What is it?

The Long Range Shooters of Utah have several events throughout the year shooting milk jugs at ranges of 1000 to 2000 Yards.  Participants have 10 shots in a 5-10 minute time window to hit a milk jug at one of the specified ranges.  No sighter shots are allowed.  Generally they want your gun to be unfired for the past 30 minutes to one hour.  Successful shooters are rewarded a custom decal with the distance that they completed on it.

Why a Milk Jug?

When you hear someone talking about shooting long range, they will say I shot 1000 yards, 4 on target.  What size is that target?  A milk jug is a common item that most people can visualize.  It’s not very big.  So when you say I hit a jug at 1500 yards they can get a good idea what you are doing.  Also, most of the time when a jug is hit it goes off like a bomb.

How I got into this.

Several years ago, my brother and I were shooting milk Jugs at longer ranges, just 450 yards back then.  Boy, we thought we were doing something.  After searching around on YouTube, I discovered LRSU’s Milk Jug Challenge.

I decided I would try this.  I started at 600 yards, followed their rules, and worked my way to the 1000 yard line.  I found out that they would allow me to submit a video to them that they would review, and if everything looked good, I could receive my Decal.   Here is my submitted video.

It’s Time To Go To Utah

In 2017 they started the International Milk Jug Shoot.  Most events throughout the year are only one distance.  This shoot is only for non-Utah residents, and includes all distances in one event.  I got some info on this, but had to sign up 5-6 months early.  I hated committing to something that far off.  So I didn’t do it and instantly regretted it.  For the 2018 Shoot, I scheduled that week off from work and signed up in early January.

The Trip Out West.

My Dad accompanied me on this trip.  It was going to be 1500 miles (20 hours) one way.  We took off on Tuesday and made it to Colorado Springs the first day.  We went up Pike’s Peak the following morning.  Amazing drive up the mountain.

We then took a two-lane road through the back country of Colorado back to I-70.  We saw some amazing sights.  The terrain started to change in western Colorado.  By the time we were in Utah, we had reached the desert.  Almost no vegetation.  The only water we saw was in the bigger rivers.  All creeks and streams were dry.  After several more hours we arrived in Price, Utah.

Time To Practice

The elevation at my home town is 457ft. above sea level.  The range (North Springs) had an elevation of 6500ft.  This changes things.  I had figured everything at the higher elevation.  I started out at the 100 yard range.  I shot all my rifles and confirmed zero on all of them.  All were good.  I then took the Ruger American to the 1k range.  I dialed up 600 yards, sent 3 and shot a 3 inch group.  I dialed up 1k and sent a few.  I had to make a minor adjustment to my elevation, dialed a little wind and was smacking a little target a 1000 yards.  I then went to the long range.  I just dove right in and dialed up a mile.  I think I had to dial up about 1.5 MOA from what my paper said.  I shot 5 or 6, all hitting very close to the 36″ target.  I did the same for 1200 and 1500 yards.  I was ringing steel easily at 1200 and got one hit at 1500.

The Wind

North Springs Range has some very unusual wind patterns.  Most days early in the morning there is almost no wind.  As the day goes on, the wind picks up.  Usually around noon it’s 15-20 mph.  I saw triple cross winds (blowing in 3 different directions).  I saw wind blowing straight up and down along the canyon wall.  I have never shot in these kind of conditions.

The Shoot

I was in the 2nd group to shoot, so I had to arrive at the range at 7am.  At this time there is almost no wind.  My fist distance was 1200 yards.

After each successful round, you are interviewed.  You are asked about the shoot, equipment, and they talk about the sponsor for the event.  We have custom metal backers in the shape of Utah.  There are stencils to paint them up for a souvenir to take home.

After 1200 it was on to the 1000 yard shoot.

It was about 11am when we shot.  The wind was picking up at the 1000 yard line.  This should have been the easy one, but I struggled a little with it.

Off to the 1500 Yard Challenge

By this time the wind was rip roaring.  I dialed up my elevation, held my best guess for wind, and fired away.

The Golden Jug

So the night before the event, we all meet at a restaurant.  We discussed safety and the course of fire for the event.  Each distance has a golden jug, except 1000 yards.  (Several people get that distance in one shot)  It’s a $5 in the hat type of thing.  It is optional.  I put my $5 in each jug.  The person who hits the jug in the fewest shots wins the pot. I won the 1200 and 1500 yard Golden Jugs. One had $65 in it and the other $70, not a bad little bonus.  That wrapped up the day.

The Mile

Being in group 2, I was hoping I would shoot early in the morning.  However, they still had a few 1500 yard shooters to finish and a few had flights to catch, so they went first.  By the time I shot, the wind was crazy.  The flag would blow one way, the mirage in the scope would be the other, and the flag at the target back the other.  I have never seen any thing like that before.  The first 10 shots were blown all over the place.  The second attempt, now that’s were things get interesting.

5 of my 10 shots from my 2nd attempt were on steel.  AT A MILE!!!!  The jug was leaking when I got up there.  I was jumping up and down thinking I had done it.  We then realized it was just a frag from the splatter on the steel the punctured the jug.  Jug or no jug, this was some of my best shooting ever.

Overall this was a great once in a lifetime experience.  I met some great people.  The hospitality was great.  I exceeded my expectations for the weekend.   Three of the four challenges, that’s a pretty good weekend.

Going Home

We left Price about 8:30 am local time.  We stopped in Rifle, CO for lunch. Several years ago I heard of a restaurant where the waitresses all carry guns, you bet I was stopping.  So if you are in Rifle, CO check out Shooter’s Grill.

We then managed to drive home only stopping for gas.  We drove it straight through, getting home at 7am.  8 tanks of fuel and 3055 miles round trip, we made it back.  The truck got 20.3 MPG for the entire trip.  It was a great opportunity to spend time with my dad, and it was great opportunity to get away for a while.

243 Outdoors

My name is Josh and I love Firearms and Freedom.  I started 243 Outdoors as a YouTube Channel back in 2015 and have branched out to other media sites.