Cold Bore Challenge Q&A Thread

[sndmn11]

We are going to keep the rules as stated for this year.

If you hit your first two at 600 already, and want to shoot two more days, you only have to push it out a bit.
Try 625 or 650 maybe?

That was the plan. I saw some third and fourth shots in that qualifying range around 600 and thought I might have misread somewhere.

 

[Justin Crossley]

That was the plan. I saw some third and fourth shots in that qualifying range around 600 and thought I might have misread somewhere.

Yeah, I'm going to make some adjustments around that portion of the challenge next year.

 

[686]

I just wanted to post to thank you guys [mention]robby denning [/mention] [mention]Justin Crossley [/mention], and the other mods and sponsors for putting this on. It’s been very interesting reading people’s posts. It got me out and practicing, and aspiring to do better. In fact, it changed my practice completely, instead of starting close and moving back, starting farther out and taking the time to work up that cold bore shot. It’s actually a little “stressful” trying to make that cold bore shot, and I learned a lot the first time about what positions and supports get me the most stable. It also inspired me to get a new spotting scope setup (Swarovski ATX 65, new carbon tripod, phoneskope) so I can record /spot longer shots better, and make the most out of each shot. Work/family/vacation schedule won’t cooperate for me to make the consecutive shots this year, but I’m definitely looking forward to next year, and this has given me a better way to practice when I’m getting tuned up for hunting season. Great idea and thanks again.

A few pics for fun. New spotter setup in the back, 300WBY in the front. I’m lucky to have a nice setup at my folk’s place in Central Texas.

 

[robby denning]

I just wanted to post to thank you guys [mention]robby denning [/mention] [mention]Justin Crossley [/mention], and the other mods and sponsors for putting this on. It’s been very interesting reading people’s posts. It got me out and practicing, and aspiring to do better. In fact, it changed my practice completely, instead of starting close and moving back, starting farther out and taking the time to work up that cold bore shot. It’s actually a little “stressful” trying to make that cold bore shot, and I learned a lot the first time about what positions and supports get me the most stable. It also inspired me to get a new spotting scope setup (Swarovski ATX 65, new carbon tripod, phoneskope) so I can record /spot longer shots better, and make the most out of each shot. Work/family/vacation schedule won’t cooperate for me to make the consecutive shots this year, but I’m definitely looking forward to next year, and this has given me a better way to practice when I’m getting tuned up for hunting season. Great idea and thanks again.

A few pics for fun. New spotter setup in the back, 300WBY in the front. I’m lucky to have a nice setup at my folk’s place in Central Texas.

Hey, you are welcome. Thank you for the feedback, and that’s what it was designed to do, get people practicing and making an honest assessment of the true capabilities.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Big thanks to @robby denning and @Justin Crossley for putting this together. Haven't had this much fun shooting in a while, and it's inspired me to get out and shoot even when it's 100+ degrees here in the desert (since I moved here full time I've taken most of late June-August off of shooting).

My son JJ and I made it out early this morning and got the 4th shot completed! With the challenge being over, we also stepped the rifle back past 800 yards for the first time to confirm some hits at 850 yards. Calcs and chart update look really good at 850 yards, starting to get on the edge of needing more magnification for confident target shooting for my eyes. It was very difficult to see the triangle aim point, but aiming at the center of the bright green circle was more than achievable. Probably calling this rifle a 900 yard MER 10" target gun as it sits with the max 9 power SWFA. Would probably be willing to stretch it out further on deer and elk as the 7 SAUM and 175 ELDX has plenty of kill left, all depends on several factors.

Here's an 8 shot "group" from the Tikka (two full magazines plus one in the chamber for each string). Let barrel cool for about 5 minutes between strings. I always do two full magazines when confirming hits at new yardages, with a little bit of time in between groups. This was also done on a folding plastic table seated in a chair, with front and rear bags. MUCH different feel from the cold bore field position shots as expected.

 

[Geewhiz]

Big thanks to @robby denning and @Justin Crossley for putting this together. Haven't had this much fun shooting in a while, and it's inspired me to get out and shoot even when it's 100+ degrees here in the desert (since I moved here full time I've taken most of late June-August off of shooting).

