Shoot dates will be: April 24th, 25th.

$25 per shooter, to help defray the cost of paint, target damage, etc. We'll serve lunch on Friday, and breakfast on Saturday morning, plus the coffee pot will be on all day.

30 shooter limit, first come, first serve.

I'm planning on staging a friendly "Hunters Comp" on Friday afternoon. The format will include a little hiking, with timed stages where the hunter is repsonsible for finding, ranging, and hitting targets at various ranges, and angles. One stage will include Mil Ranging targets(no laser rangefinders). Another stage will be shot using the reticle only. Another stage will be setting up your spotter to read the range on the target, then setting up the shot and shooting. Two shots per target, first round hits will be two points, second round hits will be scored one point. Bring the rifle you hunt big game with. You'll need a pack, shooting sticks, or whatever you use for sitting shots, binoculars/rangefinder, spotter and tripod. There will be prone shots, and a few offhand shots as well. 40 rounds of ammo will get you through the course. There will be Range Officers to score each stage. There will also be a safty meeting before the event starts as well as before the informal practice shooting of the set and known range target shooting starts, like we've had the past four years.

PM me to secure a spot. I'm away from the computer quite a bit, but I will return all PM's asap.

Sounds pretty cool Pat. Same locale?

Correct.....maybe the weather will be perfect this year.....grin!

What do you mean? It's been perfect the last four years running!



Seriously though folks, this is probably the best use of $25 and 40 rounds you'll ever make!

Anyone who just wants to shoot the targets we've always shot can do that, and not do the hunter's comp.

We'll have two, maybe three wall tents there with wood stoves.

There will be some really nice prizes for the top finishers....

I'll most likely make it, but won't be shooting the comp...

Sounds like fun!

Nice work Pat....sounds like lots of fun.

Sounds like a blast. I am consulting my schedule now.... Have to make some changes....

Hope all is well up your way.

Matt

Here are a few pictures from past years:

The range- targets out past a mile.









Targets:





And the weather is always perfect!

[img]http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss344/oldslowdog/Icebreaker015.jpg[/img]

You'll learn a bunch and have a ball....

Been to all 4, won't miss the 5th !

here are a few more pics to share.

I want to try and make this.

Tag!

This looks like too much fun! Allowing non competitors to shoot targets is a great offer for those of us wanting to get into long range shooting/hunting. Don't know if I can make it but I'll try to swing it. Can a guy camp out at the range or is there an area close by to set up a tent?

There's an area close by where you can camp. I think there's an out house and a fire pit there. But usually there will be a few of the guys stay there in campers/tents...

Yes.

If I can make it this year, stop by the wall tent.



Travis

Bring the smoker Travis... I'm thinking only good things can happen there...

Cinch, thanks.

Travis, will do.

Here are the shirts, hoodies and long sleeve T's for this years shoot !!

Click on link to order, pick size, style and item ships right to you !! Order now and have before you go !

http://teespring.com/IcebreakerV

Orders from this first go a round will arrive to you Feb. 18th-20th (estimated).

can't wait super great and challenging place to shoot with an abundance of targets. Lots of good guys with eager to share attitudes and some pretty dam good food.

Let's hunt a little this week......and shoot of course!

30 limit for the competition or the whole weekend?

Whole weekend....

Are rank beginners tolerated? I.E.- someone who doesn't spin turrets, doesn't own a mildot, and previous long range experience has been out to 300.....

Kaiser Norton

Absolutely!! Throw in with us. You'll have a blast!

twelve spots left....

filling up fast ! good deal.

there has been enough shirts ordered, they will print

link and pictures on page 2 of this thread if ya want to order.

I'm in this year, along with a couple friends. Did some post-hunting season testing with the GAP, it's shooting pretty stellar but I need to tweak the zero just a skosh...then it'll be ready!




Thanks for putting this on Pat!

It's a nice little campground. Hopefully the weather will be springish like we had at Icebreaker 3.



Bob

I can't stand it any longer seeing you guys have ALL the fun, I'll be there!
Thanks very much!
I'll get there as quick as I can Thursday PM-Friday AM.

Looks like fun. Any speed limit?

3200fps. That will protect the steel from 450, and closer.

If you shoot only past 450, then there is no restriction.

Honor system....

Was really hoping to make this one, from my new home in Great Falls. As luck would have it, I just found out that my new home is going to be Albuquerque instead.

Have fun guys. Take a ton of pictures.

Still have 15 days to order a T shirt, long sleeve shirt or Hoodie to get in on the first order.

Click on link to order, pick size, style and item ships right to you !! Order now and have before you go !

http://teespring.com/IcebreakerV

Where is the shoot being held?

