How did you get started with longer ranges?

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Fatman

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Hey guys,

I'm a new guy to shooting. Started out pistols and then got an AR-15 and learned on iron sights at short-ish distances. Now I'm insterested in getting started with glass and some longer distances. So, I'm kinda curious how other people got started at longer range shooting and/or any recommendatons on how I could get started.

One thing that limits me is that I don't have space at my own place to shoot and must use the local gun ranges.

Any/all advice appreciated.
 
The easiest way if to attend a competition.

I started with a hundred yard zero. I went to a 600yd event & my first shot at 600 was a sighter for the string. I almost forgot to add 16 MOA elevation.

The events are easier on a newbie because of so much guidance available. Plus it is hard to shoot LR with no feedback. Look for F Class or similar event. If you don't have a rifle you can get a rental or loaner in some places. Wait & get an appropriate rifle if you can.

I shoot a lot of .22LR. Shot execution is shot execution. I will post some more of my advice later is others don't cover it first.

If you want to give general idea of your location and a range/goal you have in yards that might help.
 
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I belong to a shooting club and we have 25, 50 and 100 yard backstops as well as a 200 meter backstop. Our shooting positions are set up to use sand bags or other types of rests. I really enjoy shooting at the range and I do it all every couple of weeks all year long. Our range is open from daylight to dusk and I have found that most shooters are too lazy to get up early and go to the range at daylight. Just after daylight the range is peaceful and I can really concentrate on shooting target and changing targets without interruption. That is the first secret. Next, one of my shooting sessions is about 20 rounds. That is enough with a high powered rifle like a 270 or 30-06.

Next, your rifle must be capable of shooting long distances. Your trigger pull must be light and crisp. Your stock must not be too long and should have a good recoil pad like a Pachmayr decelerator. You need good optics so you can see your target well.

Finally, about the only thing you can do by shooting over sand bags or any rest is to tune your rifle and learn how to pull a trigger. I suggest you learn to use a shooting stick and also to learn to shoot offhand and sitting. Although many people shoot prone, it is one of the most worthless hunthing positions. BW
 
our local club that hosts long range matches every weekend has a long range night each week where shooters meet around 5pm, squad up and take turns 30 minutes shooting, 30 minutes in the pits pulling targets for other squad.

otherwise, find a friend to coach you. if you list your state/city i'm sure you can find people nearby
 
I was introduced to it through Project Appleseed, which teaches the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship. Their goal is to teach all the skills necessary for a person to pick up any center fire rifle and hit man-sized targets out to 500 yards.

I would take your AR-15 to an Appleseed that is held on a full-distance range. I think you would get a lot out of it if your prior learning only involved "iron sights at short-ish distances."

www.appleseedinfo.org
 
I grew up shooting groundhogs or woodchucks as they say up north. My family had some farmland that I was able to shoot out to about half a mile or so. Burned up several barrels as I recall. A .220 swift and a 22-250 and a .243 all before the age of 16, those were some good days. I wish I had that land now. It's been gone for 40 years now, lots of homes in places I used to shoot at little specs way out there. Man that was some real fun!
 
Any hunting rifle in a major caliber with a sub $300 scope will do. You can use irons too. Start with a 100 yard zero. Group at 100, 200, 300, etc. Try steel.

The AR will be fine. Use a 100 yd zero due to the way 5.56x45 behaves. It makes 300 reasonably easy. Do not use Wolf past 200; it is weak and you will have to adjust your settings. It is tough to hear on steel at 300.
 
Our local club... My local club... Seems to be repeated a few times. :)

While I have no clue as to your location I would suggest looking into local gun clubs. For a general membership fee these clubs have much to offer, including many that host social events. You will also find older and senior members, as well as very knowledgeable new members will to share a wealth of information with you. A Google of "My State Gun Clubs" should get you going.

Just My Take
Ron
 
Fatman, I'd suggest that you locate a club that hosts a long range shoot and check it out. Most of those guys are pretty friendly and are willing to share information in order to promote the sport.

Another thing I'd do, if available, is take a rifle class, just so that you can get the basics down. You'd be surprised at how much of what you take for granted is just plain the wrong way to do things.

As for the rifle, guys show up to matches with a wide variety. Everything from customs built on BAT actions to stock out of the box Savages and Remingtons. Although winning is a challenge, just hitting the paper isn't. Just go out and do it.

Just don't expect to go out and start shooting minute of angle right from the start. That's something to work up to.

In any case, the best thing that you can do to start honing your skills is to get yourself a decent .22 bolt action and start shooting at 100 yards, taking note of the effects on the wind on your point of impact. I've heard many veteran shooters remark that shooting a .22 to 100 yards is a lot harder than shooting a .308 to 600.

As for how I got started, boredom. I got into shooting bolt actions and soon after it became a waste of ammo to shoot centerfire at 100 yards. There was no challenge, so the logical thing to do to add the element of challenge was to shoot at things farther away. Difficulty increases exponentially with increases in range. Yeah, the wind is NOT your friend.
 
I saw something 200 yards away and I shot it. :cool:

Haven't been to that range in awhile though so I'm stuck to just 100 yards.
 
I started out "going long" with a Savage 111 in 30-06 with a Simmons 3-9x40 scope shooting "tin goats" at 600m. You don't have to go high dollar to get out there. Just gotta get out there and practice. Best tip I can give ya though is to keep a range book. Write everything down and even doodles of hits on target are helpful.
 
Nah....
The easiest way is to learn how to shoot first. You need to attend at least one Appleseed to lesrn the basics of marksmanship.

I did it and I can hit constantly a 12x12 target with my AR prone position on mybelbow with a sling...
 
Just keep shooting!
Shoot at far things as much as possible.

There is ballistic software you can purchase, if you know your bullet speed (via a chronograph) and its sectional density (in most reloading data books and online), you can actually plot any distance trajectory you want.

I happened to purchase the Barnes Ballistic Software and I like it very much, it really is accurate! Now I need to do as I am telling you and SHOOT more!:eek:
 
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