2025 Cold Bore Challenge Q&A Thread

I'm wading thru the posts a few a day because last year I waited until the end and it felt like work.

I'm on post 26 and it seems like only a few still have to finish up.

Last year didn't they DQ or ask for drop outs and open a few more spots?

You're right, I haven't looked at the thread in a while. Just skimming the first two pages and only 2 posters have only taken 1 shot. Not looking good for slackers like myself. ;)
 
I'm wading thru the posts a few a day because last year I waited until the end and it felt like work.

I'm on post 26 and it seems like only a few still have to finish up.

Last year didn't they DQ or ask for drop outs and open a few more spots?
like the Cold Bow, there's always some who don't finish or get disqualified, so we don't stop people from entering above 100 (within reason) and use those as alternates in the order they posted to fill the disqualified spots.

so keep banging away. Worse that could happen is you have fun and learn something

@Justin Crossley

and thanks @Nine Banger for getting the stats together.
 
If there's an issue with one of our shots re: rules will y'all let us know prior to the end date of the challenge so we have time to get a qualifying second shot in?
 
If there's an issue with one of our shots re: rules will y'all let us know prior to the end date of the challenge so we have time to get a qualifying second shot in?
We would of course try to do so as a courtesy but it isn't a requirement before being disqualified as noted in post #1 of Q and A.


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We would of course try to do so as a courtesy but it isn't a requirement before being disqualified as noted in post #1 of Q and A.


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Understood, it would just suck to have both shots posted for a month before the challenge ends and find out one was disqualified afterwards.

In my case, I assume shooting out of the truck bed for shot #2 due to limitations at my shooting location is acceptable but I could see that being interpreted different ways re: rule #9.

9) The gear rules will be as simple as possible. You must shoot your big game hunting rifle with the gear you hunt with. That means no benches or Lead Sleds. Tripods, bipods, rear bags, and the like are allowed if that's how you hunt.
 
Understood, it would just suck to have both shots posted for a month before the challenge ends and find out one was disqualified afterwards.

In my case, I assume shooting out of the truck bed for shot #2 due to limitations at my shooting location is acceptable but I could see that being interpreted different ways re: rule #9.

9) The gear rules will be as simple as possible. You must shoot your big game hunting rifle with the gear you hunt with. That means no benches or Lead Sleds. Tripods, bipods, rear bags, and the like are allowed if that's how you hunt.
Yeah, close enough, but I got a warning from Fish and Game for shooting out of the truck so be real careful lol.
 
Yeah, close enough, but I got a warning from Fish and Game for shooting out of the truck so be real careful lol.
Off topic but a story I find entertaining.

I am at work one day and guy finds out I grew up in daho. We start talking about hunting. Its been about a decade but this is basically how the conversation went.

Coworker - I know how you Idaho boys hunt. You just drive around until you find an animal, jump out and shoot it.
Me - No we dont.
Coworker - Yes you do. I have hunted with a couple guys up there and that is how they and all of them do it.
Me - No, we dont drive around until we find an animal and jump out to shoot it.
Coworker - Whatever, yes you do.
Me - No we dont, why the hell would you get out of the pickup?
 
Understood, it would just suck to have both shots posted for a month before the challenge ends and find out one was disqualified afterwards.

In my case, I assume shooting out of the truck bed for shot #2 due to limitations at my shooting location is acceptable but I could see that being interpreted different ways re: rule #9.

9) The gear rules will be as simple as possible. You must shoot your big game hunting rifle with the gear you hunt with. That means no benches or Lead Sleds. Tripods, bipods, rear bags, and the like are allowed if that's how you hunt.

I had the same question - had to shoot out the back of my truck on my first shot since the vegetation was so high. Didn’t feel like wasting the 30 min drive to the area so went with it.

Happy to do another shot if needed though
 
First year participating in this and I’m stoked. I’ve made a ton of progress in the last year by implementing some of the advice here, especially getting a 223 and kind of starting over from scratch.

My goal for this fall is to be solid out to 400, and faster at everything under that. Seeing the first cold bore shot on film made me realize how long I take to set up. I’d like to cut that down for all positions.
 
Was the vegetation too high even for a seated or kneeling shot?

Yep, too high for my Gunwerks bipod (came ill prepared). Went back the next day and used my tricer bipod completely extended along with my pack for rear support.

No biggie if I need to shoot another, would just rather know if the first shot didn’t count.

IMG_6439.jpeg
 
Yep, too high for my Gunwerks bipod (came ill prepared). Went back the next day and used my tricer bipod completely extended along with my pack for rear support.

No biggie if I need to shoot another, would just rather know if the first shot didn’t count.

View attachment 898787
Nice!

The Gunwerks bipod that @NSI had me try out (not sure if there are different versions) was too short for seated for me, being 6’2” or so.

I was able to get, I think it was a second or third shot hit on a 550 yard gong with it seated though, using my pack on my feet with bipod legs on pack to get more height and then use my elbows in quads for rear support. I might have ended up grabbing a rear bag or bino harness or something to help with rear support after the first miss, I can’t remember; shooting an unsuppressed 260 Rem in a Rokstok 😜
 
I have a suggestion (or maybe call for input) for next year. I can't help but wonder, when there's just a plate, how many guys are tempted to take a breakfast ball/mulligan (I'm not a golfer but I know a few) on a miss.

I know a hit on a plate makes for much better video, and I know if folks are set on cheating there's not much that would actually prevent it, but a 24x24 piece of cardboard with a 10" circle (or hang the plate in front of it) makes it a lot more work to ignore a miss and take another shot. A bullet hole on the board but outside the circle is a good way to keep folks honest. Maybe a bonus entry for an accountability tool? More work for the moderators/scorekeepers, which I know is already a big and thankless job.

Thoughts? Getting too carried away with it?
 
I have a suggestion (or maybe call for input) for next year. I can't help but wonder, when there's just a plate, how many guys are tempted to take a breakfast ball/mulligan (I'm not a golfer but I know a few) on a miss.

I know a hit on a plate makes for much better video, and I know if folks are set on cheating there's not much that would actually prevent it, but a 24x24 piece of cardboard with a 10" circle (or hang the plate in front of it) makes it a lot more work to ignore a miss and take another shot. A bullet hole on the board but outside the circle is a good way to keep folks honest. Maybe a bonus entry for an accountability tool? More work for the moderators/scorekeepers, which I know is already a big and thankless job.

Thoughts? Getting too carried away with it?
Getting too carried away IMO. It’s a self imposed challenge, not a legit competition. You’re only cheating yourself if you cheat. And cheating in order to potentially impress some random guys on the internet is a failure all on its own lol.
 
Getting too carried away IMO. It’s a self imposed challenge, not a legit competition. You’re only cheating yourself if you cheat. And cheating in order to potentially impress some random guys on the internet is a failure all on its own lol.
I can definitely agree with that sentiment. But I think we might underestimate people's willingness to fudge a little in order to try to impress random guys on the internet.
 
I can definitely agree with that sentiment. But I think we might underestimate people's willingness to fudge a little in order to try to impress random guys on the internet.
Oh I definitely agree with that. I just don't see the reason for the excess work to try and out them. It's no big deal to anyone but them.
 
If you touch and hold the phone screen you can turn on the AE/AF lock feature (auto exposure/auto focus lock). This turns off the autofocus so you can just use the scope focus knob without the phone autofocus fighting you.
I’m an idiot and never knew this! My absolute potato digiscoping skills need more tips like this.
 
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