1,000 yard target with the 929

[lhump1961]

I wonder how many free Hornady Bullets it took? Give me free Guns,free range time and free Ammo and some practice and I will show you some cool trick shots too.....You can also bet that they where Handloads,Not off the shelf Factory Ammo.

I'll give you that lots of ammo and range time would make you or any reasonable shooter much better...BUT...to shoot like JM takes innate talent as well. All the men and women at all the shooting competitions JM has won all had ammo and practice time yet HE has the records. I could practice all day every day and would never expect to do anything like the things JM has done...the most amazing of which is the revolver record of 6 shots/reload/6 shots (all on target) in 2.99 seconds with a 686! I'd like to hold that 686 and fire a couple of rounds just to feel what a slicked up race gun shoots like.

 

[JLM]

Many years ago, I remember reading Elmer Keith's autobiography. He was shooting his hot rod .44 specials at (I think) 400-600 yards. Someone challenged him on it, and he replied that the guy was free to come out to Montana and let Elmer shoot at him at x-yards, if he didn't believe it could be done.

 

[Jdavis]

Many years ago, I remember reading Elmer Keith's autobiography. He was shooting his hot rod .44 specials at (I think) 400-600 yards. Someone challenged him on it, and he replied that the guy was free to come out to Montana and let Elmer shoot at him at x-yards, if he didn't believe it could be done.

That would definitely put an end to any further discussion

 

[vipermd]

79.6 yd hold over, 2 shots on video, balloon burst on second shot...Priceless

 

[A10]

I'm guessing he practiced a bit before making the shot......abscence of proof to the contrary, there is no reason not to believe him. Heck, from what the box says my .22 is dangerous to a mile and a half!

 

[rwsmith]

Au contraire

I call BS on BS. Look at his sight set up. It's at least an inch above the normal sight line. It is set to elevate the gun and keep the target picture in the cross hairs. 150 feet of drop isn't that much over a 1000 yard shot. I'm sure he didn't just walk out there and attempt this. He had already tweaked his sight to shoot at that distance. Also, some people's eyes are much better than mine (no joke) and can see much greater distances. Plus the balloon was a highly visible color. It doesn't appear that he has any magnification on that sight. And the terminal velocity of a bullet doesn't have to be that great to break a balloon. I'm gonna have to put this into the computer to see what the angle of impact was. The bullet was probably traveling at slingshot speed when it hit.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

That's incredible. But being it's Jerry it doesn't surprise me. That guy probably shoots more ammo in a day than most of us will in a year. I'd love to see him attempt that shot with several other calibers just for kicks.

I see people will always be doubters. That's fine. I believe if you are familiar with the range and ballistics really anything is possible. Maybe someone knows the camera man who followed behind and can ask him personally, so everyone can put it to rest.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

I met and talked with Jerry a few months ago and I can tell you he is honest as the day is long.I have rang a gong @ 300yds with an UZI smg only holding about 2' over center,was shooting 2-3rd bursts and getting 1-2 rings per burst. I have no doubt a 1000yd pistol shot is possible-may take a few shots to walk it in-but very doable.

 

[sac-gunslinger]

Remember, his full time job is shooting S&W products, he could take a couple of weeks just preparing and practicing for the attempt at this shot. If you have done something a few hundred times it becomes easier. An exhibition shooter's job is to make the impoosible look like and everyday feat.

 

[Bart 44]

When the bullet hit steel, "splash" got the balloon. My .02. Joe

Jerry never said he was going to hit the balloon, he said he would try to break it. It should be obvious to anyone that has ever shot steel that a hit anywhere on that plate would break the balloon. He pointed out the impact on the plate and it obviously wasn't where the balloon was.

And really, at 1000 yards isn't the plate good enough?

Dennis.

 

[vipermd]

I call BS on BS. 150 feet of drop isn't that much over a 1000 yard shot..

According to Riccur's #'s it would be about 238 ft/79.6 yds of drop. Be Safe,

 

[zelda]

There are people out there who dont believe Apollo 11 landed on the Moon...

The truth is Apollo 11 hit the Moon as sure as Jerry hit that balloon

 

[jaymoore]

I used to shoot at and hit a steel plate of about the same size at 300m with regularity on English range at Ft. Benning with my 4" 617 and an Argentine M1927 .45ACP (with Kart barrel). Finding the appropriate aiming spot was the tough part, esp. with the .22 as the bullet splashes were tiny, but, once on, hits weren't hard at all if the wind cooperated. (Aiming point was usually a tree top in the distance beyond the berm, but sometimes it was a gap between trees, which made life tougher!)

