Nomad Rifleman Team Nails Record-Setting 4.4-Mile Shot

A long-distance shooter in the US has nailed a new world record rifle shot, but we don't know the rifleman's name yet. And, there is a Canadian connection to the record-setting rifle.

The unidentified shooter made the 4.4-mile shot in September, in the state of Wyoming. Someone from the Nomad Rifleman rifle team (based in that state's city of Jackson) made the shot, but at this point the actual shooter has not been identified. Previously, that team had held the state long-distance record shot at 3.06 miles.

On the morning of the shot, the team had made dozens of attempt to hit an eight-inch orange bullseye on a 120-inch by 92-inch target. Wind was challenging (no surprise), requiring many adjustments even though wind velocity was calm. In the post-shoot press release, the team said: "Winds that morning were sometimes variable with an average of 8 mph, changing from full value at 7 am to a tailwind just before noon, making calculations for the shot a real challenge; for every mile-per-hour of wind, they had to aim almost 26 feet further to the left of the target."

In total, the team made 69 shots before making the hit. With that in mind, the shot was astounding, but a 1-in-69 hit rate is probably not something you'd take to the bank for effective hunting or sniper work. Indeed, the team themselves say the shot is not scientifically repeatable, as the exact conditions of humidity, temperature, air speed and other environmental factors cannot be replicated.

For the team, it's a very happy ending to a project that took five hours of shooting on the final day. The team actually used bulletproof bunkers spread around their shooting area to detect bullet strikes by sound, as they were unable to visually determine where every bullet had landed. Using their calculations from these bunkers, they were able to coordinate the shooter's adjustments and eventually make the hit.

The project was a lot longer in making than that single hours-long shoot, though. Assembly for this rifle actually started back in 2020, with delays for parts because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and complications. And that rifle itself is where the Canadian connection comes in; the Macmillan TAC50 action was chambered in .416 Barret and built on a Cadex Dual Strike Chassis, made here in Canada. Other parts were drawn not just from the US, but other countries around the world. Scott Null and his sons Meshac & Nehemia of S&S Sporting in Idaho actually assembled the rifle for the project. See below for the Nomad Rifleman team's breakdown of the build:

• The rifle, with customized parts and accessories from Canada, New Zealand, Arkansas, South Dakota and elsewhere, was assembled in Idaho by S&S Sporting in Driggs, Idaho. 
  • Rifle is chambered in .416 Barrett
  • Chassis is a Cadex Dual Strike from Canada
  • Barrel is an LRI from Sturgis, SD – 40” with a 1:9 twist. These folks are amazing in every way.
  • The barrel was “structured” by tacomHQ in Arkansas. 
  • Action is a McMillian TAC50.
  • Trigger is a Timney.
  • Muzzle brake is a Terminator T6 from New Zealand.
  • The 350 MOA mount was custom built by S&S Sporting in Idaho.
  • The custom high-rise cheek piece was built by S&S Sporting.
• The scope is the recently-released Vortex Razor 6-35×56 FFP scope with EBR-7D MOA reticle. This scope is the latest and greatest from Vortex Optics. After testing many other top-tier brands, Scott decided that this Razor was our best option. 
• The scope was held in place with a double set of Leupold Mark IV rings.
• Support optics included a Delta and a Charlie TARAC from tacomHQ.
• The bipod was a LRA.
• Scott designed and built the shooting platform.
• Ballistic software used – Applied Ballistics.

For a full write-up on the project and the feat, visit the Nomad Rifleman website.