Training for long range at short range
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JFrank
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Allow me to expand;
1-Shoot at very small targets
2- Develop a load that shoots small
3- Ensure your load will repeat
4- Always use a wind flag
5- Try to manage recoil the same each time
6-
7-
1-Shoot at very small targets
2- Develop a load that shoots small
3- Ensure your load will repeat
4- Always use a wind flag
5- Try to manage recoil the same each time
6-
7-
Last edited:
I have to agree with both.
Shoot your centerfire and work up loads for the smallest groups at 200 yards and also practice with a good 22lr that mimics your centerfire rifle.
Varminterror
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I’m a big fan of shooting 22LR at short range as a practice analogy for centerfires at long range. I regularly practice with a 22LR Savage Mark II at 100-300yrds in preparation for long range centerfire competition.
As a recent example: my son and I shot some wind practice this past weekend - shooting his 22LR specialty pistol out to 300yrds, then my 6 creed rifle out to 850 as practice for a specialty pistol match he’s shooting this summer. The wind correction for his 22LR was the same at 50yrds as the correction for 800yrds for the 6 creed. Shooting ~5-8mils of correction without slipping the 22LR off of the edges of the target at 200-300yrds made for much more challenge than calling and holding ~1.5-2.5 mils with the 6 creed at 600-850, especially since the 22LR won’t hold nearly as tightly together at 200-300 as the 6 creed will at ~3 times the distance. Targets get really slippery when your group size is nearly the same as your target size, and your wind bracket is wider than your target. That’s an uncommon circumstance for a centerfire rifle built for long range shooting, but it’s a pretty common condition for 22LR’s.
I do a lot of practice with 223rem’s at 500-700yrds also, not really because they are much more challenging, but rather because they cost less to feed and because barrels last so long (don’t have to rebarrel a practice rifle nearly as often as a match rifle, even when you’re shooting MORE practice than competition). There’s more drop and drift to manage with 223, but not “enough more” to really change the game significantly.
As a recent example: my son and I shot some wind practice this past weekend - shooting his 22LR specialty pistol out to 300yrds, then my 6 creed rifle out to 850 as practice for a specialty pistol match he’s shooting this summer. The wind correction for his 22LR was the same at 50yrds as the correction for 800yrds for the 6 creed. Shooting ~5-8mils of correction without slipping the 22LR off of the edges of the target at 200-300yrds made for much more challenge than calling and holding ~1.5-2.5 mils with the 6 creed at 600-850, especially since the 22LR won’t hold nearly as tightly together at 200-300 as the 6 creed will at ~3 times the distance. Targets get really slippery when your group size is nearly the same as your target size, and your wind bracket is wider than your target. That’s an uncommon circumstance for a centerfire rifle built for long range shooting, but it’s a pretty common condition for 22LR’s.
I do a lot of practice with 223rem’s at 500-700yrds also, not really because they are much more challenging, but rather because they cost less to feed and because barrels last so long (don’t have to rebarrel a practice rifle nearly as often as a match rifle, even when you’re shooting MORE practice than competition). There’s more drop and drift to manage with 223, but not “enough more” to really change the game significantly.
FL-NC
Member
22 at small targets. Things like plastic army men, Ritz crackers, and necco candy wafers give good instant feedback. Just don't eat your targets on the way to the range.
Nature Boy
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@South Prairie Jim and I are on the same page
You can certainly practice on your rifle mechanics at 200 yards. Those skills are universal regardless of distance. Same with load development. It's about isolating the variables that are causing variations in your down range results. As a matter of fact, put it in this order.
1. Load development - without a consistent load you'll never know if it's the load, you or the wind. You can do that at 100/200 yards
2. Rifle mechanics - your interface with the rifle needs to be consistent or you'll never know if it's you or the wind. You can also do that at 100/200 yards
3. Wind reading - You can practice that too with your long range rifle at 200 as the wind will have an effect, however, it will not be apparent unless 1 and 2 are in control.
You can certainly practice on your rifle mechanics at 200 yards. Those skills are universal regardless of distance. Same with load development. It's about isolating the variables that are causing variations in your down range results. As a matter of fact, put it in this order.
1. Load development - without a consistent load you'll never know if it's the load, you or the wind. You can do that at 100/200 yards
2. Rifle mechanics - your interface with the rifle needs to be consistent or you'll never know if it's you or the wind. You can also do that at 100/200 yards
3. Wind reading - You can practice that too with your long range rifle at 200 as the wind will have an effect, however, it will not be apparent unless 1 and 2 are in control.
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