Hi Guys:

I finished another Class at Thunder Ranch Oregon, a couple of weeks back. here is my delayed review:

The Course Description: �High Angle Rifle Training� is a progression of the Thunder Ranch mid-range rifle course (100 to 600 yards on the flat range). Participants need to be graduates of Thunder Ranch Mid Range or Precision Rifle courses. You must be capable of personal mobility to climb up and down very broken ground while transporting all personal equipment on your person with free hands for climbing. Good success has been achieved in the past with clients using .308 caliber rifles.

COVERED RANGE DECK


ERY NICE IN THE RAIN



DOWNRANGE VIEW


You must be capable of personal mobility to climb up and down very broken ground while transporting all personal equipment on your person with free hands for climbing.

THE TWINS CLIMBING UP ON SATURDAY


H.A.R.T.Equipment Good success has been achieved in the past with clients using .308 caliber rifles. A solid rifle is required with strong bases and scope rings. A good uncomplicated scope with external adjustment knobs will provide the best results during the class. Mil-dot or minute of angle adjustable scopes are best with power ranging from 3-4x to 12-16x or higher power as the shooter might require. Additional equipment could be a spotting scope or binoculars, a laser range finder, sling, bipod and a pack that will carry your rifle. Clothing suitable to weather above the 5000-foot elevation and the time of the year.
The smallest lightest equipment that serves its intended function will be best. A note of caution, if you bring it, equipment wise, you�ll be carrying it�up and down the course of fire�please.

DAY ONE: Welcome to ThunderRanch



VIEW OF THE THUNDERRANCH


8:00 the gate opens and you can come onto the property. Clint runs and T-I-G-H-T ship. The gate opens at 8, not 7:55, not 8:02--8:00.


We get signed in, releases, etc, then Clint begins a lecture--range rules, procedures, dope, expectations, etc. This is followed by basic marksmanship stuff and a focus on the fundamentals. At 11:30 we broke for lunch.

First day and a half is on the flat range with targets out to 900 yards plus the rifle scrambler for different field positions we will get on the ridges.

We shot for record at 100, get dialed in for conditions, 5,000 elevation, 40 degrees and rainy.

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0492.jpg[/img]

By the end of the first day, I had my dope for 1-700 yards. with a head shot at 700 (Miss Heidi was my spotted and walked me in (strong cross wind) in 3 shots).

The 6x6 inch Orange square is the "head shot"

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0500.jpg[/img]

DINNER: Some of shooters agreed upon Chinese food for dinner and met at Gee's Hunan Chinese food downtown Lakeview, Oregon. PLATES WERE HUGE!

Four of us arrived on time and ordered. A fifth guy (6'5") arrived and we told him just to get another plate. More than we could eat. Pot Stickers, Curry, Sweet and sour chicken, rice, egg foo young, etc. No small guys in this group, but still . . . ..

The food is standard "American Style" Chinese food. Four stars for service, quality, and portion size. YUMM!

continued

Day two:

MISS HEIDI'S TRIGGER SCHOOL:

Heidi, Clint's wife, who is the best field marksman I have ever watched shoot, gave a demo and lecture on loading the bipod, breathing, and related trigger issues. The instructors followed this up with individual work throughout the day.

We also got the first view of the ThunderRanch GAP Rifle:

Link: http://www.thunderranchinc.com/home/index.html

Here is Miss Heidi Breaking it in (yes, the way it shot, its worth the money):



This day was similar to day one, lots of time on the flat deck, working marksmanship drills (Shooter 1 fires at 100 steel, then shooter 2, etc, until shooter 9 fires, then shooter 1 moves to 200, etc. All the way out to 700 yards.

Then we moved on to the first "High Angle" shot.

We moved out of the Range deck, and took at 900 uphill shot--I am on the far right, closest to the range deck cover.



We were shooting at another 6x6 inch orange square. See it here:




LITTLE CLOSER?



HOW ABOUT NOW?



