Open sights - 1000 yards - $50

[threeseven]

I just wagered a friend $50 he couldn't hit a 10'x10' (3mx3m) target at 1000 yards (914m), using open sights, with a No. 1 MkIII SMLE. This should, barring the intervention of God himself, be the easiest $50 I shall ever make.

This man has given no thought to the complexities of the thousand yard shot - he will simply attempt to line the target up in the sights and pull the trigger. A seasoned thousand yard shooter would obviously make short work of this challenge, but unless he plans to practice every day for the next couple of months, I doubt very much he will ever put a shot on the target at that range.

Does anyone here think they could land a shot on this particular target with open sights? I really don't want this bastard to fluke it and take my money. I'd surely never hear the end of it.

 

[Steve Smith]

If you'll let me use an AR or an M1A, I'll take your bet as often as you'll offer.

 

[threeseven]

Oh, I forgot to mention he's never fired a .303 in his life and will be resting the weapon on his forearm for the shot.

 

[Werewolf]

Hmmmm....

Well - when I was in the Army in the early 70's on the qualifying range I could easily hit silhouettes (standing man size) at 400 yards with an M-16. Based on that I don't believe that hitting a 10 ft by 10 ft target at 1000 should be that difficult. I'm pretty sure I could have done it 30 years ago - though I couldn't do it now - I have trouble with 100 meters now - the eyes just aren't as good as they used to be.

 

[fix]

10 feet!!!

That's a huge target at any range. It can definately be done. Give me a milspec Garand and I'll take that bet further, and guarantee 10 for 10 on a relatively calm day.

 

[TarpleyG]

Well, considering he is not going to be prone (I assume that from the forearm comment unless he is laying down holding it up) it will be a challenge to say the least. If it is a calm day and he has any idea what he is doing, he can hit it. 10x10 is a big target.

GT

 

[Thunderstick]

I've never shot at something at that distance but 3mx3m seems like a huge target. You are giving him a chance to practice too? Maybe you could talk him into tipping a Fosters with you with his $50.

 

[threeseven]

Just to clarify - he isn't a shooter by any means. He's certainly a reasonable marksman - I've seen him shoot quite accurately at 110' (100m) with a Steyr AUG on 1.5x optical sights, but this is something utterly different. He's never fired a SMLE before, let alone at such a ridiculous range.

I've seen thousand yard shooters before - they have guns bracketed to the table in huge vise-grips and have big scopes on their specially-built rifles. They have notepads and do calculations on wind and bullet drop, among other minute and obscure considerations. While this may be a considerably larger target than thousand yard shooters would normally fire at, I'm pretty sure you couldn't just put the target in the sights, pull the trigger, and hope to hit it.

He said he didn't need a big vise to put the gun into, so I asked him if he wanted to use a sandbag. He said he'd just rest it on his forearm, however he plans to manage that.

 

[BigG]

How many shots does he get? They used to have British shooters who could hit a target at 2,700 yards with the SMLE. Not saying your friend is such a shooter, but the 30/06 could not do what the .303 SMLE could in ball configuration. Don't ask me why. Put the whup on the 1903 Springfield shootin Mericans, they did.

 

[Smoke]

I've shot at that distance a very few times. Each time was with a different gun, but I had the advantage of the gun owner telling me what to do. (and these are guys that know what they're doing)

I still had trouble getting on target. 10'x10' is a big target though.

And never under estimate beginners luck. I've seen stranger things.

Just don't go to the range with only $40.00 bucks in your pocket.

Smoke

 

[dakotasin]

nope. he isn't gonna do it. your $50 is safe.

1000 yards is a long ways away. even if he was fairly proficient at 5 or 600 yards, i'd still bet against him doing it at 1000.

 

[fix]

You guys are seriously underestimating the sheer size of that target. 10 feet is friggin' HUGE. Even if he's only an average shooter with a basic understanding of ballistics, he will probably hit it. Watch him adjust the sights for windage and elevation. If he gets that right, get the money ready.

 

[yzguy]

if I were him, I'd be practicing...

yeah, you did not say how many shots he got.... and if he only gets 1 shot, does he get 1-2 "warm up" shots?

let us know what happens....

10 foot does sound pretty big, but 1,000 yards is pretty far....

 

[Thunderstick]

Here you go........tell him you meant 10 cm not 10m and that it was $50,000 instead of $50.

 

[charleym3]

With enough ammo on a consistant, not calm, but consistant day sure. Heck I bet I can do it with an AK or an SKS.
Heavens, I know that I can. I used to shoot 1000 yards with a Garand and the whole target board was only 8X8 feet and I consistantly scored in the mid 80s +. Of course I was shooting from prone, but with out the high dollar equipment. And I had a spotter.
Could go either way.

 

[one-shot-one]

never under estimate sheer luck

when i was a kid (13 or 14) my dad and i use to walk back to a river a couple of miles behind our home and dad use to carry a little berretta .25 auto in his pocket sometimes. we were back at the river and i ask dad if i can shoot the pistol. he asks what i plan to shoot? we are standing on a bluff about 30 feet above the river and there is a stick pocking out of the water about 70 yards down stream. dad laughs and hands me the pistol, to both of our amazement i broke the stick an inch above the water. dad asked if i wanted to try that again .......i said no and handed him back the pistol..................some times it is better to be lucky than good!

 

[jrhead75]

Ooooh oooh! Can I have a go? The rifle is definitely up to the task! The round'll do it no sweat. It's all up to the shooter. If you're calling a 10'x10' target, anybody calling your $50 safe is a total..........optimist.

How many rounds does he get?

 

[Cortland]

If you're providing the gun and ammo and are a handloader, I might suggest you forgo the standard .312 (or .314) diameter projectiles and load those 303s with .308 bullets.

Couldn't help, might hurt

 

[444]

I think your money is safe.
It sounds like it isn't even his rifle.
I haven't found those volley sights on the old rifles to be real precise.
I guess you are talking about shooting off a bench, resting the forearm of the rifle on the bench or on his hand ?
The target is big enough that he might get lucky, but I doubt it if he is limited to hitting it with one shot. If he just has to hit it, I am sure he will eventually, assuming he has a spotter.

 

[JohnKSa]

Well, all things being equal, a 10 foot target at 1000 yards is like a 1 foot target at 100 yards.

That doesn't sound too hard.

Now, factor in over a half miles of bullet drop and wind deflection.

So...

If he figures out the bullet drop (or the sights are calibrated for the ammo he chooses) and the day is calm, I think you just lost $50.

If he just wings it or there's decent wind, your money is safe.

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE post the results of the shooting. I'm really intrigued...

 

[ProCharger]

im not really famaliar with this gun caliber but its definately not a 50 BMG. 10 foot is big but wont the bullet have 10 foot of drop or so? and the sights, are they that great that at 1000 yards it will be able to see the target itself with aiming above it? just had a few questions.

Brett

 

[rock jock]

They used to have British shooters who could hit a target at 2,700 yards with the SMLE.

Uh, you do realize that that distance is over 1.5 miles? And that the longest recorded kill on a human with a rifle was set by a Candian sniper in Afghanistan with a .50 BMG at less than that distance?

 

[Correia]

It depends. If this guy is as you describe then your money is pretty darn safe.

However I wouldn't make that bet against an avid rifleman and especially a HighPower shooter.

 

[Feanaro]

There are no safe bets. Even if he's not great at it, he could win. But it's just fifty bucks.

 

[308win]

It seems to me that if the shooter knows the external ballistics of the round and how to adjust the sights your $50 bucks may be his if there is no wind to contend with.