Ex-Argentine AF pistol on the left, still with stock sights. Has helped me win more than one match...

Having ample prep, a reddot with lots of adjustments, and time, there's no reason why this stunt can't be done by a good shooter. (I note that JM did not know he popped the balloon and was preparing to shoot again until his spotter hollered! )

It also brings to mind Mauser C96 "Broomhandles", some Lugers and Inglis Hi Powers all with tangent rear sights that were calibrated for "ludicrous" distances. (800 and 500m, I think) And all, it so happens, made in 9x19...

 

[brucev]

Fine shooting. Fine shooting indeed.

Once upon a time I read of how cavalry soldiers fired their SAA Colt .45's at distances well beyond normal handgun range, often with good effect. Of course everyone is aware of Elmer Keith and his experience w/ various handgun calibers. I've read his comments regarding available guns and loads of the pre-WWII era. With preparation and practice it was amazing what one could accomplish, especially considering that for the most part the loads were common factory loads using plain lead bullets.

There are plenty of folks who have shot silhouette matches using handguns where targets are routinely hit at long ranges. Of course there are plenty of misses made at long ranges whether one is firing a handgun or rifle. But with a good tight gun and appropriate ammunition, such shooting as shown in this video is not outside the realm of possibility.

One further thought. Do not assume that he was aiming at the balloon. It is quite possible that he was not aiming at the balloon but rather some mark off target. I've fired matches where in order to get a good center hit, it was necessary to aim off to the side due to heavy wind, etc. Firing at a known distance with necessary time spent in practice, it is likely that others would be able to make a similar shot. Perhaps a heavier caliber might be selected or a different revolver. But it could be done. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[ladyT]

Jerry is likely the best revolver shooter of our time. Just check for other u-tube videos of him.
Jerry is da' Man.

I agree Jerry is Da Man and I doubt there is another person at his level but the physics of this say otherwise. At 1,000 yards the Hornady 147 grain factory ammo has a drop of 263.7 feet when the data is placed into their ballistic calculator.

In the video Jerry is holding the gun parallel to the ground. To correct for the drop you need 269 MOA and its not there. Plus any round fired would have to travel a parabolic course which means the bullet will glance off the target and any bullet splash will continue on the same downward course and not do a near 180 to hit the balloon above and to the right of the tangential impact point. I do not believe he made the shot.

Just my opinion.

 

[cgt4570]

The field tests for the Model 1873, US Rifle, .45-70 were conducted on the beach at 1,000 yards. The targets were something like 10'x10' boards as I remember reading in the report. The standard of the time was that a volley must be able to disable a cavalry horse at a thousand yards. The demonstrators had no trouble hitting the targets. Velocity wasn't much more than today's 9mm. Bullet drop was greater due to the much heavier bullet. Load consistency with black powder was no where near today's precision smokeless loads. I think it is entirely possible and even probable for Jerry to make that shot.

 

[A10]

In support of the shot, why would Jerry claim to have made it if he didn't? Have you seen some of the other amazing stuff he's accomplished? Heck, he could have just blindfolded himself and drawn from a holster and put 16 shots on a target at 25 yards in about 4 nano-seconds with the thing. Or shot balloons using a mirror. Or split 16 bullets on an ax head at 15 yards putting 32 holes in targets in the same four nano-seconds. He's got no reason to lie about his skills. And it's not like S&W would cancel his contract for MISSING at 1000 yards. They sure as heck would if he lied about it though.

 

[ladyT]

The field tests for the Model 1873, US Rifle, .45-70 were conducted on the beach at 1,000 yards. The targets were something like 10'x10' boards as I remember reading in the report. The standard of the time was that a volley must be able to disable a cavalry horse at a thousand yards. The demonstrators had no trouble hitting the targets. Velocity wasn't much more than today's 9mm. Bullet drop was greater due to the much heavier bullet. Load consistency with black powder was no where near today's precision smokeless loads. I think it is entirely possible and even probable for Jerry to make that shot.

To make the shot you have to adjust for the drop over 1,000 yards and you clearly see from the video that he is holding the gun parallel to the ground. No adjustment. So with no adjustment the bullet is going to hit the ground long before it gets to the target.

 

[J-FRAME]

My money be on Jerry

 

[Blade37db]

My only thought is that there's a downward slope from his shooting position to the target. Doesn't appear to be 200 feet, but tough to tell. Any significant downward slope would allow him to not have to hold as high, correct?