September 18th, 2022Sunday gunDay: Clay Rhoden wins King of 1 Mile Match in TexasAn amateur long-range competitor is now the USA’s first King of 1 Mile. Clay Rhoden, the talented and accomplished head honcho for Longshot (target cameras), won with a stunning performance. Clay hit all five targets without missing a shot, and he went all the way to 1699 yards. Target 6 at 1909 yards, and Target 7 at 2391 yard were the additional targets. Clay was 4 for 10, but his flawless shooting at 1699 yards gave him a comfortable margin.
Amazing FACT: Clay won the 2022 USA Ko1M match in his sixth match! Clay defeated some living legends including David Tubb who is a 6-time NRA Long Range Champion and 2019 NRA EL HG Champ. Clay’s incredible victory is made even more impressive when you consider that Clay had only shot five rifle matches (at any distance) during his entire life. This was a great win for a novice shooter. Clay and his Global Precision Group team (GPG) deserve a huge congrats. Clay’s GPG teammate Ray Gross placed second overall. Clay shot a 33XC rifle with BAT, Bartlein barrel and Manners ELR Light stock. He also used a Nightforce 735x56mm scope. Paul Phillips developed and loaded the ammo. It featured Berger 300gr OTM bullets in Peterson brass, Vihtavuori N565 powder, and Federal 215 primers.
The 2022 USA King of 1 Mile event was a match I will never forget. Before I go any further, Jay Monych and Alex Cordesman are to be thanked for putting together this match and for opening each day by praying and the Pledge. It was only my sixth match and it was a blast. I had no expectations and tried to keep calm and collected throughout the match. Ray Gross, my teammate, shot on the first day. I didn’t shoot until day two. Although we did a good job during his qualification run I felt that we were able to do better as spotters. I think I under-doped the wind calls on the two first targets. It was enough to get him into finals and give him another chance at the win. However, I felt that I let him down as a spotter by under-doping the wind calls on the first two targets. I prayed throughout the day, as well as before shooting, asking God to help me win if He would, and to help my gracefully accept the loss if not. I also asked God to use my win to His glory if I won. He did and is! My wife and me are in the early stages of domestic adoption. The first bit of money will be due soon. It is $4,000! That’s exactly the amount that I won in the match! This secured us the top spot in the finals. After randomizing the list, I was the 1st shooter and Ray the 3rd. The conditions in the finals were much worse because it was later in day and the mirage really came out to play. I managed to continue my flawless run onto the T5 where I went 5 for 5. Then I got 1st, 3rd and 5th round impacts on the T6 and T7, respectively. I also won a 4th round on the T7. I was able to win the match with a score of Scope, Ammo, and rifle.
From practicing before the match, I shot a brand-new 33XC with about 30 rounds through it. The gun is composed of a BAT Machine left hand feed, right-hand action, Bartlein bartlein barrel, Tubb 5-starbra, Nightforce ATACR 735x56mm FFP MOAR scope, NF high rings, and a Manners F Class stock with modified TCS weight-tuning system. Alex Sitman bedded the action with GA Precision machine work. I was able to add some weight to the gun’s back by using the stock. Combining that with the Tubb 5-star muzzlebra created a smooth, predictable recoil that allowed for me to stay on target and helped spot my impacts.
Paul Phillips, Team GPG Captain loaded all the ammunition for Clay Rhoden (and other Team GPG members). Paul Phillips loaded all of the ammunition for the entire team, and it shot like a light bulb. We used Federal 215M primers, Peterson Brass, Vihtavuori n565 powder, Berger 300gr Hybrid OTM Bullets, and Peterson Brass. We observed that the guns and ammunition performed consistently shot after shot during the match. If we get an impact, we just need the same hold because each round will be placed in the exact same spot. My wife first comment when I put on my crown was “You look like Game of Thrones whitewalker.” I don’t know what to think about that, but she had a point. It was cool. I tried to tell my kids that I was a King and that they would have to listen better but they understood. Preparation for the King 1 Mile Match
My rifle arrived a few weeks prior to the match. I shot my first match with it during a practice session at Kaian Vista Ranch in central Texas, owned by James Devoglaer, a GPG teammate. We arrived at James Devoglaer’s ranch and zeroed the guns. We also checked the velocities and checked that everything was level. We then practiced team communication and spotter on the KVR’s long-range hunter course using 6.5 Creedmoors. Then, we did a few simulated matches on the KVR’s ELR course using our competition rifles. This allowed us to practice communication with spotter and shooter, as well as verify predictions from our Kestrels. This practice greatly increased my confidence going into the match.
This is where ELR really comes into play. Fortunately, Team GPG has some of the most talented wind callers in the country. My second day of the match was my first. While I was trying to remain calm, my teammates were talking about the wind and the anomalies they experienced while shooting and factoring that into their starting wind calls. Ray and I had to do it right once our time began. Ray was on top! We were able make first-round impacts at Targets 1 (1263 yards), through Target 6 (1909 yard). Our assumption about the wind on Target 7 (2391 yards), cost us a few impacts. Thankfully, we were able leverage those learnings and capitalize upon them when Ray was ready to shoot. Ray and I finished 3rd and 1st in the finals. This was good for us because we were applying what we had learned from when we shot. But it was bad for me because I was the windguinea pig for everyone else in the finals.
