Rio Bravo Run ‘N Gun Match Information (Past Event)

The Rio Bravo Ranch is located approximately 7 miles east of Presidio Texas on River Road (FM 170). Elevation is around 2,610’ and is part of the Chihuahuan Desert. The ranch has lowland desert terrain with a large spring fed creek running through the middle of it. The creek terminates at the Rio Grande River, or Rio Bravo as its called in Mexico. Average temperatures range from 83/46 degrees in March and 91/54 degrees in April. Humidity is very low in the 20% range. The ranch is approximately 1200 acres and will offer a very challenging course.

Presidio, said to be established in 1683 A.D., is far from everywhere. It does have a grocery store, restaurants, and lodging though. The closest towns are Marfa and Lajitas at an hour away. Alpine, Fort Davis, and Terlingua are an hour and a half drive. Everywhere else is over two hours away. The least far away major airports are in El Paso and Midland, each about 4 hours away. If you don’t already live in the Big Bend, it is highly recommended to arrive the day before the match. Off site lodging options are at the bottom of the page.

Competition dates are March 31st for Range Officers and April 1st for everyone else. Mandatory safety briefs will be given. Due to proximity to town, morning and afternoon briefs with scheduled run times may be given. Exact times are to be determined. Anyone who is late for their assigned safety brief or run time will be moved to the end of the run order. As stated above, it is moderately hot in Presidio this time of year. I understand that it’s a long road trip for most everyone, but please understand we cannot postpone starting or staying on time. We’d like to get done at a decent hour.

Course of Fire - Completely subject to change

The running course will be between 7-8 miles long with 9 shooting stages. Shooting stages will be posted on YouTube when available. Arrival to stages will be blind with diagram and written instructions given upon arrival. No watching others mistakes!

*Stages subject to change during set up and testing*

Stage 1 -”Predator” - 13 hits shotgun - Par 180 seconds

IMPORTANT - Everyone needs to bring a box of 25 -12 or 20 gauge shotgun shells. Either #6, #7.5 , or #8 lead shot bird shot only. You are welcome to use your own open class shotgun or a provided 12 or 20 gauge pump shotgun. No starting load capacity restriction! If you want to use your own gun, bring it to your safety brief, unloaded in a case. We will label it with your name/number and take it to the stage for you. Everyone will leave headquarters with their name/number labeled box of shells in hand/pack. Do not put your shells loose in your kit, you will not need to carry them further than stage 1! A shell bag and belt will be provided to you at the stage, if needed. All partial boxes of shells remaining will be brought back to HQ for pick up.

From start position, advance down marked course engaging shotgun targets as they become visible. One hit per target. Once done, show a clear shotgun.

Stage 2 - “Proximity” - 10 hits rifle & 9 hits pistol - Par 180 seconds

From the start position, advance to the shooting position. With rifle, engage the far spaceship once, then the close alien twice, then the spaceship once, the next alien twice, then spaceship once, the last alien twice, then the spaceship one more time. Drop magazine, eject round in chamber, place rifle on safe. Run down to each of the three aliens and engage all pistol targets in proximity with one hit each. Safely and deliberately holster pistol while moving between alien targets. Do not reengage rifle steel with pistol. Once done, holster pistol and show a clear rifle.

Stage 3 - “Halo” - 12 hits rifle - Par 180 seconds

From the start position advance down the marked road. Engage rifle steel with one hit each as it becomes visible. Engage alien targets with two hits. All shots will be standing offhand. Once done, show a clear rifle.

Stage 4 - “ Arrival” - 5 hits rifle & 8 hits pistol - Par 180 seconds

From the start position advance to the first shooting position. With rifle engage three gongs and two silhouettes with one hit each. Place rifle on safe, drop magazine, eject round in chamber. Continue on flagged course and engage four small aliens with two pistol hits each. Once done holster pistol and show a clear rifle.

Stage 5 - “Battle: Presidio” - 6 hits pistol & 4 hits rifle - Par 180 seconds

Starting in the vehicle. Upon beep, exit vehicle, close door, and tactically retreat to back of vehicle. Engage the left three pistol plates, with one hit each, while tactically retreating or from rear cover. Move to right rear cover and engage the right three pistol plates with one hit each. Safely and deliberately holster pistol, then retrieve your rifle (mag inserted/empty chamber) from hatch of the vehicle. Engage one alien with two hits left rear cover, and another with two hits from right rear cover. Once done, unload and show a clear rifle.

