Cold Bore Coke Can at 100 yards.

[JeffG]

Once upon a time (80's) outside of Dover Foxcroft Maine near the board eddy road, there was an annual hunting rendezvous. A multitude of Blooded Maine Woodsman and a handful of Navy Folks (maybe 15-20 people in all) gathered to await opening day. Obviously that inspired the 100 yard coke can shoot-out. Everyone got to take 4 unsupported shots standing with thier actual hunting rifle. Sounds simple. The first two years I attended it only took my lone cold bore hit to take the bragging rights. Yup, 15 to 20 seasoned successful hunters with four shot's each were not able to topple a single coke can at 100 yards shooting unsupported while standing. My rifle at that time was a .444 Marlin Lever Action using Williams peep sight setup.

So due to the overwhelming problems of accessing 200 yard rifle ranges with a stack of paper plates, here are 2 different 100 yard shooting games/ or challenges should you prefer. Now most hunting rifles off the bench will more often than not hit a coke can sitting on it's side. But since we shall be standing up, stand the coke can straight up.

1.) Cold bore: 1 can first shot out of a cold clean bore. Simple, either hit or miss.

2.) Add 3 more attempts, so those really skilled will need a total of 4 coke cans spaced 2 feet apart.

Use your opening day Deer hunting rifle just as it's equipped, stand up and mow down a couple of coke cans. Go ahead and post your results if you do well. I've already explained that many successful hunters found this to be harder than it sounded.

Excellent. Few people realize the value or utility of the true cold bore shot. After I zero a hunting rifle, I will keep track of cold bore shot POI. Returning to the range repeatedly to shoot that one round before the hunt. The hunters that I see zeroing a warm rifle on the "sight in day frenzy" wonder where their zero went when the miss game or return to the range and fire that first shot... A shooter's log book, and a range card are near to my heart.

 

[Bushpilot]

In my opinion, a man who can hit a tea cup at 100 meters with his first
shot, from a field position, in a 5 second interval is a good shot.

I think the key words here are "from a field position", that includes sitting/knelling and prone as well as offhand/standing......

 

[someguy2800]

I've tracked enough wounded game for people (and admittedly a few of my own) to come to the conclusion that a "great shot" is someone who consistently brings home the meat without wounding and loosing animals because they knew when to pull the trigger and when to let it walk. The hunter who takes the 40 yard lung shot and connects is a better marksman than someone who takes an 800 yard shot and hits it in the guts. By that definition I know a few "great shots", and a few terrible ones as well.

Now how about we go play some shooting games!

 

[jmorris]

I've..come to the conclusion that a "great shot" is someone who consistently brings home the meat without wounding and loosing animals...

My wife is a “great shot”, even if it comes home ready to cook.

 

[M118LR]

Coke cans & paper plates are in season all year. Using shooting games to keep or sharpen marksmanship skills as an aid to avoid the doldrums of repetitive practice, what's wrong with that? I'm not going to lecture anyone about how/when/why they do or don't take a particular shot at a game animal. Just as long as your a responsible enough hunter to ensure you harvest any & every game animal that you have taken a shot at. Not to mention that competition between friends (shooting partners) has a bonding effect. JMHO. So shoot the coke cans and or paper plates with a friend/partner. It just adds to the experience. IMO.

 

[Wisco]

I haven’t done the math on the size versus the distance, but one of my favorites has always been setting spent shotgun shells on a target stand and shooting them off at 15-25 yards with an open sighted 22 - offhand, standing. It feels about like the coke can challenge in regard to target size and difficulty. Might be easier due to the 22 being 3-4 lbs instead of 8-9.

Challenges like the OP’s really let you know what your capabilities with a gun are. The less I shoot rifles in the past 10 years, the more I see those skills perishing...as evidenced by my trying this challenge...

 

[M118LR]

I haven’t done the math on the size versus the distance, but one of my favorites has always been setting spent shotgun shells on a target stand and shooting them off at 15-25 yards with an open sighted 22 - offhand, standing. It feels about like the coke can challenge in regard to target size and difficulty. Might be easier due to the 22 being 3-4 lbs instead of 8-9.

Challenges like the OP’s really let you know what your capabilities with a gun are. The less I shoot rifles in the past 10 years, the more I see those skills perishing...as evidenced by my trying this challenge...

The simple fact that you are willing to actually challenge yourself to a game/competition should tell you that your shooting days ain't over.
To quote a song: ("I'm still as good once, as I once was.") Just because there is snow on the roof, don't mean there ain't a fire in the kitchen! LOL JMHO.

 

[wally]

I'm not much of a hunter, did a bit with the first wife's family, but I find grocery store meat is cheaper and less work but I do enjoy shooting and a challenge, this thread got me thinking, so I did this at yesterday's outing:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/cold-bore-coke-can-challenge-got-me-thinking.837693/

 

[M118LR]

Any shot's while standing unsupported?
YUP, hunting the cellophane isle in the local food mart is a real challenge, think your EBT Card has enough left on it to score a trophy?
Would you mind talking me through the field dressing procedures for any game animal, we can discuss butchering procedures in Wild Game 201! I had thirty years afield before the internet became popular. Could we share field to pan to table recipes? You pick the critter, I'll select the recipe. Bet it tastes good on the table. JMHO.

 

[entropy]

Not quite 100 yards, but I'm going to brag on my son a bit. He took down two cull cows last weekend with a .223 at 70 yards, offhand. Both one shot drops. Those of you farm boys who've done it know the target area is small, and though cows don't move around much, they do move some. You can drop them with a .22 (most use .22WMR around here) closer in, as in dairy cows, but these were beefers, and skittish. I've no doubt he'd open some pop cans at 100. They had them butchered in about 20 minutes. The farm he works for has a mobile butchering/rendering truck.

 

[Garandimal]

Been preaching field shooting for a long time. Benches are great for sighting in, but I always have trouble finding one when hunting or dealing with vermin. My standard has been shotgun clays and the occasional milk jug or water/soda bottle filled with water. (As a kid cans and glass bottles had to recycle to get deposit so they were a non-targets.)

Anyway I absolutely agree that a dozen clays on a berm at 120 yards is a lot more fun and challenging than teeny groups on a sheet of paper. You will find out how much good balance and ergonomics mean fairly quickly. Bulky rifles with huge glass are at a disadvantage to a handy iron sighted or low power scoped carbine that points naturally - even if its one of those "inaccurate" 2+ moa guns.

Standing to 150 yards,
Sitting to 300 yards,
Prone past that.

I don't even sight-in on a bench, because I won't be shooting off it.

They are good for comparative load testing, and that's about it.




GR