2025 Cold Bore Challenge

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Justin Crossley

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Welcome to the 3rd annual Rokslide Cold Bore Challenge

This challenge is designed to test your realistic Maximum Effective Range. The Challenge will start Saturday, June 14th, at 6:00 am MTN time on this thread. The challenge will run for five weekends and end on July 13th at midnight Mountain Time.

You shoot one shot each day of the challenge with no warm-up or follow-up shots and no practice between days. This is the Cold Bore Challenge. We want it to simulate what you experience when hunting for your BOAL.

We are limiting the challenge to the first 100 qualified participants.

Below are the rules. READ THEM ALL, OR DON'T PARTICIPATE.

We delete ineligible posts without notice. If you have questions or comments, post those on the Q&A thread here so this thread stays clean.

Once again, we are requiring video of all shots. See rule 10 below.

1) Start a post in this thread (one post per shooter) on your first shooting day. You can’t reserve a post slot unless you’ve shot and posted a video. You don't have to start on day one, but you do have to be done by July 14th to qualify for prizes. That gives everyone five weekends to complete the challenge.

2) Call the range you think is your REALISTIC maximum effective range (MER). You must shoot your personal MER, so if it’s 600 yards, you can’t shoot 100 yards because that's all you have at your range!
Minimum range for this challenge will be 400 yards. Push yourself a bit and make an effort--that's the spirit of the challenge.

3) With no warm-up shots, shoot one cold bore shot each day of the challenge at your MER. You do not have to shoot two days consecutively, but there is NO PRACTICE between shooting days.

4) Post a video of your bullet hitting or missing the target. Target size is set at a 10” circle. If your target is bigger than that, paint or mark the 10” diameter so you know whether you’re in the vitals. It's a two-day/two-shot challenge, so post a video each day in your original post, so both shots appear in one post. (Just use the "edit" button—bottom of your post on full-site, or if on Tapa Talk, hold your finger on your post for a few seconds to see the Edit option)

5) If you believe your MER is over 600 yards, you will need to qualify to shoot farther by first hitting the target between 575 and 625 yards per the rules above, both times. If you are able to hit both of the first two shots, you get to move out to your MER beyond 600 and shoot two additional days at that range. The same rules apply here as in rules 3 and 4 above.

6) Be sure and mention the conditions, like wind direction and speed. And give us a quick summary of your equipment. This is a gear site; we all want to know what our buddies are shooting.

7) To qualify, you must be a member posting on your own account. If you want your kids to shoot, they must post on their own accounts. (Sorry, just too messy for the judges to figure out what’s going on.)

8) We reserve the right to change or adjust the rules as necessary to achieve this challenge's intent. Remember, this is not a shooting contest. It’s a challenge to determine your MER with your hunting rifle and hunting gear.

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.

10) All shots must be recorded on video, meaning you must use a Phoneskope, target cam, or similar device so we can see your bullet hitting or missing the target. We don't need videos of you walking all the way to your target with a shaky cell phone. Please keep these videos short and to the point so we don't have to manage hours of video. All videos must have 'Rokslide Cold Bore Challenge' in their title.

How Points are Counted:

--Every qualified participant who shoots and posts videos of their two shots gets one entry. (regardless of hit or miss)

--Every qualified participant who claims an MER beyond 600 yards, hits their first two shots (between 575 and 625), and completes the two additional shots at their MER beyond 600 yards will get an extra entry. Hitting the farther target is not required for the extra entry. If you miss one of your first two shots, you won't be eligible to shoot the farther MER, but you'll still get one entry like everyone else.

--For every member with at least 300 posts (on the day we qualify you), we'll double your entries.--it pays to be an active member!

--So, sub-600-yard MER gets 1 point. Two sub-600-yard hits AND two over-600-yard shots will get you 2 points.
Members with more than 300 posts receive double points, allowing them to have up to 4 points.