My son JJ and I made it out early this morning and got the 4th shot completed! With the challenge being over, we also stepped the rifle back past 800 yards for the first time to confirm some hits at 850 yards. Calcs and chart update look really good at 850 yards, starting to get on the edge of needing more magnification for confident target shooting for my eyes. It was very difficult to see the triangle aim point, but aiming at the center of the bright green circle was more than achievable. Probably calling this rifle a 900 yard MER 10" target gun as it sits with the max 9 power SWFA. Would probably be willing to stretch it out further on deer and elk as the 7 SAUM and 175 ELDX has plenty of kill left, all depends on several factors.

Here's an 8 shot "group" from the Tikka (two full magazines plus one in the chamber for each string). Let barrel cool for about 5 minutes between strings. I always do two full magazines when confirming hits at new yardages, with a little bit of time in between groups. This was also done on a folding plastic table seated in a chair, with front and rear bags. MUCH different feel from the cold bore field position shots as expected.

View attachment 567554

Eh. Still pushing 0.5 MOA @ 850. Better luck next time.


Kidding. Damn good shooting there.

 

[Antares]

Shot my second shot today. Updated my post. A miss. Disappointing. Wind got me. Oh well, it was a good learning experience. Thanks again for putting this on.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I am very interested to see what the results of this challenge are when it’s all said and done. Lots of misses at “MER”. I think people in general believe their MER is farther than it actually is and I believe this challenge will end up showing it. I also think the participants in this challenge are in the upper tier of shooters, both on RS and especially in the hunting community.

 

[Bluumoon]

Proud of my wife @SpicyIrish for pushing past her comfort level and shooting at 450 yards! She's competitive and doesn't like to lose, this might end up costing me some ammo.

 

[Bluumoon]

I am very interested to see what the results of this challenge are when it’s all said and done. Lots of misses at “MER”. I think people in general believe their MER is farther than it actually is and I believe this challenge will end up showing it. I also think the participants in this challenge are in the upper tier of shooters, both on RS and especially in the hunting community.

I learned I need a lot more practice in the wind. Will be curious to look at equipment patterns too. At first glance a higher percentage of the 600 yard plus group were making hits compared to the under 600 yard group. Probably a direct reflection of who is already practicing at longer distances regularly.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Well finished up. I wanted to push it a bit and ended up with two misses barely (I know, a miss is a miss) off the plate at 744.
The furtherest I’ve shot an animal is 500 yards and I think it’ll stay that way. I just don’t shoot enough to get a feel for wind calls past 500/600.
Great challenge and thanks to the mods for organizing.
My take away is just because you can doesn’t mean you should (for most), anything past 400 is a long way, especially on an animal!
I also missed a bear the size of a VW bug at 135 yards about two weeks before the challenge, so there’s that picture is from a mile away

 

[Bluumoon]

Proud of my wife @SpicyIrish for pushing past her comfort level and shooting at 450 yards! She's competitive and doesn't like to lose, this might end up costing me some ammo.

and... 2nd shot was absolutely dead center.

 

[BunnyThumper]

Any chance we can push the end date back to 5 July?

 

[Justin Crossley]

Any chance we can push the end date back to 5 July?

Yes, we are good with extending the deadline to finish by the end of July 5th.

 

[BunnyThumper]

Yes, we are good with extending the deadline to finish by the end of July 5th.

That’s awesome, thank you! Riley and I will get it done by then.

Thanks from @TheCougar

 

[sndmn11]

I finished up today https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/2023-cold-bore-challenge.310578/post-3110422

I think this challenge could be a double-edged sword. I exceeded what I thought I would be able to do and my confidence has elevated. It also has highlighted the idea of "maximum" in my mind to being a rare sort of thing, rather than a most of the time.

 

[TheCougar]

Yes, we are good with extending the deadline to finish by the end of July 5th.

We finished today… we both missed our final shots. We both blew our chance for some sweet prizes. What’s worse is that I have no idea what I did to miss. He dialed wrong…. As he said on the truck ride home, “better luck next year”! Thanks @robby denning and @Justin Crossley for the CBC and the great training and motivation for us.

 

[Justin Crossley]

We finished today… we both missed our final shots. We both blew our chance for some sweet prizes. What’s worse is that I have no idea what I did to miss. He dialed wrong…. As he said on the truck ride home, “better luck next year”! Thanks @robby denning and @Justin Crossley for the CBC and the great training and motivation for us.

Hitting or missing has nothing to do with prize eligibility.

 

[DangerRanger]

It’s not a competition, it’s an opportunity to embarrass yourself to make you stronger

 

[TheCougar]

Hitting or missing has nothing to do with prize eligibility.

Well, I missed my BOAL on the last shot! I halved my wind hold and missed right. Seems to be a trend with me.