Had a fun day at The Longest Mile

[Backwoods]

Spent a few hours at The Longest Mile the other day with my new combo. Now keep in mind I've had interest in long range shooting for some time now, but every time I ventured into it, I ended up not having the time to dedicate myself seriously. Life's busy, and it wasn't my only hobby. Even less so as the kids get a little older. (3 and 8) I spend way more time with my handguns indoors and shotguns outdoors than anything else.

So this time around I bought a Tikka T3x CTR I found on consign, put a VX-3i 4.5-14 LRP on it, an old Harris bipod I had laying around, and an Insite brake. Then off to the range I went with my cheap case of Hirtenberger surplus 7.62 to plink for a few hours.

Sighted in at 50m, just to get it on paper. Not bad, ammo seemed to be consistent. Then moved to 100m, same result, not much change in zero necessary either.

Then for giggles I took a crack at the 200m gong. Bang. then again, bang. So zeroed at 50m, with surplus ammo, its hitting 200. I know its not "tight groups" or "one ragged hole", but I was impressed. Not so much with me, but the rifle and especially that surplus ammo.

So hold over a bit at 300m, and there's the 300m gong. So what the hell, 500m gong. First shot a little right, dial over windage, then 3 out of 5 hits at 500. In the end I think I was hitting 60% at 500, which for me is good, and I would venture to say misses were my fault, not the rifle or ammo. At 200 it was almost always consistent.

Like I said, I know its just gongs, but I was pretty happy with the CTR and the Austrian ammo, doing well enough for me to enjoy a day at this very cool range.

 

[6MT]

....

 

[Backwoods]

HA! Yeah, edited, I knew that, just hadn't had enough coffee yet this morning.

 

[NVShooter]

That sounds like a lot of fun! Well done and thanks for sharing.

 

[Bartok5]

I'm in Edmonton and am definitely looking at spending a few days in Edson several times this coming summer in order to stretch out my Cadex and Rem 700P/MDT ESS Chassis @ that range. There is currently nothing over 250m within a hour of Edmonton unless you happen to know a land owner or have good "int" on a Crown Land spot. I know of neither, so Edson it is for the time being.

A quick question for the OP or anyone from the Edson area - are there any hotels likely to have a wheelchair accessible room in the vicinity? Ideally, I'd like to overnight in Edson to get at least 2 days of shooting in each time I make the drive. I'm retired, so can go mid-week to avoid congestion at the range and competition for the wheelchair-friendly hotel room (if one exists....).

Cheers, and thanks in advance for any local tips vis-a-vis wheelchair access both at hotels and the Mile-Long Range!

 

[Robert Nicholson]

How about it, Ten-gun? Could we have a salesman type info-mercial about the facilities at "The Longest Mile" and the hotel situation in Edson?

 

[Backwoods]

I'm in Edmonton and am definitely looking at spending a few days in Edson several times this coming summer in order to stretch out my Cadex and Rem 700P/MDT ESS Chassis @ that range. There is currently nothing over 250m within a hour of Edmonton unless you happen to know a land owner or have good "int" on a Crown Land spot. I know of neither, so Edson it is for the time being.

A quick question for the OP or anyone from the Edson area - are there any hotels likely to have a wheelchair accessible room in the vicinity? Ideally, I'd like to overnight in Edson to get at least 2 days of shooting in each time I make the drive. I'm retired, so can go mid-week to avoid congestion at the range and competition for the wheelchair-friendly hotel room (if one exists....).

Cheers, and thanks in advance for any local tips vis-a-vis wheelchair access both at hotels and the Mile-Long Range!

Wheelchair at the range may be an issue in the gravel, but doable I suppose. Not sure about changing you targets though. Lots of motels around, walk in ground level rooms, but check before you drive out. Its moderately busy out here and they fill up I think. Especially if they are inexpensive. The other hotels in town are likely all chair accessible with elevators and such.

 

[Bartok5]

Thanks very much for the info so far! From what I saw on the website, I could pretty much drive up to the elevated firing point? In that case the gravel might not be such an impediment unless it is deep and loose, if it is deep pea-gravel or loose-packed, then I would have trouble for sure....

For targetry, aren't there gongs at key distances for immediate feedback? For me, after 200m it is about hits on target, not grouping size. Gongs would be best, although I could set up targets if necessary and use my spotting scope to assess hits and validate DOPE to medium ranges.

Anything is surmountable with adequate planning, patience and (if necessary) assistance from friends/fellow shooters. I just need to know and assess the challenges before I go in order to mitigate them as best possible. Besides which, If it were too easy there'd be no challenge/fun to it!

Cheers,

Mark

 

[Alpheus]

Thanks very much for the info so far! From what I saw on the website, I could pretty much drive up to the elevated firing point? In that case the gravel might not be such an impediment unless it is deep and loose, if it is deep pea-gravel or loose-packed, then I would have trouble for sure....

For targetry, aren't there gongs at key distances for immediate feedback? For me, after 200m it is about hits on target, not grouping size. Gongs would be best, although I could set up targets if necessary and use my spotting scope to assess hits and validate DOPE to medium ranges.

Anything is surmountable with adequate planning, patience and (if necessary) assistance from friends/fellow shooters. I just need to know and assess the challenges before I go in order to mitigate them as best possible. Besides which, If it were too easy there'd be no challenge/fun to it!

Cheers,

Mark

You can drive up right to the shelters on the firing lines, but the gravel inside, especially the long range, is fairly loose.
The medium range has target boards and a steel gong at 200, 300, 400 and 500m. The long range has multiple steel gongs from 300 to 900, then 1100-1300, 1500, 1600. Target boards at most distances, some more visible than others due to topography and berms.
I'm going there tomorrow, could take some photos.

 

[Backwoods]

You can drive up closer to the firing point, and from there it wouldn't be too bad. Both medium and long ranges would be accessible if you got parking up there. If there are more than a few shooters it may be tough if there are already vehicles up there I suppose, but I doubt it would be an issue to ask someone to shuffle a vehicle.

I was shooting gongs on the medium range, so yes, and I would assume there are gongs on the long range as well.

I'm working up here, so if you pick days this summer, shoot me a PM. If I am up here (not at home in Calgary) and not crazy busy at work I can spin over for a couple hours and spot / shoot. I'm typically within a 15-20 minutes drive from the parking lot.

 

[Bartok5]

Backwoods,

Thanks for all of the input, as well as the very kind offer to spot if your time & circumstances permit. Very classy and much appreciated! I will definitely be checking out the range in Edson this summer, so if you see a guy in a wheelchair shooting off of a tripod/Hog Saddle combo there, please stop by and say "hello". It's always nice to meet fellow CGNers....

Cheers,

 

[Bartok5]

Alpheus,

Many thanks for the offer of photos, but I don't think that will be necessary. I have pored over the drone and ground footage on the website and have a pretty good feel for the lay of the land. My only concern is the depth of loose-pack gravel for my manual or power chair to have to traverse. Chances are I will just have to pack up the van, bite the bullet (so to speak), and conduct a "reconaissance in force" armed to the teeth on the expectation that things will be workable....