I was fortunate enough to be part of Team GPGG last year, when I helped Paul run the Longshot cameras during a practice. Paul asked me if I wanted the chance to shoot his.416 Barrett after the practice. I said yes and then I got behind the gun to shoot a 4. group at 2000 yards. Paul asked me if I wanted the team to join and the rest is history. As a novice shooter, I was fortunate enough to be able to join a team that included some of the most skilled shooters in the world. Each of us come from different backgrounds and have different specialties. We do a great job of leveraging our differences to perform at the highest level. Ray and Paul have years of competitive shooting experience. James has many years of experience in competitive shooting, hunting, training, and is a skilled photographer. I have the experience with technology and cameras that allows us to verify our results. We all shoot clone rifles so we can instantly transfer what we learn during matches to the rest. Paul Phillips also designed the Manners ELR Light stock that we used.
Sponsors really showed their support for the match by donating $65,000 to $70,000 worth prizes and $5,500 cash. It was an amazing experience to be called up first and receive a belt buckle, trophy, and a huge check for first place. I was also able to walk the prize-table first and received an amazing lightweight hunting rifle in.30 Nosler form Alamo Precision Rifles (see photograph). At this point, it’s fair to say I’m hooked! Now it’s time for the King of 2 Mile. Hopefully, Lord willing, Team GPG will be able to pull off more podium finishes at the end of September.Conclusion: Philippians 4:13 states “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” Without my faith in God, and without my team, there is no way I could do this! I am so grateful to have won the King of 1 Mile! To solve the problem of not being able to see my shots at 100 yards, I invented our long-range camera system. Shortly after, I was introduced the 1000-yard shooting concept. Then, not long after, I was introduced the idea of Extreme Long Range (ELR), which I didn’t even know existed. Our Longshot target cameras solve this problem by allowing us to confirm impacts regardless of the conditions. The system’s “reach” is amazing. The Longshot LR-3 UHD camera is capable of a 2-mile range in open terrain. Longshot cameras played an important role in my growth as a shooter. Our cameras allow me to quickly and accurately associate environmental conditions with a target’s result. This, along with the people I’ve met while running this business, has allowed me to achieve so many things so quickly.
Our long range UHD targets cameras cannot be used to score during matches. Team GPG uses Longshot’s Hawk Scope Camera to take photos of the targets before the match and create plot books. These are then used to take notes during matches and make corrections. This helped me to get a fourth round hit on T7 during the match. This allowed me to make a fourth round impact on T7 during the match. Click Arrow to watch Hawk Spotting Scope Camera Video
Background Report by Paul Phillips, Team GPG CaptainTeam GPG approached 2022’s inaugural USA King of 1 Mile event in the same way we approached the 2019 King of 2 Miles, where we finished 1st and 3rd out of 80 shooters. We had the same amazing results this year with first- and 2nd-place finishes out 100 shooters. Next, we ensure that our optics are level and have 100-yard zeros. We then use a custom PDM (Personalized Drag Model), from Applied Ballistics, and verify all ballistics using multiple Kestrels as well as Applied Ballistics analytics. Once everything is in order, we can simply input all the environmentals and distances. Wind calling uses the Kestrel to measure wind speed and direction. Analytics is used to calculate the values. Before we start shooting, we register any last-minute pick-ups and let-offs. We spent the day at KVR Ranch in Lometa TX, owned by James Deboglaer, a Team GPG member. This was for team communication and team work. James gave us a hunter course, and we used it to communicate and make sure that we were on the right page. We were able to achieve our first and second place results thanks to good elevations and wind, great teamwork, and great communications.
Paul explained to us that he was responsible for load development, loading ammunition, and initial wind estimates for his shooters. I also used AB Analytics to solve all ballistics problems. “Rifle Specifications & Components
All guns and ammunition were GPG spec 33XC build, with ammunition loaded from Paul Phillips. Clay’s 33XC round is equipped with 300gr Bergers, running at 3250 FPS MV. These components are found in GPG team rifles: BAT actions
Bartlein barrels
Bix’N Andy triggers
Manners ELR Light stock
Nightforce ATACR scopes
GA Precision Gunsmithing Accutac bipod GA
Paul Phillips Load dev
Alex Sitman bedding
Manson Reamers
Hollands level
Tubb brakes Berger 300gr Hybrid OTM .338 Cal bullet
Peterson cartridge brass
Vihtavouri N565 powder
Fed 215 primer
Similar Posts:Tags 33XC. Accutac Bipod. Clay Rhoden. ELR. GA Precision. King of 1 Mile. King of 2 Miles. LongShot Cameras. Paul Phillips.