This is not a competition, but because we're generous and have some great sponsors, we’ll be DRAWING for killer prizes for our qualifying members (Rokslide staff and family members can shoot but can't win the prizes)

Our staff will watch the thread to ensure entry rules are followed. If you don’t fix your post in a reasonable amount of time, we’ll delete it (sorry, we don’t have time to chase!)

We will draw from those who complete the challenge according to the rules posted above.
 
Sponsors in no particular order -

Swarovski Optik - ATC Spotting Scope


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Shoot2Hunt - 0-600 Class 2026, One spot with a twist.

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Shoot2Hunt - Rokstok

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Unknown Munitions - 100 Rounds of loaded ammo 300 Rum or less

Ammo.jpg

Lilja Barrels - Barrel Certificate

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MER 650
Tikka 22creed
88eldms
DIY rokstok
Swfa 3-9
Cgs hyperion k
Shooting prone off a pack using left hand as rear support.

600 yard qualifier shot#1 landed just a smidgen low of center. 55° overcast 7-8 MPH wind left to right. Shot it with @Ethan Jolma

Day#2 qualifier miss just high right caught edge of plate. No wind. That'll be all for me this year it looks like.
 

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MER 500 yards
Tikka 6mm Creedmore
103gr ELD-X
Homemade rokstok
Fixed 10 SWFA
TB Ultra 7

Wind was 7-8 mph from left. Shot prone off of pack. Missed vitals high 1st shot.
Shot #2. Hit. Circled in red. Wind was 1 mph
From left


 

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MER 650
Bergara 6.5 PRC, XLR Atom chassis, 18in Proof barrel. Banish 30.
Leupold VX-5 3x15
Revic BR4
Harris bipod on Mlok adapter
147 ELD-M hand loads at 2813
Maddy on spotter duty.

Day 1. 580 yards. 6:30 am. 5800 feet. Wind 5-8 mph from 30 degrees with gusts 10+


Hit!
I timed between wind gusts. Sounds more windy on video. I'd like to say I would pass this shot on an animal and move closer. But good practice.

Set up pics.
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Day 2
Same 580 yard shot as Day 1.
8:30pm. Minimal wind.
Hit!
2/2 in qualifying round.
I'll move up the mountain to 650.

Day 3.
657 yards. 7am. Wind down canyon but from about 2 O'clock.
Hit.

Updated view. Was close to being to late and having issues with the sun.
20250627_072720.jpg

Day 4.
Work dictated I spend the night in the desert so took advantage and did last shot.
It was hot and windy. I held right edge of box. Thought about 1 minute of wind. Was closer to 2.
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It was a miss. Great elevation but the wi d got me
3/4.
Next year I want to do some steep angle shots.
 
This is my first time doing the Cold bore challenge. I’ve done the bow challenge on the past. But the rifle one is new!

MER 600. Hope to get the 2 the qualifying shots then go further out to 900 yards.

Shooting a Tikka action in an XLR chassis with 6 creedmoor proof prefit

Nightforce NX8 2.5-20x50 scope

TBAC Suppressor

Ranging with a Leica rangefinder

Self Filming thru a spotter with magview system



Shooting Berger 108 elite hunters going 3050 fps at muzzle.

Shooting at a 7 inch steel plate. Shooting in the mtns across some ravines slightly up hill. I Hiked up and hung target on a tree. Tied it up with paracord. We will see how long that lasts hopefully for 2 shots? haha







Planning to doing the two qualifying and then go further yardage

Day 1 target is at 585 yards from me. Slight uphill shot. Using a bipod and my bino pack as rear bag. Because of the angle thou don’t need much in the back. 0700, 53 degrees out and sunny. 9300 DA. Wind is all over the place but blowing 8 mph pretty much head on at my position.




Target is in the big tree that is out by itself.



Filming using my phone thru a spotter using the mag view system.

Day 1. Looked like I hit it right in the middle. Had to hurry to go do some house chores so didn’t get close up pic . Will hike up and get closer look later.


