Ashburn journalist ‘Rookie of Year’ in 50-caliber shooting championships

ALBANY ‒ Get two or more shooters together, and sooner or later the topic of conversation is going to turn to “my best shot.” The shot might be measured by factors of difficulty, distance or accuracy. In some instances, all three variables come into play.

For now, though, the tale told by Ben Baker, a firearms enthusiast and self-professed “gun nut” from Ashburn, will likely focus on his recent shooting at the 2024 World Championships hosted by the Fifty Caliber Shooters Association (FCSA) held annually at the NRA Whittington Center outside Raton, N.M.

Baker’s odyssey to this year’s championship began when he started shooting firearms chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge more than 20 years ago. Over the years, Baker developed an affinity for the cartridge and the rifles dedicated to its long-range capabilities. So much so, in fact, that today, he is the editor of Very High Power, the FCSA magazine “dedicated to the sporting use of the .50 BMG cartridge.” The magazine is circulated to the organization’s 2,000-plus members in a dozen countries.

Last year, Baker went to the World Championships in an editorial capacity to cover the event. Upon his arrival, he volunteered in a variety of capacities, including pulling targets down range.

“I only shot one time during the event,” he said. “But I hit the target, and the shot was in the black. I was so excited that I knew I wanted to compete this year if I could figure a way to get it done.”

If you know Baker, you know he tends to relish a challenge, and this was no exception. To say he got it done might be an understatement. Not only did Baker compete in the 1,000-yard competition at this year’s match, he ended up being recognized as Rookie of the Year, placing 17th overall ahead of several accomplished shooters in his division, including a world champion.

On his way to getting it done, Baker fired a total of 55 rounds during the two-day event at a true distance of 1,048 yards. Of these shots, 25 were “sighters” and the other 30 were competition rounds fired at six targets. Rules dictate that the shooter has 10 minutes to fire 5 rounds at a target measuring 72 inches by 72 inches with an “X Ring” measuring only 10 inches in diameter, which is about the size of a paper plate.

Baker achieved ROY recognition shooting a custom rifle put together by Ed George from Texas. It is based on a McMillan action with a custom barrel, on a custom-built stock.

“More than half the rigs at the international match are custom builds,” Baker said.

To be successful at this level, he noted, you need three things, the first being precision loaded ammunition which starts at $5 a round. The second is a high-quality scope that can both stand up to the recoil produced by the .50 BMG cartridge as well as having the capability for the extreme required elevation and windage adjustments. The third requirement is a good barrel.

“You can have the best ammo and the world’s best scope, but if your barrel is crap, you can hang it up,” he said.

Having the best of the best rifle and accessories is just the beginning. The real challenge comes when a shooter sends a round down-range. According to Baker it takes a mixture of science, skill and alchemy to be successful. With the weight of the projectile approaching 2 ounces, one might think that nothing could affect it on its 1,000-yard path. However, the same weight that provides this stability presents its own challenge. Newton’s law of gravity dictates that the projectile will drop approximately 262.2 inches along the way, requiring the shooter to compensate for what is an almost 22-foot drop.

Once this challenge is overcome, a second challenge presents itself in the form of the ever-present crosswinds intersecting a projectile’s journey down-range. In movies, the sniper or his spotter use an anemometer to measure wind speed. However, Baker explains, in reality “winds near the target can be blowing from one direction, with no wind being indicated by the flags at mid-range, while flags near the shooter are blowing in another direction.” Combine this with a frequently-occurring mirage effect, and it’s easy to see where the skill and alchemy combine.

Although the 1,000-yard distance seems daunting, there are big-bore shooters who stretch things out much farther, as in a few miles farther. Baker said that when a shooter takes a shot at a target at these distances, the Coriolis Effect comes into play. Simply stated, the bullet remains in flight long enough for the earth’s rotation to come into play. In effect, what seems to be a stationary target is in reality a moving target, due to the earth’s rotation. Adjustment for this phenomenon requires a knowledge of the bullet’s flight in relationship to the earth’s rotation. That presents a real head-scratcher for the shooter.

Shooting at this level is obviously not an inexpensive endeavor when each shot costs a minimum of $5, with scopes and rifles running well into the thousands. However, according to Baker, anyone can satisfy the urge to shoot long-range for much less.

“You can start with a good .22 rifle shooting at 250 yards,” he said. “That will teach you about windage and holdover. The skills required here are the same as the 1,000-yard range, and the lessons learned will carry over if you decide to step up to big-bore shooting.”

Special Photo: Brett Berger/FCSASpecial Photo: Brett Berger/FCSA