Nine episodes in and the Evens Challenge continues to get more competitive.
What started as a fun shooting challenge has turned into a real test of long-range skills. As more shooters take their shot at the course, scores are climbing and the leaderboard is getting tighter. At this point, if you’re not scoring an eight or higher, you’re probably not making the board.
In this episode we had several great shooters step up to the line, including a couple returning from Episode 8 and a few new competitors ready to see how their rifles — and their nerves — held up under pressure.
Watch the Episode
What Is the Evens Challenge?
The Evens Challenge is designed to test long-range fundamentals: wind calls, elevation corrections, and trigger discipline.
Shooters must engage targets at five distances:
- 200 yards
- 400 yards
- 600 yards
- 800 yards
- 1,000 yards
At each distance there are two steel targets:
- 2 MOA plate (large)
- 1 MOA plate (small)
The goal is to hit the 1 MOA plate at every distance to complete the challenge and earn a challenge coin.
Shot Allotment
Shooters get a total of 16 shots:
- 2 shots at 200 yards
- 2 shots at 400 yards
- 4 shots at 600 yards
- 4 shots at 800 yards
- 4 shots at 1,000 yards
To move to the next stage, one of two things must happen:
- The shooter hits the 1 MOA target, or
- The shooter uses up all allotted shots for that distance.
Scoring System
The Evens Challenge uses a point system to build the leaderboard.
Points per hit:
- 2 MOA target: 1 point
- 1 MOA target: 2 points
- First-shot hit on 1 MOA: 3 points
Shooters can score both targets on a stage. For example:
- Hit the large plate for 1 point
- Then hit the small plate for 2 points
Total: 3 points
Extra shots can be used as redemption shots to go back and clear missed 1 MOA targets.
If all 1 MOA targets are cleared and ammo remains, shooters can attempt the bonus plate at 1200 yards, a brutal sub-MOA 10-inch target worth 4 points per hit.
Shooter Spotlight – Heath
Our first featured shooter in this episode was Heath, a shooter originally from Washington State who now lives in Salt Lake.
He came into the challenge confident out to 600 yards but knew the wind and the longer distances might make things difficult.
Rifle Setup
- Rifle: Christensen Arms MPR
- Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
- Scope: Leupold Mark IV HD
- Suppressor: Omega 300
- Ammo: Hornady American Gunner 140gr (factory)
The wind proved to be the great equalizer during his run, especially at 800 and 1,000 yards, where small wind shifts made the 1 MOA plates extremely difficult to hit.
Despite the challenging conditions, Heath finished with a score of 10, placing him right in the middle of the leaderboard.
Shooter Spotlight – Ton Stewart
Next up was Taun Stewart, an old high-school friend of Jeromy’s who came out to see if he could tackle the challenge.
Taun brought a solid long-range setup:
Rifle Setup
- Rifle: Ruger Precision Rifle
- Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
- Scope: Vortex Viper 6.5-20
- Suppressor: SilencerCo Omega 300
- Ammo: Hornady CX 120gr factory ammo
The 6.5 Creedmoor has already proven capable of completing the Evens Challenge, so the question was whether Taun could put the shots together under pressure.
Shooter Spotlight – Cody Wing
Our final featured shooter was Cody Wing, who showed up with a competition-focused setup and an aggressive strategy.
Rifle Setup
- Rifle: Savage 110 Tactical
- Caliber: 6.5 PRC
- Scope: Arken EP5 5-25×56
- Bipod: Tricer RP
- Muzzle Brake: Hellfire 419
- Ammo: 147gr Hornady handloads
Cody actually got into reloading specifically because of competition shooting, pushing his 6.5 PRC loads to around 3000 fps.
But what made his run unique was his strategy.
Instead of playing it safe, Cody only engaged the 1 MOA targets at every stage.
His reasoning?
“Either lose big or win big.”
The high-risk approach nearly paid off.
Cody finished with 8 points, hitting four of the five 1 MOA targets and coming one shot away from earning the challenge coin.
The Wind – The Great Equalizer
One thing that stood out in Episode 9 was how much the wind influenced the results.
At long distances, especially 800 and 1,000 yards, even small wind changes can move a bullet several inches — more than enough to miss a 1 MOA target.
Learning when to hold, adjust, or wait for a better wind condition becomes one of the biggest skills in long-range shooting.
The Leaderboard Is Getting Competitive
With nearly 30 shooters having attempted the challenge so far, the leaderboard is getting tighter every episode.
At this point:
- Scores below 8 points are unlikely to make the leaderboard.
- Every shooter is chasing that perfect run and the challenge coin.
Want to Try the Evens Challenge?
If you enjoy long-range shooting and want to test your skills, the Evens Challenge is designed to push your abilities and teach you more about your rifle along the way.
Every shooter who attempts the course learns something new — whether it’s wind reading, rifle setup, or simply how much pressure affects your shots.
Fill out this Google Form to sign up and try it yourself: https://forms.gle/gP4mKCBP5xhppUnp6
Follow Bald Guys With Guns
If you enjoy long-range shooting, gear testing, and challenges like this one, make sure to follow along with Bald Guys With Guns.
More Evens Challenge episodes are coming, and the leaderboard is only getting more competitive.