Stage 6 - “Edge of Tomorrow” - 10 hits rifle - Par 180 seconds

From the start position, advance to the shooting position. With rifle, engage a close alien target twice, engage gong targets near to far with one hit each, then engage the close alien target two more times, Once done, unload and show a clear rifle.

Stage 7 - “ Space Force Qualification” - 9 hits pistol & 9 hits rifle - Par 180 seconds

From a standing start position, drop to prone engage alien target with three hits from rifle. Place rifle on safe and return to standing. Draw pistol and engage pistol target with three hits. Safely and deliberately holster pistol. Advance to next shooting position. From kneeling, engage same alien with three rifle hits. Place weapon on safe. Remaining in kneeling position, draw pistol and engage pistol target with three hits. Safely and deliberately holster pistol. Advance to final shooting position. While standing, engage same alien with three rifle hits. Drop magazine, eject round in chamber, place rifle on safe. Go kneeling, ground rifle in safe direction, draw pistol, then go prone. Engage final pistol target with three hits. Once done, safely return to kneeling or standing, holster pistol safely and deliberately, retrieve rifle, show clear rifle.

Stage 8 - “Starship Trooper”- 11 hits pistol - Par 180 seconds

From the start position, advance down the marked course engaging pistol targets as they become visible with one hit each. The final alien target requires two hits. Once done, safely and deliberately holster pistol.

Stage 9 - “The Blob” - 9 hits pistol - Par 180 seconds

From the start position, advance to the first shooting position. With pistol, engage “far blob target” with one hit, then the target on right with one hit. Advance to the next three shooting positions, repeating the same shooting order. You will engage a different target on the right from each shooting position. Finally, engage the blob one more time from the last shooting position. Once done, unload and show a clear pistol.

Estimated Total Round Count: 13 Shotgun, 50 Rifle, 52 Pistol

Classes:

Open - Everyone, 1st-5th

Top Youth - Under 17

High Senior - Over 55

High Lady - A woman

Top Commie - AK platform in Russian caliber (7.62x39, 5.45x39, 7.62x54R)

Important Safety and Match Rules:

-Firearm Safety Rules are paramount!

1. Always keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction.

2. Treat all firearms as if they were loaded.

3. Keep you trigger finger outside the trigger guard and off the trigger until you are ready to fire. If you weapon has a safety, use it.

4. Be certain of your target, your line of fire, and what lies in front of and beyond your target.

5. Don’t mix guns and alcohol.

-Presidio County first responders will be notified of the event and location in case of emergency. There will be a paramedic on site at all times. In case of an accident, cut radio traffic to only absolutely necessary traffic.

-Be hydrated. Proper hydration starts in the days prior to the race. Bring more water than you’ll need.

-Everyone is a safety officer. If you see something unsafe, yell ceasefire so others can hear it.

-Any range officer has the authority to declare a safety violation and disqualify a shooter. The match director has vetted all range officers and will trust their judgement.

-A floating 180 degree rule will be in effect. Range officers will remind you if you get close, but one warning is all you get. Breaking the 180 with your muzzle will be a match DQ. Most stages will have multiple designated shooting positions, if you go past it the RO’s will tell you to come back. Mind your muzzle discipline in doing so!

-Negligent discharges will be a match DQ and you will be asked to leave the ranch.

-If you flag an RO or other bystander with any gun, unloaded or not. That will be a match DQ and you will be asked to leave the ranch.

-Ultimately, this is a game. A fast time is not worth risking safety. Think about what you are going to do before you do it.

-Safety briefs and run order intervals may be set prior to competition based on start time. With town being close, its ok to leave to get something. Get here earlier than your time. If you’re late, you’ll go to the end of the run order.

-Steel core penetrating ammunition is prohibited. Possession during the course of fire will result in match disqualification. Bi-metal steel jacketed bullets are ok, I.E. Wolf, Tula, Etc.

-All personnel will restrict their movement within the marked designated course, staging areas, and roads to staging areas during competition. If a competitor cannot see course flagging while between stages, immediately return to last flagging observed. The course is long and skinny, do not run to any observed runners or distant flags. If the only footprints you see are yours and you do not see any flags, go back. There are no shortcuts. There may appear to be shortcuts by looking at the course map, but it is that way for a reason!