NE MT.

5,000 MSL, give or take?

Around 2950 ft ASL on the main firing point.

Thank you sir. City? I'm trying to figure mileage, fuel costs, etc...

Glasgow, MT is the nearest major town.

Thanks. And what is the wind speed/direction?

Wel, I've only made a couple of these events, but the winds were predominantly out of the W and NW, probably 20-40 mph.....grin.

That seems about right....grin

Temperature and windspeed nearly the same....grin

The good news is if you don't like the wind speed or direction all you have to do is wait an hour or two and it will change four or five times. good times good times good times

sounds good I should have my 300 ready for a test run after the chopper is gone

Anybody have a suggestion for a lightweight, portable rabbit ear style rear bag that's good for shooting prone off a bipod?

I've been happy with the standard Red Tac rear bag.

You can find it, and many other styles, here.


http://www.triadtactical.com/Bean-Bags-Shooting-Rests/

Thanks for that.

Still have 11 days left to order a T shirt, long sleeve shirt or Hoodie to get in on the first order.

Click on link to order, pick size, style ya want and item ships right to you !! Order now and have before you go !

http://teespring.com/IcebreakerV

Anyone know what the closest hotel is, in case of a late Thursday night arrival?

In Glasgow, MT

just google motel/hotels

Think it is call the Cottonwood Inn where some have stayed

45 1st Ave Ne, Glasgow, MT 59230
(406) 228-8213

Glasgow has several but the cottonwood is the only modern one in town has a restaurant and is reasonably priced.

Thanks.

Still have 7 days left to order a T shirt, long sleeve shirt or Hoodie to get in on the first order.

Click on link to order, pick size, style ya want and item ships right to you !! Order now and have before you go !

http://teespring.com/IcebreakerV

Is that in MOA or Mils?

Both, depends on end user

Pat - any good fishing around your place - and if yes may have to make a point to show up for a few days and not work ..

Well played! I'd be in the WIDE scale...

Dave, you better just take that 260 up and join them.

THERE IS ONLY THREE DAYS LEFT TO GET A T SHIRT ON THIS CAMPAIGN.

thanks for bump Kevin.

really looking forward to heading north again

I was waiting for Pat to reply but here is my experience Fort Peck is a great fishery but April is really hit and miss from year to year depending on the ice off. However the northern fishing from the bank is still a lot of fun as long as the ice is out of the bays. THREE HOURS LEFT ON T SHIRTS

With April in January last couple weeks I bet the ice on the lake is a little rotten?

Actually a lot of the lake is open so with that and the warm weather I'm sure the bays were getting pretty scary though they had about 18" of ice in them and up the big dry arm.

Scott just in case your curious I probably won't have this new ballistic program figured out by fall much less the icebreaker

I don't want to take anyone away from the shoot but just a fyi to you fishing shooters, from the Ice breaker to the boat ramp at Bone Trail is less than ten miles and the view of the lake from the top of the ridge is an amazing sight at sunset.

Call me

See ya in 2.5 months !! Gettin' pumped for IBV

got Notice our shirts have shipped too

Mine arrived today. Got the long sleeve version.

Pumped!

Kaiser Norton

Im fired up, how many rounds would be a good start to bring?

As many as your truck can haul up North

Does the .30cal restriction still apply to slow stuff like a .35 Whelen?

There's no .30 caliber restriction.

Brain faded that I read that somewhere. Will bring the Whelen to give everyone a chance to laugh. Thanks again for putting this on, tremendous chance to meet people and learn from everyone.

Would have loved to join you guys, but am taking my oldest to his scout Camporee that weekend. Almost to his second class rank....

IBV getting close

It seems the army always prevents me from attending this. Oh well you boys have fun.

Can someone PM or post directions to the shoot location and the camp site that's nearby? We may be rolling in after dark on Thursday, Looking for a place to camp. Thanks, looking forward to it.

I'll be heading out that way in a day or two. I'll get some lat/longs where the campground is, and the shoot location. It's easy to find, and is good gravel all the way.

Gracias. Looking forward to it.

I've been thinking the same thing, thanks.

How long of a drive is it from Indianapolis?

Will try and make it. I have a 260 I would like to take out there.

Sounds like a lot of fun. Good on you for putting on such an event

I-90 W to I-94 N
21 hrs 2 mins / 1361.44 miles

Shoot Site: N 47 82685*
W 107 22657*

Camp Ground: N 47 81207*
W 107 12373*

Wow that would be fun! Bit of a hike from VA though. Yet one more reason I need to move back west!