I got my dope, 900 yards should be 32 MOA in my rifle/load. At this range, and angle, I dropped to 30 MOA. My partner was now spotting the wind for me, gave me a call, I held off--First shot, 1 MOA high. While I awaited the next wind call, the trees STOPPED MOVING (no ind!) Adjust, fire, HIT! Headshots at 900 yards are fun . . . . grin

So ended Day 2, We agreed to got to mexican food. El Aguila real (100 feet from the hotel).

Cerveza, cholesterol, and hot sauce were shared liberally. friendships were forming.

Continued

The Third Day began the climbing and position shooting here's a view from the top:



Group photo


We began at the Humpty Rock . . . .


First shot was 650 yards:



We each got our dope going out 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, and 1200 yards.

This was a long process, it took a while to get each guy on target. I was last. Wind was wicked by the time I got inot position. Nevertheless, 650 yards was now rather straightforward. I got my dope and made wind adjustments as indicated by Clint.

At 950, Clint gave me a wind call, I adjusted and fired. I thought I heard the word "HIT" and turned (bewildered) and asked, "hit?".

Clint replied: "Most people are happy with First Round hits at 950 yards, Mr. Thompson"

We then moved on to plunging shots into the valley. These are relatively steep:



Also include was a 1,000 yard plate at the top of the ridge across the way. Its right there, in the clearing, top left of the ridge.

.

At this point, we were now spotting for each other (a great way to learn)

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0542.jpg[/img]

The wind was REALLY up now, I dialed 16 MOA RIGHT (160 inches at 1,000 yards). I fired repeatedly and my spotter kept giving me wind calls. I help, fired, and gave that 12x12 plate A terrible fright. But wind, is not stable, it billows and gusts, and I landed shots within an inch of the plate, top, bottom, left, and right. A skinny Jihadisit might have lived, and obese one, was toast. . .

By the was, my spotter, Aaron, is owner of TAMARACK Sports, Idaho-great guy. Link: http://www.tamaracksporting.com/

The last position of the day was seated, plunging shots:

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0546.jpg[/img]

Range was 700, 800, and 900.

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0544.jpg[/img]

Wind and position was "wicked" Still, I got a first round hit at 900 . . . .

Dinner, this night was with Clint and Heidi at Marios, in Lakeview. No need to shower first, bring your gear into the restaurant . . .

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0554.jpg[/img]

A good time, was had by all.

Day 4, next

DAY 4:

We moved on to the Crows nest:



Note the drop off from the shooting position . . .



We had seven targets this day. Ranging from close (550 yards, to long, 1,200).

Me (camo) and Clint looking over shooting positions.



At this time, students were spotting and Clint was just a safety officer. Here as the other twin doctors:



First target required a little climbing . . .



The drop:



Second set of targets was less precarious:

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0573.jpg[/img]

Target was a "man" plate at 752 yards. I got my wind call from my spotter, and fired. I called my own shot, high, over the left shoulder. I racked the action, held on the right side, belt high, and HIT.

The last target was a little longer . . .

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0569.jpg[/img]

We had a real good prone position, (that is me with the mesh bag for brass)

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0571.jpg[/img]

Another spotter helped me with this one. I dialed 3.5 MOA Left and wakled in a hit at 1,100 yards (6 rounds).

It sure is fun to call your own first round hit at OVER HALF A MILE!. I did not shoot at 1,200--no more elevation and a Thunderstorm was coming across the valley.


Then, back to the range deck for another marksmanship drill . . .

[img]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff397/williferd/TR%20High%20Angle/IMG_0589.jpg[/img]

Also, we gathered contact data for each other these were good guys.

Then into the classroom for certificates, and goodbyes.

For dinner, another student and I went to the Dinner Delle restaurant. Very good home cooking. I sold it as a good dinner over pizza. We walked in to the very small place, and read the blue plate special--Chicken Fried Steak- on aBLUE PLATE too!

Excellent dinner, excellent company, Excellent was to spend a week.

We have already arranged for all 9 of us to shoot again next year--more advance precision work . . .

BMT

That's awesome and beautiful country.

I love Lakeview and it's surrounding areas. If I could find work there, I'd move in a heartbeat. But being that close to TR would be hard on the checking account...


Hey BMT, what did you take for glass? Riflescope, binos, spotter?

great review BMT, good use of funds and time


glad you had a good session, I sure enjoyed reading about it

Thank you very much for a very interesting and informative post. GRF

WOW!!!

