The 2019 NRA Extreme Long-Range Championship was conducted at Indiana’s Camp Atterbury this past August during the NRA High Power Rifle Championships. At the match, competitors engaged targets at ranges out to 2,150 yards.
Ray Gross won the ELR Light class with a score of 88699, which was the highest score posted at the match. The ELR Light class allows for shooters to use rifles that are .338 cal. and below, and must weigh under 25 pounds. The weight limit includes anything attached to the rifle, such as the scope, bipod, sling, etc.
A consummate pro, Gross was quick to praise his teammates for the win. At the NRA ELR Championship, one coach and one spotter are allowed for each shooter.
“[I] won the Light Gun ELR National Championship with the help of my Team McMillan/GPG teammates John Droelle and Daniel Pohlabel,” said Gross.
He also gave thanks to Kelly McMillan of McMillan Fiberglass Stocks who was a sponsor and was on-hand at the championship to provide expertise.
Gross was using a 33XC rifle that belonged to fellow ELR shooter Paul Phillips.
“I let Ray shoot my brand new 33XC and he kicked butt with it. He not only won the NRA ELR Light National Championship, but he finished with the highest score of both classes,” said Phillips about Gross’ victory.
As for the ELR Heavy class results, High Power Rifle shooting legend David Tubb won with a score of 88690. In the ELR Heavy class, all rifles must be chambered in .50 cal. and below and weigh under 50 pounds, including all accessories.
“[I] won the Heavy Gun class at the NRA ELR National Championships with a TUBBGUN in 37XC. I’d like to thank Paul Phillips who spotted for me,” said Tubb.
Tubb also finished in fourth place in the ELR Light class competition.
Shooters entered the match only with the knowledge that they would be engaging four targets located at distances ranging from 1,500 to 2,150 yards. The format is five rounds for each of the four targets, which are 36-inch white square steel plates.
To make it easier to spot hits, Match Director Clay Rhoden utilized the Targetvision camera system. Additionally, target flashers were used to identify all of the successful impacts.
New World Record
As if all this isn’t enough, a new extreme long-range world record was set at Camp Atterbury this summer. From a cold bore, Randy Wise went three for three shooting at a 36-inch square white steel plate at a mind-blowing 2,158 yards.
Wise was shooting a Savage Arms rifle, chambered in .338 Lapua with a stock 26-inch, 1:9-inch twist barrel, Accurate Rifle Systems chassis, Rempel bipod and Rifle Basics trigger. The scope was a Vortex Golden Eagle. And for his load, Wise used Lapua brass with Berger 300-grain hybrid bullets, Federal 215M primers and 90.5 grains of Retumbo powder. And, ballistic solving was provided by devices from the Applied Ballistics product ecosystem.
The head match official and chief visionary was Clay Rhoden. In addition to running the match, Rhoden brought all the Targetvision camera systems and also produced this YouTube video documenting the record-setting shooting performance from Wise. The certifying official was Doc Beech.
See more: Team Global Precision Group Hits 6,012-Yard Target
