The 2-Mile Camera: LONGSHOT with Clay Rhoden

ELR shooters are handicapped by the ability to see their impacts. Such extreme distances require more than just the naked eye and a scope to confirm an impact. Clay Rhoden, King of One Mile and founder of Longshot Target Cameras, set out to solve this problem, redefining what a shooting experience can be in the process.

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About LONGSHOT

LONGSHOT Target Cameras began out of frustration.

Gavin and Clay Rhoden of Longshot Cameras

Founder Clay Rhoden had just built his first rifle and topped it with a 4x ACOG, but was unable to see his shots at 100 yards. He didn’t have a spotting scope and instead of just buying one, assembled a system of cameras connected to Wi-Fi and batteries left over from a security project.

Clay returned to the range with his AR and a laptop, his new system presenting him with a live feed of his target. This transformed his range experience. He didn’t have to make the line cold to go and check targets and could make the most of his time and ammunition with each shot captured beside him.

Clay put together some prototypes of his new “Target Vision” and demonstrated them at the NRA Annual Meetings. He was immediately bombarded with questions, the most common being, “Does this work at 1,000 yards?”

Determined to find out, Clay began testing and learning more about long range shooting, something he had no prior knowledge of. In the process, he learned his prototype worked well at 1,000 yards and met Paul Phillips of Global Precision Group, who wanted to push the product further.

Before he knew it, Clay became an ELR shooter with a target camera that could capture footage out to two miles. He first observed Paul Phillips and his GPG team, and was given an opportunity to shoot.

Clay’s first group with a .416 Barrett at two miles measured approximately five inches. He was offered a spot on the team and has continued to excel ever since.

About the LONGSHOT LR-3

LONGSHOT’s LR-3, the third iteration of Clay’s brainchild, is their most powerful system, reaching out to 2-miles with the option of connecting multiple cameras.

It was the LR-3 that made the Rock Chuck Olympics possible, capturing and recording shots at distances out to 1,390 yards.

This was also the camera we used to get on target and document my hits at two miles!

The blinker shot locator was critical in determining the newest shot on a target peppered with hits.

This feature displays quickly-alternating before and after views of the target so that the new hole in the target turns on and off like a turn signal blinker.

Aerial View of Vehicle Caravan and Firing Line at 2 Miles

Shooting ELR without a target camera is impossible. It isn’t feasible to travel to the target after each shot and even if you managed it, the conditions would change so much the feedback wouldn’t be very valuable.

A spotting scope is handy, but mirage can get so heavy that it obscures any signs of impact. Also, setting up to shoot long distances is a challenge in and of itself.

It costs money to put together a rifle and ammunition that will perform as well as to find a range and set up a target. LONGSHOT helps you make the most of your investments and experience.

2-Mile Shoot Recap

When I built my .375 CheyTac for for shooting two miles, I did so with input from Paul Phillips. Paul and King of One Mile Clay Rhoden of Longshot Target Cameras helped bring my dream to reality.

Paul had me construct my rifle to be able to make use of a load that has performed well for him for a number of years, earning multiple King of Two Mile championships. I utilized Peterson Brass, .375 400 Grain LAZER bullets from Cutting Edge, Federal large rifle magnum primers, and 142.0 grains of Hodgdon H50BMG. (Always reference manufacturer published data before loading.)

My .375 CheyTac ELR rifle is an evolution of my .50 BMG Incredible Hulk featuring a Bartlein Barrel blank made to Paul Phillips’ exact specifications and a different bolt assembly. I even chambered the barrel on my Precision Matthews TL-1660 using a Manson Precision reamer made to Paul Phillip’s specifications. At the center of this build is BAT Machine’s EX action set in an Accurate Rifle Systems ELR chassis with an Accu-Tac bipod. This massive action measures 12 inches in length and weighs approximately eight pounds. I had finished off the build by Cerakoting the chassis and adding laser imaging for a patriotic aesthetic.

I added a Charlie TARAC from TACOM HQ to the forward bridge to add elevation and paired the prism with a Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 scope.

Paul and Clay guided me through the entire process and celebrated our success. They had me on target at two miles within an afternoon! This adventure truly took a whole team to execute and film.

Tyler Hale, Filming with Cinematic Camera

We had four vehicles and everyone stepped up to help, including Bruce Thom, owner of BAT Machine.

Tyler Hale with Crew – Daryle Tom, Matt Hail, Clay Rhoden, Bruce Tom, Gavin Gear, Paul Phillips and his wife Laura

We set up a 4’ x 8’ steel target with three T-posts and wired it in place.

Paul Phillips stayed at the firing line to confirm it was visible and positioned correctly.

Clay set up an LR-3 camera and we headed back to the firing line for more preparation.

We shoveled dirt to make our own level platform for the bipod and set up a sun tent. This was all in addition to the ballistics work it took to get on target.

After all of that work, LONGSHOT remained the lifeline between the team and the target.

LONGSHOT’s Hawk spotting scope camera can also be of great use to long range shooters.

We were unable to physically reach our one mile target, literally on the side of a rock face, so Hawk and the LONGSHOT app helped us to replay misses and get on target.

Which Camera is Right for You?

LONGSHOT offers a variety of cameras to meet the needs and budgets of all shooters and hunters. We’ve covered a number on the channel including the Ranger + and Hawk Spotting Scope Camera.

All function similarly. Connect a mobile device to the Wi-Fi generated by the camera and open the LONGSHOT app. This app has a number of useful capabilities in addition to a live target view, including measuring group sizes and marking shots.

This only begins to scratch the surface of what it can do. (Stay tuned for a new app coming soon and chronograph integration!)

The LR-3 is top of the line and works out to two miles.

The new Ranger is designed for 100 yard shooting while the Ranger + pushes this out to 1,000 yards.

The Hawk spotting scope camera is compatible with all spotting scope eyepieces between 36mm and 58mm.

It fits every spotting scope we have and has proven particularly useful when paired with a MIL reticle like the Athlon 22x ranging reticle eyepiece.

We used this setup to get on target with a .22 LR at 511 yards.

It’s important to also recognize that these cameras offer a lot of value. Just consider the fact that a $999 camera system is able to provide data and feedback at two miles that an $8,000 spotting scope cannot!