Day 2. Similar conditions as yesterday. 0756. DA 9790. Temp 65. Winds is 7-8 mph at my location pretty much head on slightly to going to left of bullet path. I tried to setup in similar area but was slightly different. 595 yards today. Shot hit target!!. Hit Touch left and low.


Here is pic of the 2 qualifying shots.



Day 3. It’s been awhile since I could get back out. Setup a 10” target. Just set it on the ground propped up by a rock. Time is 0830. Range is 960 yards. DA 9752, Temp is 63. Winds are variable. Blowing 7 mph at me at shooting position. Lying prone with bipod. Shooter app says to dial 5.8 mils







Missed! Looked like hit just to the right of the target.

Shot 4. 11:15. 81 degrees. 10,400 DA. Windy blowing all different directions. Shot was 908 yards I think….Honestly had a tough time getting a good range on it.

Shot and a miss! Have no clue where it went. Can’t see in video either.






It’s been a fun challenge. Thanks for putting it on
 
Tikka 6mm Creed, Rokstok, SWFA 3-9
109 ELDM going 2980fps

Starting at 600yds and will move farther if qualified. EDIT: MER of 675yds.

Day 1. Temp=53F, DA=504. 602yds. Prone over pack. Subtle left to right wind 2mph.

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Day 2. Temp = 56f, DA = 5750. 609yds, slight thermal downdraft LtoR, held .2 L.

Day 2 shooting position is standing bent over the SxS tailgate. I don't road hunt but opportunities during road travel happen.

Front rest is a MDT sandbag that lives in the SxS, rear rest stacked pack and bag. Steep uphill shot.

0654511.jpg


I made 2 hits at 600, and for spirit of this challenge will attempt two shots at ~675yds. (I would not shoot at game animals this far)

Day 3: Temp = 62F, DA = 5300. 672yds. Prone over pack. LtoR upslope thermal 3-4mph. Held left .4

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Day 4: 658 yards, T = 61, DA = 400. There ended up being a dirt mound/berm in my way to get to this distance and we had a pile of shooting to get to. Found a spot I could see most of the target, in modified prone with body quartered sideways above the rifle and decided to try it. Bad idea. Shot right over it and could tell by recoil tracking I had poor position.


 
MER 600 yards
Howa mini 6mm ARC
Hornady match 108 ELDM
Trybe defense chassis with vertical grip
Sig sauer whiskey 4 4-16x44 MOA
Banish 30 suppressor
MDT GRND pod bipodIMG_3118.jpegIMG_3119.jpeg
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Day 1 missed high. Left and right was great. 62 degrees wind out of the east at 5-7 mph, sunny.

Day 2 missed high. Not much wind to speak of, 68 degrees, sunny.

Both days I missed a touch high. I think my barrel has sped up some and I need to shoot over the garmin more to check data. I’m about a click high. I about didn’t dial up from yesterday but wanted to verify that it wasn’t a rear bag issue. Both shots impacted same elevation. Need to true the dope more but definitely fun shooting a new 6mm cartridge over my 280 ai, 300 win, and 6.5s.
 
MER 650yds
Shooting a 10" plate.

1st shot, hit upper right edge

haven't shot this rifle since late March. dropped it on left side on soft dirt and rocks from 24" before shooting.
haven't shot a bolt rifle at all for a month

598 yds slightly uphill, calm wind
45F, DA 10,900
3.2mil up, hold 0.1 left

rokslide special 243, factory stock and barrel
maven rs1.2
sportsmatch rings
scythe ti

22" barrel
112 match burners at 2870fps
starline brass
h5350

Front rest was the mollinator on my pack, no rear rest, just my hand on the butt and my shoulder. A little wobbly!

PXL_20250614_130030079.jpgPXL_20250614_130430780.jpgPXL_20250614_131037761.jpg


Plate size proof since I hit edge
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Day 2

Same area, just slightly different spot for the Target and a different shooting position. It was 65° and the Sun was setting. 4 to 5 mph breeze right to left.

