Resources for learning to shoot long range?

[Matt Dillon]

Folks, I would like to learn to shoot accurately at longer distances than 100 yards. I was wondering if anyone had any books, or web resources, or advice that you may be able to point me toward to learn some of the techniques needed to accurately shoot at long range. I recently purchased Sierra's infinity ballistics program, where I'm learning more about the effect of various parameters on the bullet's flight, but I know there are a lot of things to consider. Any help is GREATLY appreciated, TIA, and please reply at your earliest convenience, thanks!

 

[JohnBT]

This came highly recommended for any type of rifle shooter and it is a truly amazing book. It's been worth every penny I spent on it and I don't shoot highpower. John

www.zediker.com/books/highpowerrifle/hprmain.html

G. David Tubb's Highpower Rifle

"David Tubb of Canadian, Texas is one of the winningest rifle shooters in history, having claimed a record 11 National High Power Rifle Championships at Camp Perry. David may be the greatest rifle shot who's ever lived. He has also won numerous Long Range Rifle titles, individual and team, and holds countless state and regional championships. He holds some 40 open, individual national championships in Long Range and Silhouette Rifle, and is a member of a 7-time Sportsmans Team Challenge championship team."

 

[Houndawg]

Enlist in the Marine Corps. They'll teach you how to shoot.

 

[artherd]

How much furthur?

A .30-06 has a pretty much 'point blank' trajectory out to 300yds (+-3" all the way out when zeroed at a bit beyond 200.)

I know enough to know that there is a huge difference at shooting at 500 yds versus even 800, let alone 1000yds. Most cartridges will also go transonic at around 1,000yds. This can cause a disruption in accuracy, and I will admit I do not fully understand the effects on gyro-stabalised rifle bullets.




Also, one of my favourites.

What is the recomended windage (left/right) correction for a 70 yard shot, with *20mph* of crosswind with a.308 Winchester?







Answer: NONE! (there would be less than 1/4MOA of movement! Of course, wind drift becomes a big issue at extremely long ranges.)

 

[Swampy]

Matt,

Find the nearest Range that holds "Across the Course" ("X-course", i.e. 200-300-600 yds) Highpower events, either CMP's EIC events and-or NRA Highpower. Contact the Match Director and get signed up for the first event on the schedule. Just go and do it. The old hands will help you out and you'll learn more by DOING in one day than you can by reading books all winter long.

If there is no range near you holding "X course" events, find one that does short course Highpower. Lots of CMP local clubs out there doing John C. Garand type events at 100 & 200 yds. By doing the basic skills of marksmanship at short range, you'll be set to graduate to the long course whenever the oportunity arises.

I started shooting CMP and NRA short courses 4 years ago at our local CMP club. Got the basic skillls down in short order. Made NRA "Expert" my second year of competition. My third & fourth years I started traveling to some "X-course" events.

The changes in distance over "X-Course" are nothing more than elevation changes on the rear sight. Any moron can master that in one lesson. The hard part as range increases is being able to read wind.... I'm getting better, but still working on it

I'm "tickling close" to "Master" Class now, and all I shoot "X-Course" with is my Match Grade M1. I probably could have made Master this last year but I'm bound and determined to shoot my first Master class X-Course score with my M1, then I'll proudly hang it on the wall and go over to the AR....which should see me holding my own a bit easier.

Enjoy the challenge..... give Highpower a try and the skills you long for will come to you. Guaranteed.

Best regards,
Swampy