2026 Cold Bore Challenge

[Q_Sertorius]

This will be my one and only entry.

I found a shady spot 650 yards from my favorite target and set up prone over backpack.

Tikka T3X .223
20” 1:8” twist OEM barrel;
SWFA 6x scope;
KRG E stock;
Airlock Nano suppressor;
ADI 69-grain SMK ammo.

Range: 650 yds (elevation 4.5 mils)
Wind call: light wind left to right about halfway to target. (Wind hold was 1 mil).
Temperature: 86 degrees Fahrenheit
Elevation: 2800 ASL

I did not see the target move when I fired, so I ended up shooting four times. Upon inspection once I hiked up there, I hit it all four times.

Sound effects provided by Connie the Wonder Mutt, Lucy the intrepid Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound, and various cattle.

 

[Mountainrancher]

Better late than never got my first shot in today.
Mer 500
Setup tikka t3x 6.5 cm chopped to the flutes
Unknown rings and level
Trijicon tenmile 3-18
Huxwerx ventum suppressor
Stockys vg stock
Caldwell bipod and a cheap rear bag
Shooting freedom munitions 123gn hpbt at 2731
Shot 1 was a miss. It was 77 degrees and a gusty wind around 15mph from about 90 degrees. Wind call was good but shot looks high I’m guessing the butt slipped down it’s a problem I’ve had before.

Shot 2 Hit. It was 74 with an under 5mph breeze coming at my face from about 45 degrees. It’s crazy the effect that lower wind has not just on the bullet but on confidence and the whole shot process.

Thank you to the staff and sponsors for making this yearly ass kicker happen!

 

[Antares]

MER = 450 yards

Target this year is a 10" plate at 583 yards, 9° uphill; hung under the lower of the two small trees on the hillside circled in red (below). In the spirit of this being a "challenge", the target is beyond my MER and I'm shooting it seated supported.

Tikka .223 w/ 18" bbl
69 gr SMK @ 2740
Rokstok
SWFA 6x
USOG30 HD w/ LS Wild cover

Shot 1:
July 4, 8:00 a.m.
55F, raining
400 ft ASL
Estimated wind L-R @ 3 mph

Position was seated with looped trekking poles in front, pack and jellyfish in rear, legs open.

Dialed elevation 4.8
Held left .6

MISS and DQ! Nice!

Shot 1 was a train wreck, so much so, I thought I should post it! Cheers!

I procrastinated this year until there were only 2 days left, so that forced my hand and meant I got whatever weather I got. Went out this morning, got set up for the shot, was just coming on target with the crosshairs and I prepped that trigger a tad too much and sent a warning shot across the bow. "Ok... that's kind of a rough start... f***!". I then had to decide whether to preserve the integrity of the CBC and let that wild miss be my only shot of the day, or DQ myself and try to at least take a real shot,... I chose to DQ'd myself. Ha!

I reloaded and held left .6, watched it miss left of the target, reloaded, cut my wind hold in half, shot again and got a hit... about 1 sec before my phone quit recording because the memory was full. What a cluster!

Mountain goats would not have stuck around after that "warning shot" but I think it's pretty likely a blacktail buck would've either stayed planted or trotted a short ways and then paused to look around.

Despite my performance, I am please with the rifle. It's had the suppressor removed/reinstalled, driven on dirt roads, and been on 3 commercial flights since I last shot it. Still seems zeroed.

Dog accompanied to observe and take notes.




I'm going to go shoot the same shot tomorrow morning (July 5) to finish the CBC. Hopefully I can perform a little better. Standby!