Dave Lauck Runs "4 Minute Mile"

[EricW]

From Mr. Bane's site (http://michaelbane.blogspot.com), which I cannot seem to access for whatever reason right now:

Cooper's Challenge Finally Met!

By MICHAEL BANE

Mar 15, 2006, 16:52

At last, the Holy Grail of long-range shooting has been grabbed, snatched and stuffed in the pocket of an already well-known master of the tactical rifle.

The Project, Col. Jeff Cooper’s 20/20/20 challenge — 20 rounds into a 20-inch circle in 20 seconds or less at…get this…1000 yards — has been met by Dave Lauck, master instructor and gunsmith at D&L Sports/Small Arms Training Academy ( http://www.dlsports.com/ ) in Gillette, WY.

Shooting a D&L Custom AR-15 with his special regulated gas system and super-efficient muzzle brake and custom 77-grain heavy .223 bullets, Dave was able to repeatedly put 20 rounds into a 20 inch circle at 1000 yards in less than 20 seconds.

“Our groups were averaging around 18 inches,” Dave says.

How hard is the 20/20/20 challenge? This is from Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries, Vol. 13, No. 6 from last year: “The fact is that The Project is a very tough challenge. Jim Land, Secretary of the NRA and a distinguished target shot, states flatly that 20/20/20 is impossible, and certainly the first man to bring this off will have achieved the first ‘4 minute mile’ in rifle shooting.

“We have the weapons and we have the ammunition. If we can just find the place to set up the test, we may be able to find the man. The challenge is there to be overcome.”

And so it has been.

If you’re a SHOOTING GALLERY fan, you already know Dave as the organizer and Match Director of the International Tactical Rifle Championships, which we’ll be returning to in August 2006 (how could we not...he’s got the helicopter there again!). You can get more information on Dave at http://www.dlsports.com/npage9.html. We’ll also be doing an episode of SG specifically on long-range tactical rifle, with Dave instructing. Stay tuned…

Anybody hear of this "challenge" before it actually was accomplished? Just when I think I'm paying attention... I'd actually be interested in seeing the actual physical setup used to do it (not the gun) and the test parameters. Couldn't find anything on Lauck's website either.

[shred]

Looks like Uncle Jeff first came up with it in Vol 12, # 2, though he brings it up as "The Project" in most issues thereafter (#12, vol 3 has some suggested rules)

Do any of you marksmen think it possible for a man to place 20 shots in a 20-inch circle in 20 seconds at a 1,000 yards? I posed this question to the range masters down at Camp Pendleton many years ago and was told that such a thing was not possible. During much of my life a four-minute mile was deemed to be impossible, to say nothing of motoring around on the surface of the moon. Obviously this rifle challenge is very, very hard. I have tried it twice myself and conclude that while the task is not impossible, it is nearly so. Therefore, I am undertaking the proposal of a perpetual prize in the form of a grand gold cup or bowl to be awarded to anyone who can bring off this stunt - properly supervised, of course. Administration of the effort will be complicated, but that we can handle. I hope to avoid commercialization, but where there is a will there is a way - and money in sufficient quantities can provide the will.

[...] One correspondent speculated about the use of a match-conditioned M16, assuming that little 22 bullet may retain enough energy at a 1000 yards to cut the paper (joke?) [...]

[Middle Man]

Anybody hear of this "challenge" before it actually was accomplished? Just when I think I'm paying attention... I'd actually be interested in seeing the actual physical setup used to do it (not the gun) and the test parameters. Couldn't find anything on Lauck's website either.

I read about Col. Cooper's "Project" in 2004 and in several of 2005's Commentaries.

The entries from 2004 appear to the first mention in print. However it would seem Col. Cooper had thought about this challenge years ago.

