The satisfaction as I heard the ‘ding’ of my bullet hitting the metal target, earning my first One Mile Shot? YES, my cheeks hurt from the perma-grin!!!
What’s MY role?? …I’m not even in the video!
Well before Shepard Humphries and Scott Austin officially began the bespoke Nomad Rifleman experience near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, they “practiced” on me.
With rough metal targets placed from 100 to 2040 yards, in the high desert of Wyoming, we plinked a few times during each of the summer months in 2016 and 2017. They formulated effective coaching strategies to help a novice Long Range Rifle shooter and formulated future shooting platform measurements. They envisioned a professional chef cooking bacon and bison steaks, with the smells wafting over the shooters all day.
“Bacon & Bullets”; Yup, this concept had merit…
They studied, and studied some more, and trained to hone their shooting skills and coaching skills. They dreamed of a day when the doors would open so they could share this fun sport with people from all over the world!
In the mean time, I got to show up, plink away, and ride ATVs to see first-hand that the paint had chipped off my target when hit! Little did I realize how much I was actually learning along the way, too… Ranging distance, hold (my 7mm mag was aimed 98 feet(!!) above the target and looked dead-on thanks to my Vortex scope), adjusting turrets and getting a deeper understanding of MOAs, reading wind, spotting for each other…
We began hosting test groups. Would the experience we envisioned even be appealing to others? Or was this too ‘niche’? What worked well; what could we do better?! With practice and repetition, and world class coaching, my skills were growing in spite of myself. I was even helping other shooters reach their one mile shot goals!
Working our way out from 1760 yards, that once elusive one-mile shot, Shepard and I went for 1820 yards. HIT! …So why not farther?
We chose a little hillside where the ridges and curves of the landscape met, and the sagebrush was more sparse there. 2040 yards. (WHOA!)
We placed the 14 x 20 inch metal steel target on a t-post jutting up to hold the weight of the metal. The target was thick enough that the speed of sound would allow us to hear a ‘ding’ when hit, and the bullet wouldn’t travel through it.
The surrounding dirt and relatively sparse sagebrush allowed Shepard, my spotter, and me to potentially see where the dirt would kick up around the target were I to miss. We could then adjust my scope, read the Wyoming wind in a different hot minute, and take another shot. The first time getting on target took 9 times shots of honing in. Then, “DING!” Ahhh, that smile returned! How satisfying…
Three more shots; one more hit. Nice spotting, Shepard ~ YOU had the hard job! 😉
Why would anyone want to take a one mile shot?
Because I can.
Because I want to learn and grow and expand my ‘box’. …I live but once.
Because that ‘ding’ on a metal target, post actions that my coach and I took to make it happen ~ now THAT’s satisfying. “I DID THAT!”
My enjoyment of long range rifle shooting and going for the one mile shots (and beyond!), began in the rolling plains of Montana, 3 years prior.
Shepard and I helped our friend (and fellow Jackson Hole Shooting Experience coach) Andy Ward set up steel targets on his family’s farm to have some plinking fun. With everything from a 7mm Rem Mag to a Ruger Precision Rifle and even a .50 BMG, the three of us stretched our wings going for our first one-mile hits, on a 12″ (inside diameter of the red cross in the image) x 17″ (outside dimension of the red cross target in the image).
We learned a lot that day, from reading wind at various distances, to ballistics calculations, to what works (or doesn’t) in effectively coaching other shooters with varying skill level to get on target. …All three of us made our first one mile shots! The spark was ignited that day, and Shepard and Scott took it and ran…
Bucket-List Experiences – What’s Next for YOU?
I hope you’ll come explore what will surely become your new passion with our Nomad Rifleman one-day destination adventure, or test the waters with our fun coaching team, in our signature Multi-Gun Rifle & Pistol half-day experience with the Jackson Hole Shooting Experience.
I happen to be a shooting instructor. With my non-engineering mindset and preference to focus on seventeen things at once, my overall preference is typically toward the fast paced action of USPSA pistol competition and tactical training/dynamic movement fun, over studying ballistics calculation apps.
But GOSH, that ‘ding’ on long range target is SO darn satisfying! I made that ‘ding’ happen, and revel in the satisfaction of this extreme long range rifle fun. I’m oddly grateful for this sport that I really never thought would consider to add value in my life. I’m so thankful for my awesome coaching team “practicing” with me as the student all these years, while developing the perfect day for YOU!
Yes, THIS girl hit a one mile shot, and even almost a quarter mile beyond… I’m grateful for your tutelage, Andy Ward, Shepard Humphries and Scott Austin. Thank you for the knowledge, your professionalism and coaching, and the perma-grins. 🙂 I am so proud of you for developing this unique bucket-list experience and helping people get THEIR first One Mile Shot, too!
