It was 50 mph wind from the back but I shot 4 for 6 on an 18″ gong at 600 yards in one magazine. 9 close witnesses I guess, a retired Marine Pilot Steve Davis also Range Master, Two Marine Sniper/ Instructors, Marine Gunner Charles Henderson, a Retired Navy and Air Force were who I remember standing close. I continued to demonstrate in spite of the Wind holding what appeared to be 5 feet into the wind and up 2. I did have a flier every once in a while but the Black Hills +P 230 FMJ HP seemed to group pretty well out at 600.
I fired three with the same hold and they hit together the size of a milk jug at 7 o’clock about 1-2 feet down with Charles spotting, so I adjusted for the wind and shot the gong. I loaded three later and made a call shot on the gong when someone noted an Afghan rise up at 600 and I took it down with one shot represented again by the gong. But I also missed a lot and think probably the average was 3-4 in 10 at the 600 but all agree that no man would stand up out there if a Combat NCO was shooting at you.
As there was SO MANY witnesses at the shoot I expect to have a lot of testimonials about the effectiveness of the Combat NCO and to confirm my claim that a man under adverse conditions can give supporting fire at 600 yards without much difficulty. What was amazing was to HIT the 18″ targets which would seem to confirm that this average sample pistol #26 does hold 3 minute accuracy or less at 100 yards even with a human shooting the gun AND the serious nature of wind present.
I continued shooting in the wind hitting the gong many more times for show during the day. The crowd loved it.
The wind was too bad and blew down target stands so the shooters had to shoot the NCO at 100 yards and most did pretty well. Wind was 5″ drift on the shoulder edge. Gave good groups for me in the ten ring or the chest area offhand. There were some other odds rounds that may take some research bu most likely shooter error. Charles shot well too and I think most people shot better than their ability suggested.
The women shot the gun fairly well at 100 and could use some instruction but all in all for a first time, not TOO bad. They thought the recoil was less than a 9mm and a .40 cal and none found the NCO unpleasant to shoot. I hope to collect their reviews to post under Testimonials soon on www.karllippard.com/military.
Fun stuff. A lot of pride today. It has been a long time since I shot the 600 with a pistol open sight and today I guess I hold the record at Ben Lomond Gun Club for open sight pistol, .45acp, six hundred yards, that will no doubt stand for a while.