They practice every year out to 700 and 1000 yds., so they know what they are doing ?
Not what I've seen. E
I'm not one to normally say, "Have you been here or done that", but I doubt that you have ever been to Willimsport to watch what those guys/girls do at long range. It is a local obsession with the shooting crowd. There are a lot more than a few that will place 10 shots in a 5-7in circle at 1000 on a regular basis. I think the record is currently around 2.5in.
It's a big world out there and it obviously extends way beyond your little location and what you have seen.