Q&A with British extreme long range shooter Mike Roberts
Mike Roberts from Staffordshire in England, is captain of the Great Britain .50 Caliber Shooting Team, vice president of the Fifty Caliber Shooting Association in the UK, board member of the FSCA (USA), Hornady sponsored shooter and Barrett brand ambassador. Mike is the first British competitor to achieve a .50cal world title. This was achieved in the 2017 .50 Caliber World Championships, held at the NRA Whittington Center at Raton in New Mexico, between Friday 30 June to Sunday 2 July.
How old where you when you first started shooting?
I first started shooting when I was about six years old, my father started me with a break barrel .22 air rifle, which I used for plinking targets. When I turned 11, I moved straight onto a 12-gauge side-by-side, double trigger Baikal shotgun, a gun I’ve kept to this day — it holds a lot of sentimental value to me, as I remember using it to shoot rabbits. I was 18 years old before I started shooting centerfire rifles.
Who introduced you and taught you how to shoot?
My dad taught me how to shoot air rifles and shotguns. My brother David wasn’t really into shooting when we were young, but more recently he has started coming to the range with me to test products, as he runs an optics company called Black Fox Optics. I now mentor both my son and brother in long range rifle shooting, along with instructing on rifle training days and help as an RCO at my local rifle club in Staffordshire and for the Fifty Calibre Shooting Association.
I would say a lot of my rifle shooting has been self-taught, however when I was 18 years old I joined the Royal Air Force and they taught me the principles of marksmanship. In the Air Force, I worked as an RAF Police NCO and I used everything from the 7.62x51 L1A1 SLR to the L85A1 in 5.56 caliber.
How did you get involved in competing and what competitions did you compete in?
I first started competing with pistols in 1991, I really enjoyed shooting practical pistol and used my PP1 and PP2 service pistols. I shot competitively for six years before the Firearms Amendment Act came into force in 1997, this put a ban on handguns in England, Scotland and Wales and shooters had to surrender their pistols.
My favourite pistol was the Sig Sauer P226 in 40cal. I used to shoot on a weekly basis and practiced at the Tunnel Rifle & Pistol Club at Devizes, Wiltshire. I practiced with Glock’s in 9mm and 10mm but only used my PP1 and PP2 for competitions, whilst serving.
During the 90s, I also enjoyed practical rifle shooting. I took part in the UK NRA Practical Rifle Series, which involved deliberate and timed, snap shooting, rapid reloading and quick magazine changes. In practical rifle, shooters were timed to shoot targets at different distances, from a range of shooting positions and sometimes past obstacles. I used to compete with an Enfield Enforcer in 7.62x51 — I loved that rifle and have always regretted selling it.
In 2002 I took a break from shooting for a few years but returned as passionate as ever in 2006, which was when I started long range rifle shooting.
Why did you choose to specialize in extreme long range shooting?
I must admit I liked the bigger bang, bigger challenge and loved to push the boundaries. I was first introduced to the Fifty Caliber Club through a friend of a friend, after a lot of training I went to my first world championships in 2013. My former military and law enforcement background, stood me on good ground for this discipline.
What would you advise someone who wishes to start shooting ELR shooting?
Tell them not to — it’s too expensive. No, I would advise them to first get in touch with their local club to learn the basics — you can’t build a house on poor foundations. Too many people purchase 338, 408, 300 caliber rifles and have no idea how to use them for long range, everyone needs a solid understanding of the fundamentals before they can progress.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned?
It’s important to forget about the last shot and think about the next. What’s gone is gone and you can’t change it — you are only as good as your next shot. When I am competing, I find it very helpful between competitions, to switch off and chat to friends, this distracts me from overthinking. You can’t change what’s happened in the past, so it’s important to prepare yourself for the future.
What advice would you pass on to others with regards to shooting?
Practice, practice, practice and when you think you’re good, practice some more, you can never over-prepare. Shooters need to learn the essential techniques — be careful with your position hold, your positioning behind the rifle, controlling your breathing and releasing that shot… it comes from repetition and muscle memory.
How do you prepare for competitions? Do you have any pre-match rituals?
