Sunday GunDay: Tackdriver IV — Multi-Class 300m Challenge

The Tack Driver IV, November 2023

Last month, Orangeburg, South Carolina became the epicenter of rifle competition on November 4-5, 2023 as the Mid-Carolina Gun Club hosted the widely-acclaimed Tack Driver IV. The Tack Driver has rapidly grown in popularity and stature, becoming a yearly must-attend event. The match’s rise in popularity can be attributed to several factors, including its organizer, the spirited Jim Cline, renowned for his quick wit, larger-than-life persona, and affinity for pranks. The Tack Driver’s popularity and status is further boosted by its unique format: shooting a mix of group and score targets at 300 meters. It has a generous 22-pound rifle weight limit and extends an invitation to all precision shooting disciplines. Competitors get the opportunity to compete with some of the world’s best shooters, have a great time, enjoy fantastic food, and see if they have what it takes to earn the title of “Tack Driver”.

What is the Tack Driver Match

For the uninitiated, the Tack Driver is a 300-meter “take-all-comers” match designed to answer the age-old question of which combination of caliber and shooting discipline is the most accurate. The rules are simple: all rifles will be fired from a bench, 22-pound weight limit, caliber must be .338 or smaller, and no one-piece rest is allowed. Each competitor will alternate shooting 5 group targets and 5 score targets over the course of two days. There are a few more rules, but those are the basics.

The Tack Driver’s course of fire alternates between score targets and group targets. So competitors must demonstrate both precision and accuracy. The group targets test precision, measuring only the group size for 5 record shots. Meanwhile, the score targets demand accuracy with a goal of hitting 5 separate 1″-diameter bullseyes, each with a single shot (ideally obliterating the dot in the center). Each target has a designated area for unlimited sighters during the 7-minute match. At the end of the match, the shooter with the best combination of the highest score and smallest group aggregate wins.

Beginning of Tack Driver IV — Cool Temps and Light Winds

Bright blue skies, light winds, and cool temperatures greeted the 99 competitors in attendance to compete for the title of Tack Driver Champion. The match, since its inception, has attracted a deep list of “Who’s Who” in the world of precision shooting. In attendance are World Record Holders, National Champions, Hall of Famers, Shooters of the Year, and World Team members. Literally the “best of the best” from UBR, Score, Group, 600-yard, 1000-yard, and Ground Hog competitions, were competing in this unique contest of “precision and accuracy.”

Tack Driver IV Video — Many Images from Match

Wayne Campbell’s Tack Driver-Winning 6 PPC Rifle

Wayne Campbell won The Tackdriver IV with a modern 6 PPC rifle. The components included: BAT 3-Lug action, Bartlein 5-groove barrel, Scarborough stock, Nightforce 42x44mm fixed-power scope, Bix ‘N Andy trigger. Notably, Wayne did most of the gunsmithing himself.

Results of The Tack Driver IV — Combined Grand Aggregate

The Tack Driver IV Grand Aggregate Winner is Wayne Campbell! Congratulations to Wayne who was also the Tack Driver Group Shooting Champion with a .7028 Aggregate! This is Wayne’s second year in a row to win this honor.

The “agony of defeat” award goes to Jeff Thompson. Jeff lead in group after targets 3 and 4 and appeared untouchable. However on target 5, Jeff shot an uncharacteristic 1.031″ group, which allowed both Greg Ellis and Wayne Campbell to surge past.

Chambering Selections of Competitors — 6 PPC Most Popular

Of the 98 recorded chambering types for participants, the 6 PPC was the most popular with 39 entries. Next was the 30 BR with 27 entries. There were a dozen 6 BRAs (aka 6mmBR Ackley), plus 11 6mmBRs. There were three 22 PPCs and two each 30 Dasher and 6.5×47, with one Grinch and one 30 WW.