The grass was a little high, but I probably still could have shot prone. I decided to make the position a little more interesting and put my bag on top of this Boulder to get above the grass, so I have this awkward position where I was sort of lying on top of the boulder but not quite.

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12000DA, adjust 3.1mil up, held 0.3 right. Miss. I doubt it's my zero. The shot break didn't feel good

 
Day one. Goal MER 725

T3x .243AI
Rokstok
AB Raptor 8
LRHS 3-12 in sports match rings
109 ELDM

Shot taken seated off Leofoto 324CEX.
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A miss on shot one at 603. Not very close either. That's an 8" plate with a 10" circle.

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Hit was my son @Bridger1115 at 407
Closer miss was my daughter at same 407

Shot 2, another miss. Super disappointed, but a really good reminder that seated on a side hill is not the same as prone over a backpack with good rear support. Elevation was good (on the high side but ok) on this one, but I forgot to recheck my level after adjusting position and ended up canted right. Shot broke toward the right side of my wobble zone as well. Who has two thumbs and needs to win the S2H course prize? This guy!

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Challenge done, with a serious "we suck at shooting" feeling going on. Silver lining, my son shot great!
 
Goal MER 407 yards

Tikka T3x .223
SWFA 6x
77SMK

Shot seated off tripod
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Shot 1 was a hit!

Hit is mine, miss was my dad, and other miss is my sister. Looks like I'm the best shooter in my family this year 🙂
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Shot 2 was another hit on the 8" plate. Again at 407, seated off my tripod.
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MER 425 yards

Tikka t3 .270 17” barrel
Swfa 3-9x42
Evo Harvester suppressor
130 gr. Ttsx
3-5 mph wind left to right

Day 1 425 yard 6:20 am 7600 ft 55 degrees
Miss low right
IMG_4317.jpeg


Shot 2
420 yards
Sunny with a 2-3 mph breeze right to left. Beautiful day 73 degrees and sunny.
Made a .2 mil adjustment based off my first shot which was bad miss. I will recheck my MV and run the numbers again and practice more this year. I really enjoyed the challenge and it made me think more about my setup and what I need to get better.
Shot 2 was a hit.


 
MER: 608 yards
Goal MER: 1000 yards


Rifle: Fierce CT Rogue, 6.5 PRC 22" barrel
Leica 3-18 X 44i Scope
Gunwerks 8ights Ti suppressor
Gunwerks Elevate 2.0 bipod
Bullet: Hornady Eld-X 143 w/ 2930 velocity

target.jpg
rifle.jpg

Day 1:

HIT


Calm conditions. Shooting direction = East (had sunrise glare)



Day 2:

HIT

608 yards


Slight left to right breeze. Pushed my bullet a little right of center.

range.jpg


Day 3: HIT

MER: 1001 yards.


Calm evening.

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Day 4: Miss

MER: 1008 yards


Hot and calm. I felt myself pull a hair left as I fired the shot and at 1008 yards and I hit left of the target.



Conclusion - such a fun and insightful event. Makes it seem real when no practice is allowed before or between shots. Thanks for putting this on each year!!
 
Day 1: 585 Yards

Rifle:


Tikka 22 Creedmoor Shooting 80 ELDX Handloads (this shot was 3288 FPS)
McGowen 20" 8 Twist Stainless Barrel
Maven RS1.2 MIL Scope
Wood Rokstok
Polonium K Suppressor with LS Wild Cover
UM Tikka Low Rings
Waters Magazine
UM Bolt Knob and Handle
High Desert Bottom Metal
SRS Trinity Tail

22 creed.jpg

Shooting Position:

I shot off my pack with a Shoot2Hunt Molinator as front rest, very light filled rear bag from LS Wild to fill void under off hand. Shooting from down in a desert flat/wash up into a very steep mountain/horse shoe shaped rim/canyon.