Not really, I simply try to get into a routine and relax. You can only shoot well if you’re calm and mentally prepared for what’s to come, it’s important to be in the right frame of mind.
How long have you been sponsored by Hornady?
I’ve been sponsored by Hornady for two and half years. I love their products as they’re consistent and accurate, especially for extreme long range shooting where accuracy is key. I’ve tried and tested Hornady to the max and it has proved its reliability.
I recently took part in an open competition called the Blythe Trophy Match, hosted by Uttoxeter Rifle Club in Derbyshire. Against 51 competitors, I took home two trophies for the overall high gun and first place in the open class. Using a .308 Savage FT/R single shot rifle, in a time-limited competition, shooting targets at 100, 300 and 500 yards, with Hornady American Gunner 155-gr ammunition straight out of the box, I scored an incredible 162 points out of a possible 180 points, to win the open class. As this was also the highest score of the day, I was also awarded the trophy for the overall high gun.
For .50 caliber competitions and training, I always use Hornady Match Grade brass and 750-gr A-MAX projectiles, they’ve proved their performance and reliability at highest level — this year’s world championships.
Tell me about your experience in entering the 2017 50 caliber world championships?
I’ve been traveling to America to compete in the 50 caliber world championships for the past five years but this year was the first time I entered six classes. After a nine and half hour flight from London to Denver, I arrived with no bag, kit, data or essential range equipment, just my rifle, so I didn’t really get off to the best of starts.
My team and I had planned the first day as a sighting in and setting up day with members of the Barrett team, to prepare for the King of the 2 Miles competition. Instead, we ended up driving to the nearest gun shop to pick up crucial range equipment and clothing. As a result, the first time I got behind my Barrett M99 416 was on the firing line of the match and it cost me dearly. However I was really pleased for my Barrett teammate and spotter, Ronnie Wright took second place in the King of the 2 Miles.
After two days, my bag finally turned up just in time for the world championships, so calm was restored. After a year of intense training, I achieved the world title in the Practical/Semi-Auto Two Gun Match and ranked fourth in the Practical and International Match, fifth place in Light Gun Score, Iron Man and Semi-Auto Match, taking home a total of six trophies.
Using a .50 calibre Barrett M99 single-shot long-range precision rifle, Hornady 750-gr A-MAX projectiles and Hornady Match brass, Hodgdon powder, along with Tier-One mounts and bi-pod, I set a new personal best by shooting 15 sub eight-inch groups, (¾ MOA), with my best group of the seven matches, six and ¼ inches at 1,000 yards.
In New Mexico’s desert setting, the weather proved to be much like the UK, varying from rain, hail, thunderstorms, extreme winds and temperatures ranging from 60°F to 100°F, making it very challenging conditions.
The three-day competition saw a total of 430 Guns competing, over seven classes, with 11 countries represented, including USA, Australia, Canada, Russia, China, Spain, Switzerland, South Africa, Mexico, Scotland and Wales.
Winning a world title has been the culmination of five years of hard work, quite literally blood sweat and tears and even the odd smile when good results are achieved! I love to compete on the world stage, as you are competing against the best in the world.
As a member of the Barrett Team, alongside Ronnie Wright and Darik Bollig, we took home 19 trophies and four world titles. This was my first ever world title and a first for Great Britain — let’s hope it’s a first of many.
How does it feel to be the first British shooter to achieve a world title in the .50 caliber world championships? To what do you owe your success?
It felt good and I’m very satisfied with my performance. It’s been a culmination of years and years of training, practicing 2–3 times per month on military field firing areas with the FCSA, finally all that hard work has now paid off.
Lastly, what is your preferred setup and ammunition?
For extreme long range shooting, I use a Barrett M99 in 50 caliber, topped with an IOR 12–52x56 terminator scope, which has a 40mm tube and a custom-built Tier One bi-pod. Ammunition wise, I reload my own and use Hornady 750-gr A-MAX bullets, Hornady Match brass, Hodgden H50 powder and RWS primers.
For training, I use my 308 Savage FT/R single shot rifle, with Tier One bi-pod, 10–50x56 Sightron scope and Hornady American Gunner 155-gr ammunition.
