The benchmark just gets higher and higher.


Benchrest Shooter Posts Stunning 1.068” Group at 1000 Yards – New World Record!
by JORDAN MICHAELS on JULY 27, 2018



Mike Wilson with his world-record setting group. (Photo: Mike Wilson)
Mike Wilson has been shooting competitively since 2004. He’s held four International Benchrest Shooters (IBS) records, and he’s currently ranked third nationally among IBS Long Range Marksmen. But even he couldn’t believe his eyes last Saturday when he approached his 1000-yard target at the Hawks Ridge Gun Club in Ferguson, N.C.

“I was stunned. It was such a small group,” he said in an interview with GunsAmerica. “I was pretty emotional. I’ve been doing it so long, I have such a love for the sport. It’ll get to you, when you love it that much.”
Wilson’s world record-setting 5-shot group measured 1.068 inches or, in angular terms, a stunning 0.102 minutes of angle (MOA). He even managed to land all five rounds in the center X-ring for a perfect score. (The previous 5-shot, light gun IBS record, set in 2007, measured 1.397 inches.)

The conditions on Saturday were just right, and Wilson said each shot felt good.
“It was very, very calm Saturday morning. The mirage was not bad. It was just a really good day to shoot,” he said. “All five shots went off real smooth. I didn’t have to alter my rest. I felt good about it, but I had no idea it would be anything close to that.”

Regardless of the conditions, Wilson joked, a one-inch group at 1000 yards likely requires some divine intervention.
“The shooting gods have to be with you when you post a group like that,” he said, laughing.
Wilson has been shooting from distance since 1996, and he’s been competing in IBS competitions for the past fourteen years. He got into the sport as most do: through hunting.
“Like anyone else, I started hunting,” he said. “You try to shoot further, and you kind of get into it if you do well, and just progress from there.”
These days Wilson shoots 25-30 matches per year, and he competes in both the heavy gun (>17 pounds) and light gun (<17 pounds) categories. IBS has 1000-yard ranges throughout the country, and each range hosts about 10 matches per year, he said.

Wilson’s rifle (details below).
Wilson used a custom benchrest rifle chambered in a custom version of the 6mmBR Ackley Improved he calls the 6mmBRAW (6mmBR Ackley Wilson). Wilson said he started shooting 30-caliber loads, but soon gravitated towards the lighter 6mm cartridges.
“We learned those little sixes will shoot almost as well if not better on a good day. They’re a lot less expensive to shoot and more fun to shoot, actually. The cases are getting smaller and the groups are getting smaller. It’s kind of odd,” Wilson said, laughing.
Here are the details on his setup (thanks to AccurateShooter.com‘s Sam Hall):
Round
Bullet: 103g Vapor Trail
Brass: Lapua
Powder: Hodgdon H4895
Primer: CCI 450 (small rifle magnum)
Rifle
Action: BAT ‘B’ 1.550 Melonited Action with Jewell Trigger
Barrel: Brux HV 28&#8243; Finished Length, 1:8&#8243; Twist Rate
Chambering: 6BRAW (6mmBR Ackley Improved Wilson), Chambered by Darrell Jones
Chamber Specs: 0.272&#8243; No-turn Neck with 0.135&#8243; Freebore
Stock: Shehane ST 1000 Fiberglass Stock (with stock work by Larry “Bullet” Archer)
Optics: Nightforce 12-42x56mm Benchrest NP-2 DD
Weight: 16 pounds, 2 ounces.
For anyone hoping to get into the long-range shooting game, Mike’s advice is simple.
“Bring whatever you can get and come to a match,” he said. “There will be some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet. Everyone will be glad to help if you need help. Don’t come expecting to be the best right off the bat, but come enjoy it, see what it’s all about, let the people help you.”

That's inpressive!

Musta been a calm day, but even so, dang impressive!

When I was In the corps I was range coach and with a standard MI In the off hand standing position those match shooters would never miss the bull at 1000s yards. It was a 40 " bull, I don't recall what kind of groups they shot.

arrr, he is going to drive up the price of H4895 now (my favorite rifle powder)

people were just getting good and convinced they had to Run Varget

That is some good shooting. I like to do it with cast bullets some day. I do not know I would get the groups close to that ,but just to see if I can do it with cast to get the boolits at that range I be happy if it is a 3 to 4 " group.

Haven't seen that show where hunters were making long range kills in a while. Remember one where a guy killed an elk at around 900 yards, I think it was.

3-4 inch group with a light gun would win every 1000yd match at a range need me. Heck, a steady 6inch gun will win alot.

He'll still the biggest buck of his life at 50 yards. lol

That is outstanding, with a M-1 grand off hand at 1,000 yards.

few of us will ever be 1000 yard BR shooters , but the things that they are learning about ballistics, ammunition and barrels from these types of competitions make it possible for us to go buy and outfit a gun that for 500 dollars will shoot 3-4 inches at 300 yards all day long.

I have to wonder about how this could ever happen.
0.102 minute of angle five shot group at 1000 yards.
I would be lucky to land 5 shots in someone's yard at 1000 yards.
I believe that this fellow was lucky as well. There are so many variables going on over that distance, many of them are constantly changing and one has no way to notice when they do.
Nevertheless, if I pulled off a group like that, I wouldn't let anyone try to badmouth me about it (even if I did deserve some of it).

Hahaha 5 shots in someones yard

That some good shooting I'd like to of been there to see it first hand.

Allan

Can't imagine it. That's some shooting right there.

Just remember, short and fat is where it's at !

A Marine and his MI in the standing off had position could put rounds In a 10" bull all day long at 500 yards. Well some of us LOl

I don't see where shooting off a bench rest Is such a great feat. Other then the unbelievable grouping.

His 1000 yard group is tighter than many peoples 100 yard group!

I've fired a MI Garand with open sights. To shoot a bull at 1,000 yards isn't just outstanding, it's amazing! Wow!

Was this recent or in 2018?

Heck, Elmer Keith could have done that with a six gun!