals. Each year I relied on my strength of shooting at longer ranges and worked hard on those matches I always was just a bit off on. This year, 2017, was different, everything clicked, I was tuned in, and I won six medals earning me the title of the top Canadian Ranger shooter for 2017. Being chaired off the range by my fellow Rangers was humbling and gave me a sense of pride I have never felt before.
Jones: As a 4 CRPG CAFSAC team member, what do you think of the .303 and the C-19 replacement rifle as far as competitive shooting?
Cocquyt: The .303 has a special place in my heart, I’ve shot so many rounds from this rifle. The .303 speaks for itself, no other rifle has ever outperformed its abilities, its reliability, its medium-range accuracy. The proof is that it’s been around a long, long time. Saying goodbye to the .303 will be difficult, but I really look forward to shooting the C-19, I’ve already shot it and it is accurate and I especially look forward to defending my title as the top Canadian Ranger shooter in 2018. Shooting is shooting, but to be a crack shot will take lots of practice to learn how the C-19 will shoot in my hands.
