SA Friday
07-18-2018, 12:11
I shot this match last weekend. It's unlike anything I've ever shot before. It's by far the most physically and mentally challenging competition shooting I've ever done. One of the range officers at the match wrote this up and instead of repeating much of what he said, I thought I would just share what he wrote. There were NO military or LE teams shooting this match. There were no Active Duty members shooting this match either. The closest was a CO AF Guardsman from Greeley, and myself (Retired AF). There were a LOT of the Doritos targets for the carbine shooter. I shot carbine. The furthest I ranged one was 510 yds. I doubt there will be as many next year. MOA targets occasionally are tough. More than 50% of a match of these was demoralizing. If you want to challenge yourself, this is the match. I shot roughly 325 rounds of hand loaded 77 SMK rounds out of my 18" White Oak barreled AR, and about 150 pistol rounds from a Glock 17. My partner, RJ Dussart, shot about 300 rounds from his 6mm Creedmoor and about the same as me from his STI 2011 pistol. We came in 5th overall. I'll probably be going back next year. Thank god I was working out this year. No way I would have finished if I hadn't.
Written by Michael J. Myers
Well, Wyoming Tactical Rifle Challenge (WTRC) 2018 is in the books!
Had a blast riding a little red four wheeler all over the back country in Northern Wyoming at the Bliss Ranch. I was volunteering as a Range Officer spotting two man teams engaging both pistol targets and targets out to just over 1200 yards.
The Challenge: Having shot this before, man, IT IS A CHALLENGE. Think you’re a hot stuff shooter? Challenge your stamina, with 4 Courses spread over two days, covering 1.5 to just at 2 miles at ~3200 elevation... all under 2 hrs per course. Challenge your gear, shooting ~35 targets rifle and just as many carbine targets, then throw in from and 6-20 pistol targets both shooters have to engage, per course over about 1.5 miles and 7 shooting stations of various technical difficulty and restrictions. Your weapons will get hot, things will break, mistakes will be made, targets missed and time may run out.
The shooters: Both shooters must carry full size service pistols, 9mm or larger as all pistol targets must be engaged by both shooters:
One shooter is rocking the carbine (.223 Less than 20”, either bolt or gas) engaging targets from the sadistic and torturous “Doritos” (4” triangles) to 10” squares out to just over 600 yards. The other shooter is running the long gun, engaging similar sized targets out to 1200 yards (Long gun is caliber of choice up to 338, muzzle velocity under 3150). Both shooters must carry all gear and ammunition to shoot the course. Sound easy? Bro, this is in Wyoming, in July, and the wind can BLOW!
Challenge your team skills:
Each station is comprised of an approach surely to get your heart pumped to at least 140 bpm, now break out binoculars or spotting scope and identify the given number of targets. Range targets. Now spot for your partner while he engages. Miss low left, communicate. Or... He hits first shot, feeling PUMPED! But wait, 8” plate at 200 yards, shooter impacted low left (you can see this because the plate spun)... communicate to your partner, that damn Dorito at 258 yards is next... Center punched it, Nice! Cease fire, there’s a damn deer grazing next to the target! Move to the next target of opportunity, re-engage.
This WTRC event is truly a challenge, but it’s more mental than physical. It’s a head game, and one where you’ve GOT to communicate and keep each other calm. Missed targets deduct from your score, targets not identified and engaged hurt your score worse (so pack enough ammo and a spare bolt!).
Like ShamWow: But wait! There’s more. You bank most points during the 4 courses of fire, shot Friday and Saturday with enough time to rest in between. On Sunday, mid morning starts the team on team event, and people, it’s a DRAG race! One shooter engages the Texas Star with a pistol at 10 yards, oh and she’s a fun one! Pistol shooter finishes up at 25 yards with a popper. Pistol clear, Carbine shooter has been furiously loading magazines, places carbine on the floating platform and saddles up to engage a Texas Star at ~150 yards (sounds easy, but remember, it’s going to start spinning immediately, and your wobbling on a platform suspended by chains)... Texas Star cleared, 8” square at 200 and 8” square at 250, carbine clear, shooter dismount, RIFLE UP! Precision rifle on 8” targets at 400 and 600 and a flopper at 750 (yardage’s vary year to year, so they are likely not spot on). First to finish wins the opportunity to advance. Teams that place in the top 10 get additional points added to their course scores for the overall scores and finishing placement.
You will get hot, your rifles will get hot, your pistols will get hot. But cheer up, there’s an end to each stage with a Glory pot of cold water and a ride in a side by side back to the starting position. (We’ll take pity on you and not make you hump it all the way back).
Some shooters are gluttons for punishment and LOVE IT! Some shooters cuss the course, cuss each other, cuss the RO’s, and hate life in general, then spend the next 360+ days talking about how much fun they had and what they’ll do next year.
This shoot is open to all teams, Sponsored teams, friends, family, boys and girls of all ages. This year saw a Father and his young son shoot, a husband & wife, as well as team mates who either seem like they hate each other’s guts, or are the pinnacle of professional... all of which are great ambassadors or the sport.
Why is this event so fun? Simple, it also a fundraiser to benefit shooter voted Veteran’s groups. That’s right, all proceeds go to groups nominated and voted on by the shooters!
Thanks to all who make this event possible:
Chuck and Denise McIntosh
Frank and Patty Bliss
Thanks to the RO’s, scorekeepers, and support staff who donate their time. (Too many people to name, so please don’t be offended).
Thanks to the shooters. I’m proud to have met each and every one of you!
