#1 best tip for new shooters trying to get into the long range game!

[misterc01]

I suggest finding a Project Appleseed event nearby and go. You will learn fundamentals applicable to long range shooting, and shoot for accuracy at a simulated 400 yards with a.22 at 50 yards.
In my case, I have a .22 that mimics each long range rifle I shoot, so I use them for general practice and fundamentals refining (breath control, trigger squeeze, NPA, etc).
Using a.22 at 100 yards on simulated 800 900 and 1000 yards is not as easy one might think, and it is great practice for wind adjustment. It all translates to the long range rifles. BUT I am shooting a hundred rounds for $10, instead of a hundred rounds at $100 and saving high-priced barrel wear.

 

[Daves762]

New shooter and I read all the threads. A lot of valuable knowledge here built from lots of experience and money spent on gear. For a new shooter such as myself, what is the #1 tip to assist in the journey to long range shooting? Thanks in advance.

The fundamentals of marksmanship. Form, breathing, trigger control, forward load the bipod, ect. All the wiz-bang calibers, and fancy gear can't compensate for poor fundamentals. Get rid of anything you will not be using on the hunt. Bench rests, sandbags, and stuff won't be there on the mountain, so don't train with it. My training is from prone, off a bipod, using exactly what I'll pack on a hunt, nothing more. Train like you fight, so to speak. That's just what works for me. Also you might consider this. Find a local veteran, one with expert metals. Buy him a case of the beverage of choice, stay humble, and soak up the knowledge. Friend of mine did just that a few years back, came out, and made a long range shot on a nice bull. One his first day ever hunting elk..... It can't hurt.

 

[shootski]

Hi all, I have been reading LRH for at least a year or two and just now decided to post to a shooter who wants advice about getting into LR hunting. My Nickname is shootski and I'm not Polish so that can only mean I do two things that are crazy hard at the same time; Cross Country Ski and Shoot. I agree with most of you on most of the advice above but will add one thing to think about based on my experience over 55 years of shooting. The best way to learn the wind is to use a 10 meter World Class Air Rifle at 50 meters. Use the lightest pellet you can find on a natural range with lots of obstacles (terrain) and you can do it even on light wind days. So why the 10 meter air rifle? Because you will probably never shoot anything more accurate! The wind will move that light pellet around as if you were shooting to 1,000 meters and the TOF is about the same. You can use the typical peep and globe sight that they are normally equiped with or you can mount a scope if that's your bag.
OBTW, I believe I hunt long range with a .308 or .458 dead soft lead bullets between 110 and 510 grain Quackenbush Outlaw air rifles shooting to 200 meters at subsonic speeds. What do the readers think of/on that?
If not, I will no longer call myself a long-range shooter.

shootski

 

[robert l]

A half MOA gun is a half MOA gun, regardless of the price tag. Anyone who tells you that you need a $3000 scope or a $4000 rifle to successfully shoot/hunt at long range, probably has a used scope or rifle they're trying to sell you. There are plenty of experienced shooters here on LRH who are getting excellent results with "budget" builds.

There are alot of store bought rifles that shoot half moa out there nowa days.

 

[robert l]

Brother it's the internet now days everyone shoots 1/4 moa groups lol

Yes its all to easy to talk the talk But they know that they are embellishing there ability. But to what extent only they know.

 

[Bro Dave]

The 6.5 creed is very impressive and I even see match rounds at my local Walmart's! Might have to try her out!

To take this one step farther a 110 savage in 6.5 CM will shoot 1/2 to 3/4 with any decent ammo. It is a great and inexpensive way to start for under $500 and then buy as much scope as you can afford and then like canhunter said "shoot the snot out of it. "

 

[Eagle eyes 17]

Also relatively new to long range shooting/hunting. Best advice I got when getting into this sport was to buy a 6.5 creedmoor. I was able to get out to 1000 yards easily, factory ammo was crazy accurate (its an inherently accurate round) and even the budget rifles will shoot 1/2 moa. That's where I started and its the best advice I ever could have received.

I would recommend the 6mm Creed for good groups at 100yd+ , great caliber for beginners and more skilled shooters .

 

[robert l]

You will find the wind is the issue. Not only is it constantly changing, it wont be the same at your target as it is where you are at...most likely. If it was an app would figure wind as well as it does drop. The futher away the more pronounced it is. You will learn to read it with practice. Im decent at it at home on flat ground., in the mountains, im terrible. It blows every which way there. The guys that can shoot well there are like gods to me. Credit where due. Try shootinf far when it is dead calm for a confidence builder.

That is why i like florida the winds are very predictable here in southern fl.

 

[5.56×250]

Relax, clear mind, avoid distractions, focus.

 

[gator378]

Practice. Practice a lot as much as you can. Even at 100 yards. I notice after a few months of not shooting during my busy season that I lose a lot of trigger control. This time of year I don't go two days without the range and it's shows. I have a buddy who really wants to get into long range. I coach him all the time but he only wants to show up twice a year and try and buy his way into taking game at 1000.
I'm really glad he hit the range before going because it crushes his confidence enough to stay within 200 yards. But every year he tries to buy a new rifle that will do it for him.

You are right about practice. I used to be a Scuba diver, a **** good one. but it took constant practice. I finally got really good but it took over 100 hours of bottom time to get there. And then more time to keep proficient. Diving like shooting is a perishable skill. You can lose it.

 

[gator378]

I honestly think you get what you pay for...sure you can buy a ruger american and a vortex hs-t to get in the game. If you really want to get serious about it you need to go full custom and you can't cheap out on glass - at least thats what I was told by another member on this forum. I am hoping my kids decide not to go to college and am saving up my pennies to be able to get a tangent theta in the next few years

The college years were tough. Not much shooting was done and skills lost

 

[DJ Fergus]

New shooter and I read all the threads. A lot of valuable knowledge here built from lots of experience and money spent on gear. For a new shooter such as myself, what is the #1 tip to assist in the journey to long range shooting? Thanks in advance.

Don't get discouraged is my number one suggestion. Other suggestions right behind that is: build your confidence in your rifle, loads and your own ability when shooting out to longer distances on days with little winds. Once you are fairly confident then purposefully shoot at longer distances with elevated wind conditions to see how your load reacts & hone your skills. Wind can make the best of us look like a novice at times. Theres many other good suggestions here in the replys.

 

[LongestShot]

By far, as others have mentioned, practice is the key ingredient. Also purchase quality products. A rifle that shoots two inch groups at 100 yards will produce six inch groups at three hundred. It's impossible to fine tune groups if your equipment isn't up to the job.

 

[5gauss]

My hunting buddy and I watched a two guys from about 2000 yards away last hunting season try to hit a buck about 400-500 yards away from him in 36-40mph wind, he shoot about ten times across a canyon then went back to the truck for more ammo shoot about ten more times and maybe hit it ones then thought they did not get it at all and left !!! I though I saw the deer go down after he was done shooting, it was a nice buck and horrible to watch we could not do anything being so far away and it was just about dark. Don't be those guys it's not good.

this is what is bad about LR shooting....never shoot unless you are very confident or you will wound animals and they deserve better....much better. Practice...get very good at it...get closer if you can...stay within your range capabilities....