I threw those coordinates into google maps and got this:

COMEDK
Second Floor, 132, 11th Main, 17th Cross, Malleswaram
Bengaluru, Karnataka 560055
India

Use decimal degrees in this format.

Shoot: N 47.82685 W 107.22657

Camp: N 47.81207 W 107.12373

Nice, if you highlight the coordinates and click on 'em, it takes you right to google maps and shows the locations.

If you can't find it just ask somebody for directions.

Lots of traffic out that way.



Travis

I was surprised you can even shoot out there, so many houses and shopping malls on the map.

I figured it would be listed something like "the faint dirt trail past the 314th prairie dog hole on the east side of the road. If I am off will someone give me a correction in mils please.

I figured since scenarshooter is into mils and meters he'd be using UTMs...

Finish loading up tonight after work ...

Gonna be good times !

What time does the shooting start on Friday? We will probably scoot up in the morning instead of coming in Thur night.

Around 7am.

Take your time, no hurry.

See you when you get here.

Whats a real drive time from Glasgow? Google is telling me 1h 40m from the hotel. I know, getting soft and not roughing it.

One hour is about right. Good gravel road all the way, after you turn off onto the Willow Creek Road.

Bring your rain gear!!

Didn't realize the shoot was just north of Bonetrail. Only 35 miles north of my house as the crow flies and it'd take me three hours + to get there on the road! Hope the weather is decent for you fellas this year.

Hope you all have a ball shooting. I look forward to seeing the pictures.

What, no real time reporting?

Hopefully everybody heeded that advice.

Estimated rainfall from 11 pm Thurs to 2:30 pm today, red's 2.5":

Looks like they'll be building an ark instead of shooting.

Pat will shoot in ANY weather and that I know for a fact!

Probably why he's such a good shot...shoots all the time in all kinds of conditions.

How much shooting got in on saturday? I hated to leave early, but had to protect my delicate complexion from the falling moisture.

Some of the rigs on the line Friday....







We figgered me and colodog had the cheapest rigs there. Maybe that's why we were banished to the ghetto end of the line......




If I remember right, This is the rifle Carl Ross used to kick azz in the hunters comp.

Well, now I know what to get you for Christmas. You need a bigger umbrella......

I'm going to manufacture a line of umbrellas next year, just for this shoot. I figger a bunch of guys up there will buy them. I'm gonna be rich......


I think I'll call them, 'Bumbershoot Buddy'.....

or maybe 'Parasol Protektor".....

Great time had by all and a big thank you to Pat for coordinating it and Matt for letting us increase the lead and copper content in his property.

One thing that really jumped out at me was the accuracy of the ballistic programs with the wide variety of rifles, calibers and scopes if information was properly entered. From 200-1200 yards I was dead on for elevation after entering the onsite weather conditions. Failure to enter an exact velocity or scope height over bore seemed to be the two biggest issues with getting an accurate data card from any of the programs. A 25fps error or a 1/10" off on scope height lead to being several clicks off at the longer ranges. The third issue was trusting a program. I know in the shoot off I choked because I did not trust the data card. I thought I hit the edges of two targets at 465yard but later found out I centered them pretty good (only feed back in the comp was "impact"). It did not seem like I had enough windage so I added another .5mil and then I proceeded to miss by .5 mil until I pulled my head out and shot what was needed. It was a confidence booster to trust the program and hit the last two targets past 700 yards.

This was one of the common targets and was about 8-9" from back to belly. I know it was out to at least 710 yards and dont recall them being placed further.


We talk about how far you can go with a certain magnification and this might be a good idea. I think I was the only 3x9 on the line. This is a plate rack at 505 yards. For the 3" diamond on the far right I had to make a guess because I was unable to clearly see it once the paint as blown off.


About 2.25 mils of lead for wind on at 1032 yard wolf. I run a simple mil dot but it is clear to see having the half mil dash is extremely helpful for holding wind.

Good overview of the longer stuff. The first target is a wolf at 831yards and then moving to the left it was a plate at 963 yards, a second plate at 1242 yards and a manhole cover at 1480. I bowed out after 1242 when I ran out of comeups on my scope.

Good meeting everyone that was new to the shoot ! Great bunch of guys for sure.

Thanks again Pat for putting it on ! Really enjoyed it...

I can't remember when I had this much fun, Thank you very much Pat and Matt!
I'm a rank amateur at long range and had planned to just hold over for the different ranges as the program in my phone showed hold overs in my SWFA scope from 200-1200yds with my load.
I'm grateful Carl Ross took pity on me and helped set up a quickie range card, Dial for elevation and hold for wind!
I ran out of dial at 1484 and I was out classed by the practiced hands but I had more fun than anybody.
It's gonna cost me money to shoot with these guys...
Thanks!