Vol. 12, No. 2 February 2004

"Do any of you marksmen think it possible for a man to place 20 shots in a 20-inch circle in 20 seconds at a 1,000 yards? I posed this question to the range masters down at Camp Pendleton many years ago and was told that such a thing was not possible. During much of my life a four-minute mile was deemed to be impossible, to say nothing of motoring around on the surface of the moon. Obviously this rifle challenge is very, very hard. I have tried it twice myself and conclude that while the task is not impossible, it is nearly so. Therefore, I am undertaking the proposal of a perpetual prize in the form of a grand gold cup or bowl to be awarded to anyone who can bring off this stunt - properly supervised, of course. Administration of the effort will be complicated, but that we can handle. I hope to avoid commercialization, but where there is a will there is a way - and money in sufficient quantities can provide the will."

Vol. 12, No. 3 March 2004

"Preliminary response to the "Apollo Challenge" (20 shots in a 20-inch circle in 20 seconds at 1,000 yards) seems to me is that the exploit is achievable - barely.

As you might suppose, such commentators as we have heard concentrate on the mechanical aspect of the challenge. Naturally right equipment would be a help, but success will be attributed to the shooter rather than his rifle. If this project takes shape, its administration will be complicated, but I would like to be granted the right to appoint the committee. As with so many things, success will depend upon money. The permanent trophy must be magnificent - not cheap. The administrative work will involve considerable operational expense, and the suggested first prize of $5,000 will be necessary to get the right people interested. If the project succeeds it will establish for all time the world's greatest marksmen - as a matter of record rather than legend. The task is barely possible, which is just as it should be. If it were out of reach, no one would try for it, and if it were easy, it would not mean anything. Marksmen are a dying breed at this time. It would be nice to recognize them before they become extinct."

Interrupted by the phone and beat to the punch...sorry for the overlapping duplicaiton.

Edited March 20, 2006 by Middle Man

[EricW]

Thanks. I did read some of Coop's ramblings. Never saw anything concrete listed. I'm not trying to detract in any way from the accomplishment, but I would be interested in knowing if the actual feat was done on the dirt prone, off F-Class belly-benchrest gear, or sandbagged off a bench.

This may inspire me to get a DPMS 308 or 260 and get cracking. I'd be jonesed if I could do it off sandbags in 10 minutes.

[Bruce]

Good shooting! I had never heard of the challenge before this thread.

[Dan Sierpina]

I'd heard something about it some time ago. It was on a Highpower board though. Over there, it was thought that David Tubb, using a T2K should be able to get the job done. I think the T2K uses SR25 mags, so, the 20 rounds were available without a reload.

[John Dunn]

Lauck builds some of the best guns I've ever seen, he's a reliability fanatic, put's on a hell of a match. Congratulations.

[kellyn]

I hope Jeff does not vapor lock when he finds out that the ultimate test was accomplished using a .223! With a comp no less!

While a good test of both man and machine, I don't really consider this the ULTIMATE SHOOTING TEST like breaking a 4 minute mile. It's not as though hundreds or even dozens of people were attempting this constantly and failing to do so. I know many shooters who could accomplish this goal, many who post on this board. Of course, weather conditions would have to be ideal as I'm sure they were for Dave.

When Dave or anyone cleans the highpower silhouette course (40 X 40) or shoots 800 across the course, I'll be a bit more impressed.

[John Dunn]

When I talked to Dave about this, he acted like it wasn't any big accomplishment. He even tried to talk me into doing it on camera, which would essentially prove that a monkey could do it.

It may not be a 4 minute mile, but it's still pretty cool.

[Garryowen]

I hear Dave Lauck's tears cure cancer, too bad he's never cried.....

[milanuk]

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like this would also be heavily dependent on the range... sure, you can hammer the rounds down range no problem w/ a gas gun, and the minimal recoil of a .223, especially w/ a brake would make staying on target much easier. Our 1k range here is a treacherous SOB, and on occasion the wind can go from 10 to 1:30, and from 15mph to 25mph in the space of three shots, or about 45-60 seconds for me w/ a bolt gun shooting F-Class w/ a target puller. That's a major PITA w/ any caliber, any gun, period.

I'm sure Dave knows how to handle the wind (if this is the same guy I've heard of from Wyoming), but while the mechanics may be (relatively) simple... I don't know if I'd call it 'luck', but somehow I doubt this is something one would be able to do any given day at any given range.

/me dons asbestos underoos

YMMV,

Monte

Edited May 20, 2006 by milanuk