WRPC shoots to 1 mile

We have just completed a smashing visit to the Glen Beag 1 Mile Range owned by Line of Sight Ltd, way up in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.

9 of WRPC’s dedicated full bore shooters made the 800 mile round trip for the opportunity to shoot steels up to 1 mile. Did we manage it? One of us did!

Two minibuses were hired which we named the Beetus Bus and Porkvan – yes, we’re children basically –  and the driving was split into 2 hour stints which wasn’t bad. The old gits need to stop for a pee every 2 hours anyway so that worked out well.

That’s a long poke – 400 miles, about 7 hours allowing for pee breaks.

We stayed at the Ben Mhor hotel in Grantown On Spey, about an hour away from the range itself. Basic hotel but decent enough with single rooms for everyone, plus a decent set of restaurants in the town. Curry must be consumed, it’s not a proper trip without a good ruby!

The Glen Beag 1 Mile range is privately owned and nothing to do with the MOD, so very high power rifles and 6.5mm Creedmoor which cannot be used on MOD ranges are exactly what you need if you want to try for the mile. Just look at the scenery, beautiful in every direction.

Paul and John from Line of Sight Ltd were most pleasant and helpful, thank you lads for the warm welcome, much appreciated. We were very lucky with the weather too, steady 5mph wind and sun – yes sun – in the highlands made for an amazing day in some of the most beautiful scenery outside of Yorkshire.

The range has steel targets from 280 yards all the way out to 1760 yards – the full mile. With a no danger area backstop targets can be engaged at any distance at any time. We started cracking on immediately and with five firing points, we soon had plenty of rounds going downrange. Each shooter was aided by a spotter calling the fall of shot and looking out for errant sheep and deer – fortunately the only deer we saw was the steel target variety.

We had the range from 9am to 3pm with everyone shooting multiple rifles with great success. A range of calibres were used, the smaller .223’s accurate range topping out at around 700 to 800 yards and the common .308 topping out at around 1250 yards – still some distance, that’s 3/4 of a mile. Very satisfying after working up a home load for accuracy, calculating the drops for each distance then actually seeing the round hit the steels and hearing the bong of the impact a few seconds later – great stuff!

Now for the two longer range targets at 1,500 yards and 1760 yards for the mile … something more suitable was needed. Some of our members were shooting 6.5mm Creedmoor and similar dedicated long range setups.

Getting ready to engage the 1500 and 1760 mile targets way out on the furthest away hill.

Targets worked up from 280 to 1250 yards … now for 1500 and 1760 … check the ballistic calculator …

1500 yards was had by most but only one of us managed to hit the target at a mile – well done Dave!

For reference, Dave was using : Accuracy international At-X rifle in 6.5 creedmoor ( 22″ barrel) using an IOR crusader scope, supported by GRS bipod, shooting home loads of 140grn ELD-Ms over 38grn of N555 powder, giving a velocity of 2460fps. 

You don’t necessarily need the latest rifle and scope either – just as much satisfaction seeing what each rifle can do.

What an athletic bunch of gentlemen. We’re all in excellent shape. Round is a shape.

The rest of us are determined to get to the mile next time. Second place is the same being first loser and we all want the1 mile bragging rights. Good healthy competition!

After a full day of shooting we retired back to the hotel, secured the gear and took advantage of a local Bangladeshi restaurant – good stuff.

Sunday and it’s time to head back, but not until we’ve had a customary round of clays at a local ground.

Every one had a smashing time, good shooting, good friends and good, well natured banter. It might not be cheap this game but it does wonders for your mental well being, beats any spa or wellness retreat into a cocked hat. We’re going to make it an annual event.

Thank you again to Paul and John at Line of Sight Ltd, what a smashing range setup, well done!

Link to Line of Sight Ltd : https://lineofsight.org.uk/glen-beag-range/