Day 1 2025. This is my 3rd year in the challenge. I took two long range shooting classes during the past year which really helped with fundamentals, natural point of aim, and positional setups.
300 WSM Tikka factory barrel with TiPro 4 port brake, Rokstok, Maven RS 1.2 MIL in UM rings and loaded 200.20x Berger at 2800 fps.
Claiming MER 725-750 yards so qualifying at 590 yards
Slightly Overcast 6:00 am 55 degees per Kestrel with DA of 5440. No noticeable wind, I figured there was some downdraft in the middle of the canyon
Using a Spartan Javelin bipod that I carry on my pack belt and also had a Molinator bag and Jellyfish. I carried both bags last year and used them to shoot my elk at 440. Maven Rangefinder, SG scope and action cover.
Shooter app called for 3.3 Mil of elevation and 0.1 Mil left. I dialed 3.3 and held just left of center by an inch or two.
I put a piece of cardboard behind to help figure out where the shot went if I missed. 12" gong painted black with a 10" white circle painted.
Good shot execution and I stayed on target through the shot, I saw the dirt fly from behind so would have known it was right. I believe I needed to be a little firmer vertically on the rear bags. That has been harder for me since going to the Rokstok compared to a stock pack and foam pad I had on the factory stock which fit my cheek weld a little better.
Video of target and shot.
Video walking up to target, impact, and target size measurement.
Here was the setup and position. Target is above the road on the far side at the top of the opening below the dark green trees.
Day 2 shooting at 10 am, been getting rain which stopped on my drive but was still stormy and some variable wind. Same locaiton 590 yards.
I had a heck of a time deciding which way the wind was going. No wind at my location and nothing at the target when I hung it, but that knowledge would have been cheating anyway.
Video at the target. I took 3 more shots prior to going to the target since the challenge was complete with shot number 2.
Really good day for learning and challenging myself to gauge conditions. All 4 shots I took today were well executed and I was able to spot my own impact in the scope, stayed on target and pinned the trigger back through the shot until I released well after the shot.
Wind update after the video at the target I measured with my Kestrel at the target. Wind was variable from 3-7 mph left to right but would gust to 10 plus and that wasn't the strongest I felt but was the strongest I measured. Oddly right after the 10 mph gust it dropped to almost nothing (1-2), then actually reversed and was right to left at 2-2.5 mph before resuming the average 3-7 left to right. Tough conditions to gauge but my assessment of 5 mph or a little more pre shot #2 was good enough had I accounted for the correct direction.
Shot #2 impacted 10 ish inches to the right of the right edge of gong. In my ballistic app I entered 7 MPH left to right and got 9.2", then I entered 8 MPH and got 10.8" so my assessment is that the wind was somewhere right about there.
Shot #3 was directly inline with my hold in the L-R direction. Wind must have been less, and watching that video I would agree as well based on almost no vegetation movement. Was hard to trust no movement after I had just watched shot #2 go so far right.
Shot #4 was a hit to the left of my aim by a few inches. not much for visible wind based on vegetation.
Shot #5 was just off right edge but I held center. Right after the shot you can see a large uptick in vegetation movement. My assessment is the bullet encountered the wind in the middle of the canyon prior to the wind being visible at the target on the far ridge.
Overall great shooting and learning day. Wind and judging the wind continues to be my biggest challenge. Shot #2 I would have waited longer had that been an animal until I was more certain of direction and speed. It's the challenge so I made my best assessment and proceeded to shoot.
Thanks again for the Challenge Rokslide!, and all the sponsors. I continue to learn and improve even if that isn't showing with impacts this year. I am a much better shooter and a good part of that is driven by the learning from this challenge.
2026 the goal is 760 yards, seated with tripod front support and pack rear support. I found the shooting location with the same target location as this year!