Some shooters will become discouraged by all the variables they must consider and never take up long-range shooting.
But theselong-range shooting tipscan make the job a lot easier.
Seek out others who are competent in long-range marksmanship and audit their range session.
Take a class where you’ve got the option to borrow a rifle for the course of instruction.
Long-range marksmanship is not a casual hobby; you should try before you buy.
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Browse the aisles of gun stores and youll have more than a few rifles to select from.
The secret lies in finding the rifle that fits you and your long-distance goals.
The rifle you choose will need to fit you.
There are equally as many choices to decide from.
Front-focal-plane (FFP) or second-focal-plane (SFP) reticle?
Mil adjustments or MOA?
One inch or 30mm tube?
Ask yourself logical questions.
How much magnification do I need?
What features help make adjustments to windage and elevation easier?
What reticle am I willing to learn and become competent with?
When you make fewer adjustments at greater distances, youll thank yourself for thinking ahead and purchasing it.
Weak links in your precision rifle setup are created when corners are cut on quality.
Equally important is finding the right ammunition.
Barrel twist rates and bullet weights will yield mixed results when combined.
Purchase quality match ammunition from different manufacturers and discover what combination works best.
Consider your precision rifle a high-end sports car and feed it premium fuel.
The little things follow the big purchases.
Front and rear shooting bags may also be used, serving to stabilize the rifle.
Self-Discovery
Long-range marksmanship requires learning what works best for you.
Think of squeezing the trigger as compressing your fingerprint.
Try placing your thumb on one section of the stock and then another.
When you find out which results in the best accuracy, stick with it.
Find out where you should break your shot in your breathing cycle.
Are you a full-, half- or empty-lung shooter?
Again, fire a few strings with each and document your results.
Note how your vision is affected and how wipe the reticle is just before you break your shot.
Learn what scope magnification you are most comfortable with.
Just because your optic maxes out at 25X magnification doesnt mean you should use it for every range.
You may find working with the lowest magnification will yield the best results.
There is truth to the maxim aim small, miss small.
Good Habits
for excel in this arena, you should probably develop good habits.
Repeatable long-range accuracy is all about consistency.
This is why a log book where you could track all of your data is essential.
Perform that routine enough times correctly and it will become second nature and habit.
Forces of Nature
Of course, you cannot control the environment.
While gravity is consistent, wind is not.
Learning to read the wind and estimate its speed and value is a skill in itself.
Learn what a 5 mph wind feels like on your face and what it does to grass and vegetation.
Other environmental factors will affect your performance, including the amount of sunlight, altitude, and precipitation.
This will give you an indication where your first round will impact before the barrel becomes fouled.
Fire a five-shot group and track where the center is.
Dont be afraid to move your windage or elevation to compensate for a shift from your last session.
See what happens when you increase the round count and your time behind the gun.
There is a constant pursuit of smaller groups and better equipment.
Eventually, youll probably start loading your own ammunition, too.
Ive heard about practicing until you get it right.
Ive also heard about practicing until you never get it wrong.
Accuracy is a drug, and long-range accuracy is one of the most addictive.
Its never too late to start on your quest for this precision rifle skillset.
This article is from the 2018 issue ofBallistic Precision.
