On the Site:

LOCAL NEWS

World record for longest long-range rifle shot broken Tuesday

Sep 15, 2022, 3:03 PM | Updated: Sep 16, 2022, 11:35 am

Custom built long-range rifle which shot the new world record on September 13, 2022. Photo by Matth...

Custom built long-range rifle which shot the new world record on September 13, 2022. Photo by Matthew Mellor

JACKSON, Wyo. — The world’s farthest long-range rifle shot was fired Tuesday, surpassing the previous record by nearly half a mile.

Forward spotting team after hitting the target. Photo from forward spotting team.

The previous record of 4 miles set in 2020 was defeated by a 4.4-mile target hit in the high desert of western Wyoming. The bullet took 24 seconds to hit the 8-inch bullseye, but breaking the record had been the goal for over a year.

After setting the Wyoming state record of 3.06 miles in 2020, Scott Austin and Shepard Humphries gathered a team of extreme-long-range enthusiasts to tackle the world record.

“This was the most challenging, difficult, frustrating, time-consuming and yet rewarding professional project I have ever undertaken,” Humphries said.

They began planning the project in late 2020. With custom parts coming in from all over the world and fine details, like hand-lathed bullets, it wasn’t until May 2022 that the rifle was built and ready to fire.

this article only this article only this article only this article only this article only this article only

Then began months of testing a wide range of systems like wind readers, custom steel bunkers, and optics.

“With this kind of shooting, nobody has yet figured out how to get first-round hits. This isn’t the kind of thing where you buy a new rifle and some ammo right off of the gun store shelf and go get lucky,” Humphries said.

Bunkers protected the spotters from being hit, as they were scattered between the shooter and the target in order to guide accuracy. Humphries’ wife Lynn Sherwood led the spotting team, who primarily used audio spotting to calibrate the shot, which Humphries thinks might be a brand new concept in extreme-long-range. Audio spotting has been known to supplement visual spotting, but because of the distance of the target, spotters couldn’t always see impact dust from the bullet as well as they could hear it whooshing past.

Target at an angle for incoming bullet descending at 48 degrees. Target was 10 feet wide, 7 feet 8 inches tall. Photo from forward spotting team.

After several hours of number crunching and aim adjusting later, their 69th shot hit the bullseye. Austin and Humphries say that while their hit is not scientifically consistently repeatable, this makes it extra coincidental that the previous 4-mile record set by Paul Phillips also landed on the 69th shot.

Hit was 3 and 1/8 inches from bullseye center. Photo from forward spotting team.

“Together, we’ve spent over 1,500 hours in research, highs and lows, blood, sweat, excitement and tears, with dozens of amazingly gifted people and businesses personally invested in the goal,” Austin said.

“Together, we’ve spent over 1500 hours in research, highs and lows, blood, sweat, excitement and tears, with dozens of amazingly gifted people and businesses personally invested in the goal,” Austin said.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

(KSL TV)...

Matt Gephardt & Cimaron Neugebauer

Bountiful woman left without phone service or answers days after her husband dies

When you pay for a phone service, you expect it to work. But after being unable to make or receive calls despite reaching out to the provider multiple times to fix it – a Utah woman decided it was time to Get Gephardt.

4 hours ago

Cami Johnson reported to police in 2017 that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by her ex-husba...

Daniella Rivera

Sexual assault survivor says delays in police investigation allowed perpetrator to attack a teenager

A Utah woman said delays in properly investigating her report of sexual assault allowed her perpetrator to remain free and attack a teenage girl more than a year later. The KSL Investigators examined the timeline of multiple investigations involving the same man.

5 hours ago

(Jeff Dahdah, KSL TV)...

Alex Cabrero

New USU police dog being trained to help students with stress

This is Sage, the newest member of the USU Police Department. Her specialty is something relatively new for police departments: helping those after a traumatic or stressful event.

6 hours ago

Mug shot from prison...

Eliza Pace and Garna Mejia, KSL TV

Lori Vallow Daybell moved from Idaho prison to Arizona prison to face other charges

Convicted killer, Lori Vallow Daybell is no longer in the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center and now sits in an Arizona Jail.

7 hours ago

(Courtesy of the Parr family)...

Shara Park

Family of Isabelle Parr celebrates her life on the anniversary of her death

A Holladay family is offering forgiveness to the driver of a hit and run accident that took the life of UVU student Isabelle Parr.

7 hours ago

...

Shelby Lofton and Lindsay Aerts, KSL TV

Industrial size power washing truck believed to be cause of daycare carbon monoxide leak

The carbon monoxide leak at American Preparatory Academy's daycare in Draper Wednesday afternoon made dozens sick, including several children.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

Design mockup half in white and half in color of luxury house interior with open plan living room a...

Lighting Design

Lighting Design 101: Learn the Basics

These lighting design basics will help you when designing your home, so you can meet both practical and aesthetic needs.

an antler with large horns int he wilderness...

Three Bear Lodge

Yellowstone in the Fall: A Wildlife Spectacle Worth Witnessing

While most people travel to this park in the summer, late fall in Yellowstone provides a wealth of highlights to make a memorable experience.

a diverse group of students raising their hands in a classroom...

Little Orchard Preschool

6 Benefits of Preschool for Kids

Some of the benefits of preschool for kids include developing independence, curiosity, and learning more about the world.

World record for longest long-range rifle shot broken Tuesday