Huntsman22, how did the 6.5 do?

The little ruger held its own against some purty fancy rigs. Even hit the 1970 yard steel. Took a few rounds, as I was out of 'up' AND reticle. I think they was calling it montucky hold-over, or something......grin

Stunt shooter.

A couple of unsolicited random thoughts and observations about this event, from my preverted perspective of never having been around such. My first thought after stepping outta the truck and watching these guys clanging stuff WAY the fook out there, was the scene from the movie Dances with Wolves where Costner yanks his boot on, and wanders on out to the line with the rebs plinking at him. Then his buddy yanks him down and says, "I ain't a kidding, these boys is SHOOTERS", just before he jumps the fence on the buckskin horse. Well, that's exactly it. These boys is shooters... The dedication, time, practice and money tossed at this long-range gig just amazes this poor li'l ol' Colorado ranchhand. On the other side of that very same coin, it was shown during the competition that as dedicated as this bunch is, they spend very little time shooting from their hind legs, sitting, or from buffler sticks. I can only recall 2 offhand firstshot hits. That said, I damn sure don't want any of them shooting at ME, from ANY frigging distance, whether they's bellied-down in the grass with bipods, or from ANY other position.....

The other thing I expected, was some very experienced, veteran ol' greybearded-type guy to clean house in the hunters comp. Not so. It surprised me (not really THAT unexpectedly tho, due to the amount of powder those young men burn) that Carl and the Anodizer Kid,(I can't recall his name.grin) could SO thoroughly clean house, kick azz, and take names, from the quality of talent involved.

Carl knows his stuff.

And don't seem a bit bashful about showing it.....

One other thing that struck me, was how shy and polite these guys were. When Pat axed 'who wants to go first'?, I fully expected a testosterone-fueled wrasslin' match, with punches bein' throwed, for that muchly coveted, king-of-the-hill-I'm-numba-one position. It absolutely floored me when noone volunteered after a long silence. I know, I know.... They all loved me so much that they wanted me to do the honors..... Thanks, guys....grin

Well, thanks to Pat and everybody else who did the work to put this on, especially (I forgot his name) who walked out and painted the targets on the other side of the wash at every cease-fire, that had to be a mile round-trip every time out. And Scott for painting everything else, Alan for cooking, and Don (not huntsman) for the coffee, Nick for the wall tent and everybody else who helped put it on.

And especially Carl and the "Anodizer Kid " for making sure huntsman didn't take 1st. 13 hours on the road with him after that would've been too much if he'd won the shootout.

Saturday started out poorly on the trip back, got a flat on the gravel road. Got it changed and patched up in town, and headed home, and the day started to get better. I was clocked at 88 in a 70 mph zone by a young state trooper. He pulled us over, saw the rifle cases in the back and asked if we were hunting and I told him no, we'd just come up for some shooting. Took my license and registration back to his car and took a while, then came back with some papers in his hand.

Then he commented that he was just gonna give me a warning (!!) because I had good taste in hats (Noveske). That was enough to make me want to move to Montana right there.

Then to top it all off, while I was unloading the truck this morning, I found that huntsman had gifted me a pair of custom shootin' sticks.

Thanks Don!!

Did your wife let you in this morning? Good thing we unloaded your camping gear for your night in the garage. I may have forgot some sticks(and groceries), but I damn sure remembered my house keys......

Your house has doors now?

Yeah, but I don't have bushes to hide in. How was the dash in the door when momma came out this morning to pick up the newspaper?

I was in the outhouse, perusing the sports page.

I'm guessing a lot could be learned pretty quick there. Sounds like a good time was had by all.

How's the digits Hunts'.

it for sure cuts down the learning curve. still tender, SLM.

Thanks to all the shooters! It went very smooth, and I'm thinking this was the best out of the five so far...

Pretty sure I tallied 30 shooters on Friday afternoon. Dang good bunch of folks, willing to share ideas, and knowledge, and that's what this get together is all about. A few of us stay on the cutting edge of long range shooting, and are always eager to pass it on....

Congrats to Carl for his first place finish in the little comp we held on Friday afternoon. He scored 25X28, taking home a rifle scabbard. Second place went to Phillip who shot a 19 with his 7MM Remington Magnum, and took home one of our first border stitched rifle slings. There was a tie for third, Don(huntsman22), and Jake both shot 15's. Tip of the hat to all the competitors, it takes a little courage to walk up to the line and perform in front of 40+ spectators...you all did well!

Sounds like good times. I missed out on Alan's coffee and Dons brats too... But I did get to enjoy a weekend of rain/snow/wind at least...

