November Skills Challenge

CRC November Skills Challenge

This month’s challenge is a series of practical shooting stages, each designed to help you improve your fundamentals of target engagement. Think of it as a self-paced mini match/rifle workout to keep you sharp for next season and build reps. Grab a friend to keep score and give each stage your best shots! NOTE: All challenge targets are painted Black. When you complete the challenge, please go downrange and re-paint them in the same color so that they’re ready for the next run.

1 MOA All day (Time Limit: 120 seconds)

T1: 4” square, 381 yards

T2: 6” circle, 571 yards

Start prone behind the gun with a magazine of 10 rounds. On “Go”, Engage T2 with 5 shots, then T1 with 5 shots. A clean run with no misses would produce a true 1 MOA five shot group at each distance. Hint: Spend your starting time on the clock to make sure your position is truly solid, and to get a good read on the wind condition before sending your first shot. Focus on recoil management and spotting your first shots on each plate and adjust based on what the shot tells you.

Position Building (Time Limit: 15 seconds per rep, repeat 6 times)

T1: 6×11” plate, 452 yards

Start standing with magazine in, bolt back. On command, go prone and engage T1 with 2 rounds. Repeat 6 times for a total of 12 rounds fired. Hint: Practice orienting the rifle toward the target as you go to ground. Ideally, you should be looking at the target as you lay down, and the rifle’s muzzle should already be indexed to the target by the time you put your shoulder to the stock. Consider the height of your rear support bag, and practice setting it in the correct position so that the rifle’s elevation is on the same plane as the target with minimal adjustment needed when you get behind the gun.

Spool work (Time limit: 120 seconds)

T1: 12” circle 506 yards T2: 8” circle 506 yards

Start standing with magazine of 9 rounds in, bolt back. On “Go” move to first spool and engage T1 with one shot, then T2 with 2 shots. Repeat engagement from all three spools. Hint: If the position allows for it, try to support the rifle using a bipod and rear bag. If not, set a bag under the balance point of the rifle and use downward pressure from your support hand to anchor the rifle to the position. Remember to keep your body and feet square to the gun to minimize wobbling and improve recoil management.

Cattle Gate Coyote Hunt (Time Limit: 120 seconds)

T1: 513

T2: 551

Start 10 yards back from the gate, with a magazine loaded with 8 rounds. On “Go”, move to gate and engage T1, then T2 with one shot each from four levels of the gate. Hint: practice dialing the distance for T1, then holding the elevation difference for T2 to increase your engagement speed.