A gun doesn’t shoot straight. In reality a bullet starts to drop almost as soon as it leaves the barrel. So, in order to hit a target, you need to shoot high. Sights make the adjustment for you, to a point. You can “sight-in” your gun for a specific distance, again to a certain point.
So, what does it take to shoot accurately at 1,000 yards? Maybe 1,500 yards? Maybe a mile?
It’s all contingent on the type and quality of gun you have, as well as the type and quality of the sight (scopes are typical at long range). If you’re thinking about about your father’s deer rifle — don’t. These scopes can be adjusted up and down, left and right, to a certain point.
There are a few diehards who shoot with open sights. But, there is no way a person using open sights can compete with a person using a 24-power scope. The only person in this year’s challenge who is shooting with open sights was Ernest Jimenez, from California.
So, let’s get down to the real question. What does it take to hit a gallon jug (milk jug) at those distances?
Since a bullet starts to drop as soon as it leaves the barrel, how high do you have to aim in order to hit the jug? It’s not just shoot and adjust. There are mathematical calculations involved. Lots of calculations. You don’t need to be an engineer to figure it out . . . but it helps.
There are computer programs that will figure all this out, but then there are other variables, like outside temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, elevation of the range. Then there is the human element. Are the cartridges loading exactly the same? Is the barrel clean? Is is too clean? And, what are you failing to take into consideration?
Twenty-five of the best shooters in the western United States, plus a few other places, converged on North Springs Shooting Range last weekend for the International Milk Jug Challenge, sponsored by the Long Range Shooters of Utah. No one from Utah was allowed to shoot. That happens at another time.
Scott Olsen, manager of North Springs Shooting Range, explains how last year he became a legend. At 1,500 yards (by the way, that’s just shy of a mile), he is preparing for his first shot. Adam Bedont is helping him. How high does one need to aim in order to hit a milk jug at 1,500 yards? Oh, the wind is blowing. Did I mention wind? Once you’ve calculated how high you need to aim, then you need to make allowance for wind. A bullet tends to drift significantly while traveling 1,500 yards when the wind is blowing. But how much? How fast is the wind blowing? Will it continue to blow at the same speed?
So, Scott is settling in for his first shot. The dot in the middle of the crosshairs of the scope completely covers the milk jug. He and Adam think they have it figured out. Adam says to veer three marks to the left (that’s marks inside the scope). So, Scott counts, one, two, three, and pulls the trigger. Unfortunately, he forgot to count the first mark.
Did I say unfortunately? I should have said fortunately. It takes a few seconds to get to 1,500 yards . . . and all of a sudden there is a red stream coming from the milk jug. All this can only be seen through a spotting scope. Scott is still looking through the rifle scope. “What’s that?” he queries. And then the yelling starts. He hit it! First shot (it’s called cold-bore). No practice shots. And he hit it!
And that’s how a legend is born. Scott says he will never shoot at a milk jug at 1,500 yards again. He cannot do better and he cannot be beaten. Someone may tie him, but no one will ever beat him.
By the way, the calculations were to aim 140 feet above the jug and 6 inches to the left. Add to that a little bit of luck, and BINGO, it was perfect!
Adam also hit the jug, but it took six shots. If you’re interested, you can see both Scott’s and Adam’s amazing shots on YouTube.
And what does one get for hitting a milk jug at 1,500 yards? A sticker. It say’s “Milk Jug Challenge — 1,500 yards.” That’s it, but if you’re good enough, you can become a legend.
Why, you may ask? Probably George Mallory said it best when asked why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, “Because it’s there.”
The rules are, you get 10 shots in 10 minutes. At 1,000 yards 70 to 80 percent of the shooters hit the jug. Remember, these are the best shooters in the world. At 1,200 yards that percentage drops to 40 to 50. At 1,500 yards 30-40 percent are successful (within their 10 shots), and at at mile (1,760 yards) the percentage is very low. At that distance the trajectory of the bullet is like it’s falling out of the sky. Calculations better be perfect and your luck better be good.
They came from all over the world for this years’s International Milk Jug Challenge, including Michael Strike from Melbourne, Australia. He didn’t make the mile shot last year, so he’s here to give it another go.
Participants:
Michael Strike – Australia
Ernest Jimenez – California
Doug Ritter – Michigan
Nic Garza – Texas
James Negri – Texas
Rob Bernal- Texas
Jim Mehl- California
Jason Kelley – California
Milton Kelley – California
Jose Gardner – Colorado
Louis Smith IV – Colorado
Nick Morey – California
Bob Mckenney – California
Ryan Earp – California
Otter Prev – California
Max Ahlvers – Nevada
Anthony Marich – Nevada
Cody Bliss – Nevada
Chad Kinyon – Nevada
Bryant Barnson – Nevada
Bruce Baum – Nebraska
Chad Kinyon – Nevada
Steven Prevatt – California
Scott Kierstead – California
Connor Kierstead – California
RECREATION & TRAVEL: World class shooters come to North Springs for long-distance contest
Milk jug long range rifle with high powered scope