Agreed Pat .... Been to all five and thought the same! Wouldn't miss one !

Thanks again for everything.

Kinda fun shooting hunters comp in the dark .... Grin

My kids and my job will always come first so unfortunately I can't make them all...

Jake had the scope for it. Those last couple guys had a rough go in that bad light.

That's one of many reasons you're a good Dad to your kids Jamie.

It was really nice to see some of you again, and meet others for the first time. Thanks to Pat for organizing the shindig and setting up a fun comp, and to everyone for making it a great time.

I still want a light and heavy pair of 6.5 Saum's, but I will say I was quite impressed by the performance of Don's factory Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor with factory ammo. The combination over-achieved.

Congrats to Carl for schooling everybody.

Did you guys get snow or rain Saturday? Or both?




Travis

Friday was beautiful. t-shirt weather for a while.

see any bears?

Negative. Found sign on Friday after setting up camp and chopping wood.

Woke up to this:



Never cut another track. Will go again mid-May.



Travis

Would it be possible to get an equipment list together to see what everybody was shooting?

That would be a long list. I was gawking up and down the line, but couldn't begin to list all the great gear I saw. The one piece of equipment that caught my eye was the scope that several were using, the S&B PM II 5 X 25. Love to have one of those.

Me too mid-May. If you find a lost fat, Hoosier it'll probably be me unless I get eaten first.

I'll be in the wall tent drinking.

Stop on by.




Travis

Knocking required or recommended?

I have lusted over one of those scopes myself.

Saturday evening was incredible.....four of us hard cores stayed, and shot until dark. We had quite a shoot out!

Did the 6.5 chamberings rule the roost?

Which scopes performed the best?

And what one combo seemed to have the most value/bang for the buck?

My OLEO (one of the cheaper spreads)outfit seemed to do OK. Bone stock Ruger Hawkeye Predator topped with LRHS. I ordered a new rig just tonight. Already have glass for it. I hope to turn heads with it at the next shoot. It'll probably cause some, to faint dead away.......Or stroke out.....

Did anybody shoot a fast .22 (i.e. .22/250AI) or a 6mm of some variety or was it 6.5 and up?

I look forward to seeing the new rig.

I shot all three of my 6MM Creedmoor rifles.

I shot my .308, 6mm Crusader, 6.5 SAUM

How did the 6MM's do compared to the 6.5's?

Good, if you don't count the 6.5 SAUM's....that's another animal!

What is your expected barrel life in that 6.5 SAUM? I know that pushed me away from the .243, I was only getting about 2000 rounds per barrel before getting set back.

If anybody tried a big .338 how did it do against the 6.5 SAUM?

I didn't see any .338s in the competition, but I know they were hitting the far target at 1980.

As bad as my eyes are a target at that range would need to be the size of a five ton truck just so I could see it.

Any .7s in the mix? Maybe a 7LRM?

The 'Anodizer Kid' run a 7 maggie. And could flat-out shoot it....

Hoping I can make it in the future, and put on a clinic... OF what not to do I am willing to bet!

hillbillybear just an FYI, my data from my rifles.

the 6.5 saum 140 JLK is 18 mil elevation, 1 mil 10mph wind, 1201 fps, 448 ft.lbs at 1970 yards

the 338 LM 285 Hornady is 21.5 mil elevation, .9 mil 10 mph wind, 1157 fps, 848 ft.lbs at 1970 yards

Thanks. This info really helps.

Sold 338 LM

6.5 does everything (besides energy) and does it lots cheaper

Did I miss the Icebreaker pics?
Sounds like a bunch of fun.

OK, here's the new rig. ruger american predator ($380), vortex variable off one of my AR's ($250). If I can outshoot just ONE of the guys with a custom, GAP, or any dedicated long ranger that cost more than $1000, it'll just make my day.....



after paint... (the paint is my secret weapon...)












Actually, it ain't for the comp. I just wanted a beater for the tractor and quad to plink coyotes at longer range than my 204.......grin

That is a nice rig. Is it a 6.5 Creedmoor too?

yessir

With that paint, the rifle has the thousand yard stare......

If you stare at it long enuff, you'll go cross-eyed.....

I am already cross eyed. Maybe staring at it would straighten me out.

That it was.

Right before sundown, the sun got to the perfect angle to enable you to watch the glint of the copper bullets as they flew downrange and hit the targets. It stayed that way for almost 5 minutes. That was really awesome to see!

Thanks again, Pat, for putting it on.

Great meeting all you guys!

I saw a little of that on Friday evening when Carl was shooting, only time I've seen that.