Saturday Morning Tack Driver Interviews with Top Shooters

Click NAME to view YouTube Interview Video:

Jeff Peinhardt, Tack Driver I Champion
Hall of Fame Member

Samuel Hall, 600-Yard Shooter
3-Time National Champion

Jeff Godfrey, Leading 600-yard Competitor

Alex Wheeler, Leading Long Range Gunsmith

Roy Hunter, “The Renaissance Man”

Andy Shifflett, aka “Wayne Campbell’s SideKick”

Jeremiah Keefe, Ground Hog Match Competitor

Pat Regan, Head Honcho at PMA Tool

Jackie Schmidt, Long Time Benchrest Shooter

Dave “Superman” Way

Best Group of the Match

Here is the 0.337″ group shot by George Cabrera. George was shooting a 6mmBR rifle with Panda action (right bolt, left port, no ejector), Kelbly stock, Krieger 1:10″-twist barrel, Jewell trigger, Nightforce 12-42x56mm BR scope. George loaded his 6mmBR rifle with H4895 powder and Berger 90gr HPBT bullets. At 300 meters this 0.337″ group works out to 0.098 MOA (one MOA is 3.435″ at 300 meters).

Saturday Night Cookout with Smoked Prime Rib
With the range closed and targets hung, shooters and family members began gathering at the pavilion (on top of the hill) for the 6:30 feed. With a main course of Smoked Prime Rib, it was a packed house. Previous nights the shooters were treated to a low country boil and grilled chicken. The food throughout the event, lunch and supper is simply amazing. It’s a 5-Star dining experience served with paper plates and napkins. Here is a video of folks enjoying the festivities.

Prime Rib Night Video

Prelude — Tack Driver Lite (November 2, 2023)

This year started with a new event, “The Tack Driver Lite,” held on Thursday morning. two days prior to the regular Tack Driver. The match has two goals: first, to give early-arriving competitors something to do, and second to get the match director, Jim Cline, out from behind his computer and see how he stacks up against the competition. The Tack Driver Lite format is similar to the regular Tack Driver but with a couple of twists. The match consists of 4 targets (2 Score & 2 Group) instead of the usual 10 (5 Score & 5 Group). Each competitor was allowed to put out one flag. Prior to drawing a bench the shooter had to state at what range he would put his flag. Competitors have 7 minutes to shoot one Score and one Group target. The next twist is the targets were hung sideways, one on top of the other, instead of the normal straight up and down. It really shouldn’t make a difference, but visually and mentally it did. With the temperature in the low 30s and light and variable winds, twenty shooters took to the line.

Results of Tack Driver Lite
When the dust had settled Roy “The Renaissance Man” Hunter (photo below) found himself the winner of the score portion of the match, shooting clean with a perfect score of 100. Top dog was Billy Stevens who won both the Overall Grand Aggregate (combined score and group) and the Group Aggregate with a 0.689.

Target by Target Progress of the Main Tack Driver IV Match

Details Target by Target
Targets 1 (Group) and 2 (Score)
Only .038 thousandths separated the field from first to fifth place in the group competition. Joe Stewart led the charge in shooting a tiny .457 five-shot group (remember this is 330 yards, which is more than three football fields). Meanwhile Greg Ellis took top honors in score by shooting a 50 with 2 X’s. In other words Greg hit 5 out of 5 bullseyes (1 inch) and two of those five shots hit ⅛ inch dot in the middle of the bullseye. Note 14 shooters shot a score of 50, so how is it decided who is 1st and who is 14th? The first big factor is how many Xs did the shooter hit. Greg took top honors by shooting the most Xs, which was 2. Next you have six competitors that tied shooting 250-1X. Ties in score are broken by who the best group aggregate, and rank ordered accordingly. This process is applied throughout the entire score sheet.

Overall TOP 20 Grand Agg after Targets 1 & 2
Some of you might be wondering how you determine who’s winning. Quite simply, each competitor’s rank in score and group are combined to get an overall ranking. The competitor with the lowest total wins. Ties are broken by group aggregate. For example Dave Way and Michael Clayton both have a total score of 41. However, Dave’s 3rd place ranking in group trumps Michael’s 28th place, so the tie goes to Dave.

Targets 3 (Group) and 4 (Score)
During targets 3 and 4 the range started to come alive with increasing wind and mirage. Greg Ellis handled the conditions better than anyone, shooting an impressive group of .539, giving him an aggregate of .517. Terry Holiday followed close behind with an aggregate of .554. Jeff Thompson, Kevin McGowan, Jim Chaney rounded out the top 5, all within striking distance to first place. However the Score Leaderboard was akin to someone shaking a snow globe and seeing where things fell out. Interestingly enough there were ZERO scores of 50 shot on target 4. This is quite the change from target 2 where 14 targets had a score of 50. When the snow had settled it was Gavin Peinhardt at the top of the page jumping from 10th to 1st with a score of 99-1X. Dave Tooley from 17th to 2nd with a score of 98-2X. Mark Burns’ 98-1X took him from 7th into 3rd.

