Las Vegas, NV Known Distance April 15-16th, 2023

[whangdoodle]

The first Known Distance in Nevada!
We had a sold out event for our small range with 9 shooters on the line. Most were returnees from our 25 meter events but two made the drive from California!
Our weekend started with a cold bore shot at 300 yards. 6 of our 9 shooters earned a custom 300 yard Morgan patch. Huzzah!

We had a target detection exercise thanks to some native species showing up at the range.
A flock of Gambel's Quail crossed the 100 and 150 yard berms.
A jack rabbit with his ears flipping in the wind settled in to watch the shoot from 247 yards.
A coyote ambled across the 360 yard line as well.
A sniper was dug in and only spotted once. They're sneaky and was half hidden behind a bush at 250 yards.

The rest of the day was spent getting actual dope from 25 to 400 yards and we fired a backwards AQT right after lunch.
We have two new Riflemen in our midst! Congratulations to our two California border raiders, James C. and Chris G!

Sunday proved a little hotter but still great weather. There's about 2 weeks of good weather in Las Vegas and our KD was right in the middle of it.
The spring flowers brightened up the range as we verified dope at 100 and two more AQTs were shot. We told tales of Timothy Murphy and Patrick Ferguson during lunch while the wind started showing up. It was decided we'd start our ranging exercises.

After mapping our reticles, we began ranging our Saturday morning interlopers.
Most range estimates among the shooters were within 20 yards. Helen L. got within 5yds!

Our last AQT featured high drama.
3 shooters on the line and it all came down to shooting a perfect stage 4.
James C. was fighting for a patch with his trusty, California approved, M1A battle rifle.
Devin P. needed 9 hits for a patch.
Nate E., who was 1 short on his previous AQT, needed 10.
Alas, fatigue had gotten the better of our shooters.
All three came away with the determination to earn it next time.
Riflemen Persist!

Most of our shooters melted away as we packed up the range to head over to long distance.
We are lucky to have steel targets out to 1500 yards so an unknown distance ranging exercise was on the curriculum.
Chris, Nate, and Devin joined us on range 9.

All three shooters began detecting targets beyond the marked berms. They were asked to pick a target and measure it in moa.

Nate picked the standing bear. Nearly 70" high, the bear roared at 740 yards as Nate dumped a 30 round magazine on him.
His calculation of 800 yds was more than enough to get good hits. Our three spotters lost count after 15.

Our next shooter, Chris, had picked a circle plate measured at 19" for a range estimation of 500 yards. The importance of an accurate measurement showed itself. Chris quickly remeasured and estimated the plate at 620 yds. He then made a string of hits on the plate with extreme accuracy. Next, he turned his attention to the bear that was still standing. We had verified Chris' data with a chronograph and another ballistic calculator which gave him the confidence to put 8 out of 10 rounds on the bear.

Our final shooter, Devin, had picked a kite that was set at 840 yards. His estimation of 792 was close enough for a quick string of fire that rang the 67" steel kite like a church bell.
It was a great way to signal the end of our weekend
The RSO raised the cold range flag and the sun started setting over Red Rock Canyon.

Pretty good fun.
Might have to do it again

[Mrs. Smith]

An incredible example of "Riflemen Persist!"  The desert challenges us physically and mentally in ways other climate zones cannot begin to.   Gentlemen, I salute you.   

[derschneller]

This was an excellent weekend and your efforts and knowledge are much appreciated. Bravo Zulu for all of the work that you put into the targets and instruction. Congrats to all the shooters earning patches, and for the final 3 applying everything with the unknown long range exercise. Just awesome!