shot position day 1.jpg

Target and Range:

The target is a 12" gong that I attempted to paint a 10" circle on. It's closer to 9.5" for the white portion. Oh well.
target.jpg

Ranged at 585 yards with my Revic Binos.

ranging gong.jpg

The Shot:

Dialed for elevation and held 0.2 Mils for a 2 O Clock updraft and then compressing 2-4 MPH wind at the target. Even though this shot is suppressed it is LOUD, this horse shoe canyon feeds all the sound directly back to the shooter from this position and is just weird on phone audio.



day 1 impact.jpg


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Day 2: 578 yards.


Rifle:

Same as Day 1.

Shooting Position:
Today I purposely set up with some cats claw brush in my way to force me to shoot seated in order to get high enough for the bullet to not be interrupted. This is very common in hunting situations where I frequent.

My go to seated position is a Spartan Javelin with "long legs" snapped into the Rokstok Spartan slot, and bear hugging my backpack as a rear rest/support. This can be as stable (wobble zone) as prone with practice.

shot position day 2.jpg

Target and Range:

Same target and nearly the same spot as yesterday. Target ranged at 578 yards from where I setup using my Revic Binos.

The Shot:

I dialed for elevation and attempted to make a wind call. The ground temp was 111 degrees F with the shot crossing a creek bottom that is always 15-20 degrees cooler. It was also with a shifting wind that was hard to judge, especially since I left my Kestrel at home.

Having shot in this terrain very often I knew I had a steady 3-5 MPH 11 O clock wind at the shooting position with gusts close to 10 MPH; but I wasn't get much feedback from the vegetation at the target. This lead me to believe the wind had either shifted or was nearly dead at the target from the mountain blockage; but I figured I would hold for the 11 O clock steady wind value from shooting position.

I waited between gusts and took the shot using my bullet mark on the target as my aim point. I ended up hitting the left edge of my bullet mark within the 9" white portion of my target. I should have held dead center target.


Check out that WEAK baby .224 bullet's knock down power! Haha.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 3: 809 Yards.

Rifle:


Same as day 1.

Shooting Position:
I hiked across a desert wash up to a steep knob that overlooks the surrounding desert bottom. The shooting position was kneeling with both knees on my pack and belly/chest laying on a long "diving board" upward/sideways sloping rock.

I unclipped my bino harness and took it off to use as a rear support. I used my rear bag as a front support by looping it over the suppressor/barrel and sliding down to the fore-end of the stock.

shot position day 3.JPG


Target and Range:
I used the same target as days 1 and 2. I set it up across a powerline access road and hiked to the knob. The Revic binos ranged the gong at 809 yards.


The Shot:
In this position the wobble zone was decent to strong, but controllable with good breathing and fundamentals. I did dry fire twice and they both felt good, so I went ahead and dialed up 4.4 MILs.

There was no measurable wind at the shooting position due to a 9 O Clock wind being completely blocked by the knob I was on. In looking at the vegetation through my scope both mid way and at the target, I knew I had an almost full 10 MPH wind hold. Due to the wobble zone, I held somewhere around 1 MIL left. This turned out to be a touch too strong and I hit left side of the target again, but within the white 9" portion of the target. Listen closely on the video for the delayed steel impact noise picked up by the phone audio.


target day 3.JPG


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Day 4: 986 Yards.
Rifle:
Same.


Shooting Position:
This is a very long shot and I wanted to give myself the best chance to eliminate variables. I shot prone off my pack with my light filled rear bag from LS Wild.

Throwing the fore-end up on the Shoot2Hunt Molinator front bag ended up being too high of elevation, so I spun my pack 90 degrees and pinched it between the packs Sherman pocket and the side of the Molinator.

Shooting from a steep knob down to an Aqueduct access road that would give me a clear line, free of vegetation to the target.

