Practicing for long range shots at an indoor range

[DontBurnMyFlag]

Hey everyone.

I dont have access to an outdoor range at the moment and Ive been trying to practice my intermediate and long range shots (100-300 meters). I am a member to an indoor range that has a 25 yard backstop. Is there anyway to practice for longer range shots using that small range?

I know for longer distance shots I may need to adjust for wind and keep a much steadier arm. However I have been using 8x11 Computer printouts of man-sized targets and shooting at those with my AR-15. So Im basically taking a 6-7 Inch little man and hitting him in center mass at 25 yards. (watch out squirrels haha) In my eyes it feels like a further shot, but I know its not the same.

Is there anything else I can do to practice?

 

[knoxx45]

I just use a smaller target when I can't shoot long range

I know that it isn't the same, but I feel that the harder that I practice with a tiny target, the better that I'll shoot at a regular size target far away. I know that wind and trajectory dont get factored in in my method, but alot of the skills required to hit a small target close up are the same as those required to hit a normal target far away, such as controling your breathing, trigger control, etc

Knoxx

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

yea, thats what I was getting at. It does take alot of control, good breathing, correct trigger sqeeze to hit a smaller target.

 

[Lou629]

I have often wondered about the ratios involved with doing this myself. Let's forget about windage and so on for a minute, just focus on distance. If you can only shoot out to 25yards, and your standard target is say a 10" square, would you reduce the size of the target to 5" X 5" to simulate 50 yards? 2.5" X 2.5" for 100, etc.? How do you guys work the ratios?

 

[Pilgrim]

It's a linear conversion. Just like if one click on the sights moves one inch at 100 yards, it moves two inches at 200 yards.

 

[the naked prophet]

You could download your .223 to about 10% velocity to simulate the bullet drop

 

[fanof357]

Get a copy of "Fred's Guide to Becoming a Rifleman" Last I knew it was available from http://www.fredsm14stocks.com
He has acurately reduced targets to practice at 25 yards. It also has a lot of great information any rifleman would appreciate

 

[wawaverider]

I would agree with the smaller tartet theory. It would be similar (and then not) to BZOing your M-16 or M-4 with the small baker target at 30yds. Another thing to practice is looking at what the wind 300 yards away from you, think is it from 6 o clock, 9 o clock, etc. Then ask yourself what would Carlos do?

 

[shermacman]

Do a hundred jumping jacks.
Then shoot.
That'll teach ya marksmanship!

 

[Pacer]

Fred's Guide, and the APPLESEED program (www.RWVA.org follow the menu to Appleseed) uses Army Qualification test targets ("F") for use at 25 meters/82 feet.

The Forums, linked from the same site, have targets scaled for use on an indoor air rifle range as well.

4MOA (a secure hit on a standard personnel at 500 yards) is 1" at 25 yards +/-

A 1 MOA strike zone, 5" @ 500, 10" at 1000, would be 1/4" at 25 yards.

When yyou can keep 'em all in that area, from any position, after the "jumping jacks" noted above, all you really need to study to convert to real world is range finding, wind, and external ballistics!

Have a great winter practice session, and please do attend an Appleseed!

Cheers
Pacer

 

[FTF]

When I was in the USMC we used a scaled down target for BZO... something like ~30 yards at a target probably 6" lengthwise, compared to 24" lengthwise at 300 yards. Don't quote me on it, I forget, but the basic principle applies that a smaller target at closer range is roughly equivalent to a larger target at longer range. Minus the effects of wind, your manual sight elevation should compensate mostly.

I shoot almost exclusively at 25 yard ranges and if I can keep my shots in an inch I'm pretty confident I can hit what matters at 100 yards and out... if I use sight elevation and such.

 

[JMusic]

I use a white piece of paper and shoot a hole in the center, then shoot at the hole. It sounds pretty simple but this will show you how consitant you are from shot to shot. I was taught this by a gentleman who won a bronze in the Pan American games. Teaches position as much as anything.
Jim

 

[DRZinn]

Don't quote me on it, I forget, but the basic principle applies that a smaller target at closer range is roughly equivalent to a larger target at longer range.

It is also that the .223 round is at the same elevation at 30 yards going up, that it will be at 300 yards coming back down.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Scaled down targets will prepare you with a solid foundation for long range shooting, BUT there will be two important points missing:

The first is that of dealing with the various holdovers that are relevant to the different ranges.

I found that when shooting @ 25 yards, I pretty much dialed in the optimal setting, and forgot about it. Subsequently, when out on the longer ranges, I dialed up the "mathematical" range, and found that things aren't always as advertised.

Y'as need to _actually_ shoot at those ranges, at least part of the time.

The other factor is windage. It's a pretty negilible factor out to say, maybe, 200 or so yards, but it's something you GOTTA deal with much farther than that.

 

[rdbrowning]

Practicing on a smaller target will help you improve for shooting at any range. But range is not the hard part of shooting at extended distances. The range can be measured within a yard or two and there are charts or programs that can give you a pretty good estimation of your trajectory. It is the wind that "blows" you out of the water. Trying to read the wind at your location is pretty easy. At the location of the target you can get some indicators of what the wind is doing. But what is it doing midway between you and the target? This can be especially tricky shooting along fence rows with breaks in the trees, or across a valley where the wind may actually be going the opposite direction. Or past a hill or wood lot that disrupts and redirects the air flow.

Practicing with smaller targets will help your shooting improve, but don't expect to be able to hit at long range until you have practiced at long range, in the wind.

 

[JohnKSa]

You might also look into air rifles. Although the numbers will not mirror any firearm, the lower velocities and inefficient projectiles will make you start thinking about trajectory and wind deflection at quite short distances.