Incredible thanks go to the sponsors: Burris Optics #Burris (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/burris?source=feed_text), Proof Research #Proofresearch (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/proofresearch?source=feed_text), Mac’s Gun Works, The Shooting Range, Bartlein Barrels #Bartlein (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/bartlein?source=feed_text), Brux Barrels #Brux (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/brux?source=feed_text), Kreiger Barrels #Kreiger (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/kreiger?source=feed_text), Timney Triggers #Timney (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/timney?source=feed_text), Get-R-Dun Sanitation, Pokey’s (catering), and many MANY more, as well as local businesses and many personal contributions.
Most importantly, thanks go to the Veterans of this great country, who’ve either put their life on the line or sacrificed it such that we have the freedoms to enjoy this sport and our 2nd Amendment rights!!! YOU are who this shoot is for!
Written by Michael J. Myers
Well, Wyoming Tactical Rifle Challenge (WTRC) 2018 is in the books!
Had a blast riding a little red four wheeler all over the back country in Northern Wyoming at the Bliss Ranch. I was volunteering as a Range Officer spotting two man teams engaging both pistol targets and targets out to just over 1200 yards.
The Challenge: Having shot this before, man, IT IS A CHALLENGE. Think you’re a hot stuff shooter? Challenge your stamina, with 4 Courses spread over two days, covering 1.5 to just at 2 miles at ~3200 elevation... all under 2 hrs per course. Challenge your gear, shooting ~35 targets rifle and just as many carbine targets, then throw in from and 6-20 pistol targets both shooters have to engage, per course over about 1.5 miles and 7 shooting stations of various technical difficulty and restrictions. Your weapons will get hot, things will break, mistakes will be made, targets missed and time may run out.
The shooters: Both shooters must carry full size service pistols, 9mm or larger as all pistol targets must be engaged by both shooters:
One shooter is rocking the carbine (.223 Less than 20”, either bolt or gas) engaging targets from the sadistic and torturous “Doritos” (4” triangles) to 10” squares out to just over 600 yards. The other shooter is running the long gun, engaging similar sized targets out to 1200 yards (Long gun is caliber of choice up to 338, muzzle velocity under 3150). Both shooters must carry all gear and ammunition to shoot the course. Sound easy? Bro, this is in Wyoming, in July, and the wind can BLOW!
Challenge your team skills:
Each station is comprised of an approach surely to get your heart pumped to at least 140 bpm, now break out binoculars or spotting scope and identify the given number of targets. Range targets. Now spot for your partner while he engages. Miss low left, communicate. Or... He hits first shot, feeling PUMPED! But wait, 8” plate at 200 yards, shooter impacted low left (you can see this because the plate spun)... communicate to your partner, that damn Dorito at 258 yards is next... Center punched it, Nice! Cease fire, there’s a damn deer grazing next to the target! Move to the next target of opportunity, re-engage.
This WTRC event is truly a challenge, but it’s more mental than physical. It’s a head game, and one where you’ve GOT to communicate and keep each other calm. Missed targets deduct from your score, targets not identified and engaged hurt your score worse (so pack enough ammo and a spare bolt!).
Like ShamWow: But wait! There’s more. You bank most points during the 4 courses of fire, shot Friday and Saturday with enough time to rest in between. On Sunday, mid morning starts the team on team event, and people, it’s a DRAG race! One shooter engages the Texas Star with a pistol at 10 yards, oh and she’s a fun one! Pistol shooter finishes up at 25 yards with a popper. Pistol clear, Carbine shooter has been furiously loading magazines, places carbine on the floating platform and saddles up to engage a Texas Star at ~150 yards (sounds easy, but remember, it’s going to start spinning immediately, and your wobbling on a platform suspended by chains)... Texas Star cleared, 8” square at 200 and 8” square at 250, carbine clear, shooter dismount, RIFLE UP! Precision rifle on 8” targets at 400 and 600 and a flopper at 750 (yardage’s vary year to year, so they are likely not spot on). First to finish wins the opportunity to advance. Teams that place in the top 10 get additional points added to their course scores for the overall scores and finishing placement.
You will get hot, your rifles will get hot, your pistols will get hot. But cheer up, there’s an end to each stage with a Glory pot of cold water and a ride in a side by side back to the starting position. (We’ll take pity on you and not make you hump it all the way back).
Some shooters are gluttons for punishment and LOVE IT! Some shooters cuss the course, cuss each other, cuss the RO’s, and hate life in general, then spend the next 360+ days talking about how much fun they had and what they’ll do next year.
This shoot is open to all teams, Sponsored teams, friends, family, boys and girls of all ages. This year saw a Father and his young son shoot, a husband & wife, as well as team mates who either seem like they hate each other’s guts, or are the pinnacle of professional... all of which are great ambassadors or the sport.
Why is this event so fun? Simple, it also a fundraiser to benefit shooter voted Veteran’s groups. That’s right, all proceeds go to groups nominated and voted on by the shooters!
Thanks to all who make this event possible:
Chuck and Denise McIntosh
Frank and Patty Bliss
Thanks to the RO’s, scorekeepers, and support staff who donate their time. (Too many people to name, so please don’t be offended).
Thanks to the shooters. I’m proud to have met each and every one of you!
Incredible thanks go to the sponsors: Burris Optics #Burris (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/burris?source=feed_text), Proof Research #Proofresearch (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/proofresearch?source=feed_text), Mac’s Gun Works, The Shooting Range, Bartlein Barrels #Bartlein (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/bartlein?source=feed_text), Brux Barrels #Brux (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/brux?source=feed_text), Kreiger Barrels #Kreiger (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/kreiger?source=feed_text), Timney Triggers #Timney (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/timney?source=feed_text), Get-R-Dun Sanitation, Pokey’s (catering), and many MANY more, as well as local businesses and many personal contributions.
Most importantly, thanks go to the Veterans of this great country, who’ve either put their life on the line or sacrificed it such that we have the freedoms to enjoy this sport and our 2nd Amendment rights!!! YOU are who this shoot is for!