Overall TOP 20 Grand Agg after Targets 3 & 4
Greg Ellis firmly established himself as the man to beat after 4 targets. He lead in group and only dropped back 7 places in score. Gavin Peinhardt was in second. Gavin (who just turned 20 in October) is the youngest competitor in the field. Gavin possesses abundant shooting skills and promises to be a top competitor. Dewey Hancock, one of the nations top score shooters, came prepared to stake his claim as Tack Driver Champion, pulling into 3rd place.

Targets 5 (Group) and 6 (Score)
By the afternoon the wind had started to settle. The problem with Orangeburg, is when the wind slows down the mirage picks-up, making it not only difficult to aim, but difficult to see your bullet holes. I observed several shooters coming off the line complaining they couldn’t see their shots. Jeff Summers let loose an extra shot at his score target because he couldn’t see a bullet hole. Fortunately for Jeff, when the target was hung it had two shots in the 10 ring. For clarification, if a bullseye has more than one shot, the shooter will receive the worst score of the two shots. Back to the match. Greg Ellis ran into a bit of trouble with target 5 shooting 1.187 inch group slipping from 1st to 4th place. Jeff Thompson took advantage of the situation shooting a .669 and moved into 1st place with a .706 aggregate. Joe Stewart followed closely behind only .002 thousandths off the lead with a .708 aggregate. Wayne Campbell, Greg Ellis, and Jack Neary rounded out the top 5.

With the wind down and in heavy mirage Jeremiah Keefe found himself in the lead with a score of 147. Following closely behind was Derick Loflin also with the score of 147, rounding out the top five were Dave Tooley, Wayne Campbell, and Wes Johnson all three with score 146. I knew Dave Tooley was serious about this match when I spotted him twice on the bench practicing. Honestly folks, Dave shooting that much is unheard of!

Overall TOP 20 Grand Agg after Targets 5 & 6
Wayne Campbell was the clear leader at the end of day 1. Wayne was the only shooter in the top 5 for both score and group with a combined rank of 7. Terry Holiday moved into 2nd place from 8th with a score of 22. Stevie Salter eased into 3rd with a score of 24. With Joe Stewart in 4th with a 26. George Cabrera remained in 5th with a score of 28.

Sunday Day 2 Targets 7 and 8
At the beginning of the match on Sunday the winds were light and variable, with blue skies and temperatures near 35 degrees. In group the top three remained the same after target 7 was posted. Jeff Thompson leading the way, followed by Joe Stewart and Wayne Campbell. George Cabrera sling-shoted into 4th place shooting a new range record of .337, while Greg Ellis slipped from 4th into 5th. In score Derick Loflin and Jeremiah Keefe switched places with Derick moving into 1st with a 196-1X. Jeremiah slipped to second also with a 196 (but no X). Terry Holiday, Stevie Salter, and Dave Way all jumped into the top 5 by shooting scores of 50.

Overall TOP 20 Grand Agg after Targets 7 & 8
The stage for the final showdown was set. Wayne Campbell remained in 1st with a rank of 9 but his lead over the field had significantly dwindled. George Cabrera has moved into 2nd place and within striking distance with a rank of 12, Dave Way in 3rd with a rank of 14, Terry Holiday climbs into the top 5 at 4th place also with a rank of 14. Score shooting legend Wayne France moved into 5th with a rank of 20.

Similar Posts:

• Bart Sauter Wins Tack Driver III Match in South Carolina
• Tack Driver Showdown Multi-Discipline Match This Weekend
• Tackdriver II Multi-Discipline Match November 6-7 in So. Carolina
• IBS Match Report: 2017 Group Benchrest Nationals in Michigan
• 2011 Kelbly’s Super Shoot — Complete Results

Tags: 6 PPC, Bart Sauter, Benchrest, Tackdriver IV, TackDriver Match, Wayne Campbell