IMG_1038.jpg



Target and Range:
I used the same target as days 1-3. After I drove the Jeep down the powerline road and back up to the top of the knob, I setup my Revics on a tripod and ranged the target at 985.8 Yards.


The Shot:
Here is the live raw video, I didn't edit it down to just the impact like the other shots, so you'll be able to see/hear the whole process.

When I setup the target I had just a breath of a 2-3 MPH wind coming from 3-4 O clock. By the time I drove down the road, up the knob, and got setup, I was seeing a 2-4 MPH 12-1 O Clock wind. There was not enough feedback at the target or midway point to see if there was a wind switch. I don't think folks realize just how common it is to have a completely differing wind at a target versus at shooter.

Revics had called for 6.1 MIL up, I did give it an extra tenth to 6.2 hoping the headwind continued to at least the mid way point of the flight (it did). I held 0.2 MIL right to accommodate for the wind I had seen at the target.

When watching the video, use headphones if you can and have the volume at a decent level. Also, after watching it once, zoom in on the target. There is very minimal target feedback, I could see the gong sway in my scope at 10X and I could see the shadow of the gong on the ground sway. I could not see where on the target it impacted. You can also hear the very delayed and very faint sound of the steel impacting if you have the volume up.


I am very glad I gave it the extra 0.1 MIL otherwise it would have been a miss.

Target Final Day.jpg


Final Thoughts:

This is such a fun and frustrating challenge for me every year. It absolutely kills me to only shoot one shot over the course of 4 days, but it is an excellent reset for me. It's also a fantastic simulation of a hunting trip where you can wait a week or two and not get to shoot at an animal.

Since you know you only have one chance, and it is on video, I did find my adrenalin pumping a bit during the shots as if I was shooting at a target animal. This is a great way to kickoff a fun summer of shooting, scouting, and getting outside despite the 110+ degree temps!

Thanks very much to @robby denning @Ryan Avery @Justin Crossley and @realunlucky for hosting this event. Thanks a bunch to @Formidilosus for finally getting me to use equipment that doesn't fail in the field easily the last few years. If ya'll could have seen some of the "trails" and "roads" I had to take to get to these shots, you would 100% guess the scope and gun were not zeroed anymore bouncing in the back seat of the Jeep.

Thanks a ton to all the sponsors who make this happen, and good luck over the next few weeks to everyone who makes it out to shoot!
 
Day 1
500 yards
Weatherby 7-08
Maven RS 1.2


Missed, too high. I'll look at my elevation to get it corrected for day 2.20250614_090807.jpg

Day 1 I adjusted elevation to 3.1mil. On day 2 I adjusted to 2.9 mil. Looks like 2.8 would have been the money shot. There was a slight wind from the southwest but I didn't hold for wind. Also on both days I was shooting north at 630/730 am and the sun was glaring in my right eye. Same setup on both days.




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Mer goal 750

Ruger American Gen 2 Predator 6ARC
Scythe Ti
Razor LHT 4.5-22
108 ELDM 2670
Maven cs.1a w/ MagView

Day 1 595 yards
6-10mph wind from behind pushing to the right. Held 2moa left of center.
Slightly downhill shot using a front bipod and a sweater for the rear rest.

Day 2 595 yards
4-7mph wind from behind to the left. Held just off the edge to the right.
Will be moving out somewhere around 750 yards which is right at 1800fps at the elevation I hunt.

Day 3 746 yards
No noticeable wind today so I held center.
Had pretty bad sun this morning and some dust that hadn’t settled from dropping the target, this made it a little more challenging to get great target confirmation plus it kinda washed out with the background. The result was a little bit longer to break the shot. Also had to the range because I got mudded out from the pivots at my other spot.

Day 4 752 yards
No wind again but I wasn’t able to connect. Not really sure whether I missed low or high but I think I was just slightly over the top. Hard to tell from the video so I included a picture with a circle with the miss impact.
IMG_1746.jpegIMG_1748.jpegIMG_1778.jpg
 
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