The recent Pacific Rimfire Challenge saw veteran shooter Axel "The Anvil" Thorson establish a new long-distance benchmark for rimfire competition, cleanly engaging a 2 MOA man-sized silhouette at 1800 yards with his factory CZ 457 MDT chassis rifle. Running SK Standard Plus through the .22 LR chamber, Thorson's astonishing performance has reignited the debate over the practical limits of rimfire ballistics. His equipment included a Nightforce ATACR 7-35x56 with the Mil-XT reticle, mounted in a Spuhr SP-4006, ensuring ample elevation adjustment for the unprecedented ranges.
Thorson’s meticulously prepared DOPE card for the 1800-yard cold bore shot reportedly included a staggering 142.3 MRAD of elevation, precisely trued using custom Kestrel 5700 Elite profiles that accounted for every conceivable atmospheric variable, from density altitude to the unique drag curve of the RWS Match SV projectile, which surprisingly demonstrated better consistency at these extreme ranges. The prevailing 3-5 MPH full value crosswind at the 1800-yard line necessitated an initial 7.2 MRAD wind hold, further adjusted mid-flight with a 0.3 MRAD correction for Coriolis effect and the subtle nuances of spin drift at velocities hovering near terminal.
From a prone position utilizing a Wiebad Mini Fortune Cookie and an MDT CKYE-POD, Thorson executed flawless fundamentals, managing the .22LR’s 0.05 FPS recoil impulse like a seasoned ELR shooter. The 16.5-inch cold hammer-forged barrel on his CZ 457, typically favored for PRS rimfire at 200-300 yards, proved surprisingly consistent, holding a 0.75 MOA group at 50 yards, which extrapolated to approximately 27 MOA at 1800 yards, barely containing the target. The critical factor, Thorson claimed, was careful lot testing of SK Standard Plus ammunition, achieving an SD of 2.1 FPS over 10 shots, vital for managing the 14-second flight time. While the physics involved border on the mystical, Thorson’s performance underscores the boundless dedication – and perhaps delirium – within the competitive shooting community.