Rifle is a Savage LH Stainless Short Action 308.

Cerrakoted by http://riflestockpainting.com/

McMillan GAP camo Classic.

Leupold 3.5-10x40 with M1 turrets

Talley Lightweights

PacNor 3# contour, supermatch,stainless 1 in 10.

BMT

looks like a good time.

Ahh, thanks,

A Leupold??? But, but, but, I thought every time a Leupold goes to a "shooting school" it breaks? At leasts that's what I've read on the optics forum... over and over again....

Great write up and great shooting BMT. I'm saving my pennies to start taking classes at Thunder Ranch in 2012.

So, 4 day clinic?

Cost? # of rounds fired?

Looks like a really good time.

Yes, 4 day clinic.

$1,200.

300 rounds

VERY good time, very helpful.

BMT

Good stuff. Thanks

Thanks.

Sounds like you'd recommend it.

Most Highly.

Great post! Thanks for sharing the info.

Excellent choice. What class you lookin' at?

I've taken:

2007-Revolver

2008-Mid range Rifle

2009-Urban precision Rifle

2010--Home and vehicle Defense

2011-HART

October 2011-Urban Rifle.

BMT

A good friend of mine lives in Lakeview. He says that any man with ambition can do well there (houses are only $45,000).

BMT

Awesome thread, probl'y aint a one of us would love to go through that school

Pardon me fer asking the obvious.... was there a backstop for that 1,000 ridgeline plate?

Birdwatcher

Yes, it was a good 40 yards below the ridgeline, and the Mountain Behind it is still in ThunderRanch Property.

BMT

We had one scope Break. A 2002 Leupold on a 300 Win Mag. It had lasted through 2 barrells and gave up Friday, half way through the 3rd barrel.

Elevation adjustment jammed. Fixed in 4 days fro free.

BMT

BMT,

Very nice write up and pictures. What were you shooting for ammo (sorry if I missed it)? Did you notice any handicap shooting a hunting weight rifle (I'm guessing your setup was < 8 pounds?) versus the heavier tactical type rifles?

Ammo was Black HIlls 175 grain Sierra Match King BTHP in 308.

I did not notice a serious issue shooting with a "deer rifle". My rifle and scope was seriously TESTED by this class, however. Still, I did as well as any other shooter. Lots of Robars, GAPs, Nightoforces, and Schmidt and Benders, in the group. But many Rem 700P/LTR etc also.

BMT

Thanks for the reply. The Scenar 155's seem to be the hot ticket these days and I was wondering that's what you were using. Nice to see "old school" ammo and a lightweight rifle getting it done.

Most of the Ammo was Federal Gold Medal Match 168s. Old School stuff.

BMT

Are they jacketed lead bullets? I looked at the TR website and saw they want non-lead bullets used?

The TR website is confusing in that one page appears to indicate that ALL classes at the Oregon location require lead-free, frangible bullets, but then another page clearly states that a couple of their rifle courses (the High Angle being one of them), do not require lead-free, frangible bullets.

One other thing that was confusing when I looked at their website is that while they have different prices for their three-day and four-day classes, it isn't readily apparent from some of the course descriptions whether those classes are three or four days. Then on one of the other pages it clearly states which classes are the four day classes (which would mean all the other ones are three day classes).

TR would be well-served to have someone who isn't familiar with their website to look through it and point out where there are details missing or inconsistencies/confusion in their information. However, given how many of their classes are already booked over the next year and a half, the small faults with their website don't appear to be hurting their registrations, so they probably aren't concerned that the needed information isn't necessarily readily seen without going through most of the pages on their website.

Good catch!

If I planned to attend, I'd likely be on the phone with them a bit.

Lead free is used on the main range deck (size of a football field). This is where 99% of the shooting (overall) takes place. (Maybe 3,000 rounds a DAY!)

The Mid and Long Range shooting area (in my pictures) gets very few rounds in comparison and thus the lead is not a problem. (Maybe 3,000 rounds a YEAR).

BMT

Lost track of this thread in the queue. Thanks for the answer.