2012 Survival Trial

In the dead of night on May 5, 2012, Team Hornady® members, Riley McElroy and Jayden Quinlan tossed on their packs, grabbed their guns, and headed into the dark, rugged terrain of the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico. They were competing in Survival Trial, a 2-person team, 24-hour endurance event that spans 30 to 50 miles, with shooting, mental, and physical obstacles scattered throughout the course. Designed to push competitors past their limits, Survival Trial requires shooters to think creatively, as they would in survival situations.

McElroy and Quinlan traversed miles of rough trails throughout the night, and completed various shooting and mental stations before arriving at the long-range "starvation survival" shot. With two, 14" x 17" steel silhouettes placed across a canyon at an angle away from the shooters, the scenario proved from the start to be very challenging. Using Hornady® .308 168 grain Superformance® MatchTM at a 940-yard target, Team Hornady® hit the mark within the stress-inducing time limit.

"Using Superformance with its faster velocity and the 168 A-MAX bullet really helped in making our long range shot," said Jayden Quinlan. "The wind was very hard to read across the canyon, but Superformance helped minimize the effects."

Professional Marksmen and the NRA Whittington Center successfully created an event that was both unique and difficult, and left a long-lasting impression with every competitor. "Survival Trial challenged us both mentally and physically," said Riley McElroy. "But it was rewarding and I hope to try it again."

Team Hornady® scored an impressive third place finish, completing the course in 22-hours. The team also found the hidden grand prize, from the series of prizes scattered throughout the course.