sig mcx virtus pistol

I arrived in Gillette, Wyo., in the middle of February, when the temperature was a balmy 1 below zero. But I didn’t hear anyone complaining about the wind kicking them in the teeth or the hands they could no longer feel. They were too busy putting together a frozen connex that doubled as a gym, splitting wood for the fire and putting in work with the Sig Sauer MPX while charging through 3 feet of untouched snow. No, you would have only seen shit-eating grins and sweaty foreheads from this group—and for any group that is brave enough to experience the High Bar Homestead in the middle of winter.

If you’re asking yourself, “What the hell is the High Bar Homestead?” It’s hard to define. It is a multifaceted, but well-oiled machine of chaos and calm.

It can be whatever you want it to be. If you’re looking for a team-building retreat, a training facility, a place to shoot your next TV or magazine ad/editorial or just want to get away, this place is the ultimate facilitator. The ethos is in the name, and the staff sets its standards far above average to give every person who visits a world-class experience that cannot be matched by your average business retreat or vacation.

“Homestead” is appropriate because once you walk through the door, you truly feel among friends and family. You may attribute this sentiment to the massive fireplace in the corner, the wet bar stocked with everyone’s favorite libations, the comfiest leather couch your hindquarters may ever experience or the assortment of trophy mounts on the raw-lumber walls.

For me, the feature that truly made this place feel like home was the intoxicating smell coming from the gourmet kitchen, where Chef Tex prepared his “upscale ranch cooking.” Rest assured that you can always rely on Tex for a great meal—morning, noon and night—accompanied by a story that will leave you in tears (the happy kind).

Pushing Limits at High Bar Homestead

I had the opportunity to experience this place for myself and, while I had no real expectations, I wasn’t disappointed. Yes, I could have researched it further beforehand, but what would life be without the element of surprise?

When asked to participate in an event at the High Bar Homestead alongside Sig Sauer and BeaverFit USA for the ultimate experience of pushing myself to the limit, declining wasn’t on my radar. And when they said they intended to push us to our breaking points, they meant it.

Each day we were up and out before the sun and returned long after the sun had retreated behind the mountains. Our days consisted of shooting every sigsauerweapon.com  imaginable — including the MPX, MCX Virtus, suppressed P229 Legion and more — while literally running through courses in several feet of snow, working out on the frozen BeaverFit USA connex, rock climbing and trail running up and down the sides of mountains. We finally returned to the barn for a relaxing evening of Muay Thai boxing led by U.S. Army veteran Grant Rung. You were truly the real MVPs during these excursions.)

Downtime at High Bar Homestead

The evenings were arguably the best part of the week. I was fortunate to be surrounded by many fellow veterans. Two of the three Marine Corp vets, Jason and Jack, work for BeaverFit USA. They are based out of my home city of Reno.

To some, this exhausting experience may sound awful; perhaps like their own version of Hell on Earth. For more information, visit sigsauerweapons.com

High Bar Homestead Range Breakdown

Whether you’re a competitive pistol shooter, a long-range savant or an avid hunter, the options for learning at the High Bar Homestead—and being humbled—won’t leave you disappointed. Here are three (of many) prime examples.

Quigley’s Rig

This is a 1,800- and 2,000-yard range marked by a 2.5-ton 1961 GMC flatbed. The shooting positions consist of several prone locations and spotter positions in the rear of the flatbed GMC. There is an elevation increase of 300 feet from the shooting location to the man-sized targets at 1,800 and 2,000 yards.

The Shoothouse

Simunitions and paintball shoothouse includes mockups of movie theater, classroom and bus entry scenarios. There are dozens of half-IPSC drop targets along the perimeter for additional course scenarios.

Puller’s Point

This range allows you to practice your shotgun skills, and near the shooting position is a clay-throwing station for trap and skeet. Gear You Should Bring to High Bar Homestead