Sarver Shoots 1.403" Group at 1000 Yards

Tom Sarver has entered the ranks of the Immortals. Shooting at the Thunder Valley (Ohio) Range on July 7th, Tom nailed a truly spectacular 1.403″ 5-shot group at 1000 yards. This represents a new IBS Light Gun group-size record that edges Rich DeSimone’s 1.564″, previously thought “untouchable.” What is even more amazing is that the group was centered, producing a 50-score with 5 Xs. That will be a new IBS Score record as well.

Tom was shooting a big 30 wildcat he calls the “300 Hulk”, a shortened 338 Lapua Magnum necked down to 30 caliber, pushing 240gr Sierra MatchKings (0.711 BC) at close to 3000 fps. Tom is using about 85 grains of H1000. He anneals the Lapua brass after every firing, and the brass that set the record was on its 58th firing! After the record Group/Score target on Relay One of Match 7 in the Ohio 1000-yard series, Tom added a 6″ group that secured the Light Gun class victory according to fellow Thunder Valley shooter Dan Wassum. Dan also notes: “Tom has been very close several times to records, but this time all five were in the right spot.” (J.P. Lucas was the 2007 Ohio Overall Two-Gun Champ at Thunder Valley this year.)

Rich DeSimone offered his congratulations to Tom: “Congratulations from the guy you ‘de-throned’. It could not happen to a nicer more deserving guy. Since I have known you, when you first started shooting benchrest at Hawk’s Ridge with a bi-pod and a .308 snipers rifle, you have come a VERY long way. This August 17th would have been five years since I beat the existing record by around .040″ and now you blew mine away by about .160″ and put five X’s with it to boot. Way to go Tom!”