-While competitors are running, pistol may be loaded and holstered, rifles will be unloaded. Upon arriving at HQ and each stage, a clear rifle will be shown to the Range Officers. Rifles will be visually cleared when exiting a stage.

-Stages will likely require some sort of weapon transition. Diligence must be taken. There is no such thing as a speed holstering of a pistol. Slings are mandatory, as rifle will have to be managed by shooter during some stages. While unslinging, care must be taken not to flag anyone. Rifles must be slung in front with safety on during weapon transitions. No laying loaded rifles on the ground.

-Shooters must top off magazines and prepare gear before arriving at a stage or during wait time. Once competitor is up to shoot, no time will be given to prepare, including manipulation/loading of the pistol. If you do not wish to carry a loaded pistol, loading will be on the clock.

-If the shooter arrives at a stage and there is someone shooting, after a clear rifle is shown, the shooter may start their wait time. Wait time may or may not be kept track of by the RO, it behooves the shooter to keep their own wait time as a primary or back up. Be honest.

-Livestock and wildlife: If anything wanders into the impact zone of a stage, call ceasefire. RO’s will stop the clock. Once clear, shooting may start from the point the shooter left off.

-This is Texas, there are rattlesnakes. If you see one on the trail, there are plenty of rocks. Save your ammo.

-During the stage, all steel targets must be hit in accordance with stage requirements. All blue targets are pistol and require 1 hit, All white targets are rifle and require 1 hit. Small green alien pistol targets require 2 hits. “Big” red alien rifle targets require 2 hits. Shotgun targets will be painted orange, and kept up with to the best of RO’s abilities.

-Failure to hit all the steel targets on all stages in 3 minutes or less will result in an did not finish (DNF) and zero points for the stage.

-Overall match scoring will be 35% run and 65% shooting, subject to change. Both shooting and running will be scored based on points compared to the range of other competitor’s times. A heat modifier for the run will be used: valued at 4 seconds per mile per degree over the lowest start temperature.

Other Administrative Information:

-Parking is only allowed on the airstrip for anyone other than event staff. Event staff may park closer to the HQ but space is limited.

-Tent or RV camping is only allowed on the airstrip. There are no RV hookups and brown water must be hauled off. Be considerate with generators. You must leave by noon on Sunday.

-Portable toilets will be available at the airstrip and HQ. Unless you are on the course, use them.

-Trash cans will be available, police your trash as you go.

-The back porch of the house is HQ. Inside the house is restricted to authorized event staff only.

-Campfires are allowed on airstrip but only in metal pits. No ground fires. Ashes may be disposed in a designated area as long a free from metal debris.

-Cigarette butts must be properly disposed of once fully extinguished.

-Dogs are discouraged, but allowed. Owner is responsible for leashing, crating, messes, and damages.

Lodging:

La Posada de Agave (6 private rooms with one common living/dining room) in Presidio. This is the link to 2 of the rooms. 

La Posada de Agave (Rooms 1 & 2) - Houses for Rent in Presidio, Texas, United States - Airbnb

Rooms at the Three Palms Inn in Presidio are $79/night - clean, simple functional rooms right next to The Oasis Restaurant (delicious authentic Mexican fare). Suites range from $140-$170 and are newer, larger rooms at the property. 

Three Palms Inn - Motels and Hotels in Presidio, near Big Bend, Lajitas, and Ojinaga, Mexico

Los Alamos Ranch Guesthouse is about 18 miles from Rio Bravo Ranch (about a 30-45 minute drive down Casa Piedra Road) and can accommodate large groups. 

Los Alamos Ranch Guesthouse - Houses for Rent in Presidio County, Texas, United States - Airbnb

This home accommodates 6 people in the town of Presidio and gets great reviews on Airbnb.

Beautiful Adobe Santa Fe Style Home!! - Houses for Rent in Presidio, Texas, United States - Airbnb

This unique stay is run by Charlie Angell of Angell Expeditions and is located in Redford, TX about 20 minutes from Rio Bravo Ranch

St. Joseph Church downstairs unit 2 - Castles for Rent in Redford, Texas, United States - Airbnb