600yd match 1&2 at Vapor Trail Valley

[Tom E]

600 yd
match 1&2
April 11&12

Get it on your mind, looking a bit like a weather event possibly??

If you would drop me a text if you’re planning to come, for meal planning purposes that would be greatly appreciated.

Also, we have three bridges out around us!!!
If your coming from the south, turn right on rt O north of Trenton, left on rt nn, then right on rt jj follow to the first gravel road to your left, Kent ave, from there you will know how to get to the range

If your coming from the north or north east
Go to Ravanna, take a left or right on rt C depending on the direction your coming from, follow to rt E take a right, then a left on rt C , from there you know the way in

Another way from the south east
Would be go to Galt mo and come north on Rt J

These directions are especially for the guys pulling campers, it will keep ya off gravel , other than the range road

You can come in anyway ya like, but there will be more gravel rd bypasses of the bridge work

Hope all that made sense!!!!!

Safe travels everyone, looking forward to kicking off 2026

 

[Tom E]

26 confirmed shooters as of this morning

Have not heard from some yet

Great start to 2o26!

 

[Tom E]

We are at 30 confirmed shooters, lots of new shooter interest this year!!

We are missing 5 of our regular guys, 2026 is starting off great

 

[R L U]

Windy very wet day. 2 rain delays and still more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Good shooting Robert D and all others

 

[R L U]

 

[Tom E]

View attachment 1761218

Thanks Rob!!

Much appreciated , I’ll get a full match report out late afternoon today

 

[Tom E]

Match 1 winners left to right
Curt Knitt, Robert Dirose, Rob Unertl, Paul Cupach and Paul Hilgedick

 

[Tom E]

match 1 awards, each year we try to do something a little different after doing this for 14 years it gets a little harder each year.

 

[Tom E]

Match 1 & 2, 600 yds

We had wind and we had rain, this was one of the driest winters I remember in my life, that all changed this week, we got our moisture now! In spite of the weather event we had, everyone was enjoying themselves, good to get back together, I have shot at a lot of different places across this country, and I have noticed that guys shoot to win matches, especially where weather events occur throughout the year, as I was sitting there watching everyone shoot this weekend, I started reminiscing of how many national championships have been won by the group that have kept this place going over the years! Jason walker, Carrol Lance, Andy Ferguson, Jim and Sally Bauer, Dan the man Hullinger, Tim Gonnerman, Curt Knitt , Rob Unertl , Steve Hoskin, Alan Carmichael, Dj Thomas, Gene Ford and Jason Wolf, shooting in the best of the conditions to the worst make shooters that can and do travel and win matches.

For me after running matches here for the last 14 years, I get frustrated at times when Mother Nature ruins it for my friends, but this weekend I was able to bring it into perspective at least for me! This place has made and shaped some real badass winners!!!

They are the humblest set of guys I know, that’s why I’m bragging on them because they won’t.



Thanks to everyone that keeps this place active, 2026 is looking good for long range benchrest in the Midwest!

We had a few cancelations from some new shooters this weekend, as well as missing several of our regulars, and still had a great turnout!

Already looking forward to the May 1000 match



Special shout out, I haven’t checked for sure but I’m almost positive, Paul Hilgedick set the Tru Tac group agg record here at the valley this weekend with a blistering 2.291” agg off a bipod in some really tough conditions!! I’m glad to see the fun as well as the turnout of new shooters in this class, bringing Long range benchrest back one new shooter at a time.


Match 2 winners left to right
Mike McBride, Steve Hoskin, Dan Hullinger, Rob Unertl, Curt Knitt, Shannon Guile, Paul Hilgedick and Travis Miller

 

[Tom E]

 

[RSchatz]

Thanks for the photos
Not the same as being there but it sure looks great seeing every body

 

[Tom E]

Match 2 results

 

[Tom E]

Match 2 tru tac

 

[Tom E]

Match 1 tru tac

 

[Tom E]

Thanks for the photos
Not the same as being there but it sure looks great seeing every body

Look forward to catching up with ya Richard! Always