Beginner Long-Range Shooter

[SDCarpenter]

You don't need a kestrel, it is helpful... But it tells you the wind at the shooter and not the majority of the wind all the way to your target.
Invest in a good rear bag ( tab for example ), and a good bipod. Harris's have their place but I would look at the Atlas CAL, specifically because it locks down right and will really eliminate any rifle cant.
And don't get a bubble level, the most accurate level you need for your rifle is between your ears.

[kcstott]

Thanks Bicky, I have added the Harris bipod as well as the Str8laced shooting bag to my shopping list and downloaded the Strelok app.





Thanks kcstott for the continued help. At this point, I have decided to dedicate an older phone I've got sitting around to this hobby. I've already got the Strelok app and I'll start looking for the app you've described. Maybe even download a few ebooks and document my range trips with the camera. Looks like there are a couple of interesting log book apps as well for both Androids and iPhones.

I very much appreciate the anecdote about the guys arguing; I suffer from a lot of OCD so I can certainly see myself being that guy who is overthinking it lol!

The more I learn, the more I realize how much it will be me who is going to be the main source of shooting issues. I'm going to continue relying on my .22 rifles to make sure my fundamentals remain the main focus.

[American Muslim Gun Owner]

You don't need a kestrel, it is helpful... But it tells you the wind at the shooter and not the majority of the wind all the way to your target.
Invest in a good rear bag ( tab for example ), and a good bipod. Harris's have their place but I would look at the Atlas CAL, specifically because it locks down right and will really eliminate any rifle cant.
And don't get a bubble level, the most accurate level you need for your rifle is between your ears.

Lol the last part made me laugh out loud!

Thank you for the recommendations on the bag as well as the bipod. The Atlas is currently out of my price range (and costs just as much as my rifle lol), but I will add it to my wishlist. Same with the Kestrl. If they go on sale, great.




So I took everyone's advice on the rear bags. I ordered both the original Tab Gear bag as well as the Stra8 Laced to see which one will work better for my needs. I ordered directly from them, especially since the prices are the same everywhere. Got a shipping label update this morning.

Thank you so much for that breakdown on the fundamentals. People like myself do better when prioritizing our tasks. I'm gonna turn your list into a mantra.

I also very much like your suggestion of leaving the bolt open. I will openly admit that I have taken hasty shots in the past even though I knew I was about to shoot poorly. Keeping that bolt open will certainly eliminate that.

[sigstroker]

There are PRS and NRL match videos on youtube. Watch a handful of them, see how they do things. There are also channels with some good videos of examples of what not to do. I like the Precision Rifle Network channel for that sort of thing, as well as the Guns and Ammo show on cable tv. There's also SHLowlight, which is the Sniper's Hide channel. That guy, Frank Galli, has probably forgotten more about long range shooting than almost everyone on this forum. As well, there are random videos by David Tubb, who always seems to be happy to share his knowledge.

[theLBC]

I also very much like your suggestion of leaving the bolt open. I will openly admit that I have taken hasty shots in the past even though I knew I was about to shoot poorly. Keeping that bolt open will certainly eliminate that.

not just that, but he's also right about heating up your round in the chamber.
in long range shooting, ambient temperature (and the temperature of the powder) affects burn rates and thus velocity.
at 100 yds, this has minor affect, but at long distances the difference between 50 degrees and 100 degrees can be big.

[American Muslim Gun Owner]

There are PRS and NRL match videos on youtube. Watch a handful of them, see how they do things. There are also channels with some good videos of examples of what not to do. I like the Precision Rifle Network channel for that sort of thing, as well as the Guns and Ammo show on cable tv. There's also SHLowlight, which is the Sniper's Hide channel. That guy, Frank Galli, has probably forgotten more about long range shooting than almost everyone on this forum. As well, there are random videos by David Tubb, who always seems to be happy to share his knowledge.

Thanks sig, I will start checking out those videos in my down time. I really appreciate the guidance on future plans because I wasn't even thinking that far ahead when I bought the rifle lol!

not just that, but he's also right about heating up your round in the chamber.
in long range shooting, ambient temperature (and the temperature of the powder) affects burn rates and thus velocity.
at 100 yds, this has minor affect, but at long distances the difference between 50 degrees and 100 degrees can be big.

I appreciate the info on ambient temperature as well as the highlighted part. I mistook kc's original response to mean shooting before one was ready to pull the trigger.

Your last point about the difference between 50 and 100 degrees, is that why I have seen people show up bright and early at the outdoor range and finish their shooting before 11 am? I always thought it was because the wind would start kicking up around noon.

[theLBC]

Thanks sig, I will start checking out those videos in my down time. I really appreciate the guidance on future plans because I wasn't even thinking that far ahead when I bought the rifle lol!






I appreciate the info on ambient temperature as well as the highlighted part. I mistook kc's original response to mean shooting before one was ready to pull the trigger.

Your last point about the difference between 50 and 100 degrees, is that why I have seen people show up bright and early at the outdoor range and finish their shooting before 11 am? I always thought it was because the wind would start kicking up around noon.

great question.

the temp difference is part of the ballistic calculations, so experienced shooters can compensate for that, but they might prefer stable temps while practicing, or i'd just prefer the cool temps.

another reason long range shooter prefer morning or evening when it is cool is the effect of mirage on being able to see your target clearly. it distorts your view particularly at high magnification. sometimes you can even see 2 targets or if the target is small, you might not be able to see it at all.

wind is a bigger factor, but for practice, i doubt good shooters avoid it if they are trying to get better at estimating wind, either for competition or hunting.
the exception might be if they are testing hand loads loads or zeroing a rifle, where they want to minimize the variables to get valid results. is it me, or the wind?

when it isn't too bad to see the target, experienced shooters can make use of mirage to see wind direction more accurately downrange.

[kcstott]

Thanks sig, I will start checking out those videos in my down time. I really appreciate the guidance on future plans because I wasn't even thinking that far ahead when I bought the rifle lol!






I appreciate the info on ambient temperature as well as the highlighted part. I mistook kc's original response to mean shooting before one was ready to pull the trigger.

Your last point about the difference between 50 and 100 degrees, is that why I have seen people show up bright and early at the outdoor range and finish their shooting before 11 am? I always thought it was because the wind would start kicking up around noon.

In my last post read point #2 again about leaving your bolt open.

On my rifle shooting my load at 1000 yards i can predictably send the round high by doing nothing but let the round sit in a warm or hot chamber.

get on the rifle, get in position, bolt open, look through the scope, adjust your bags, set a round on the sled, (single round feed for me) look through the scope again, breathing in control finding your rhythm, settle on the aiming point, watch the cross hairs settle, close the bolt, once you have your breathing and cross hairs in rhythm and settled on the aiming point press off the shot and follow through. As you get more experience and can take more time you can press the shot between heart beats. Yeah that sounds all super sniper delta seal ranger crap, but it's true. if you can't see a flicker of your heart beat in the cross hairs your position is not stable. By the way that's only for prone shooting. Heart beat and breathing have a whole other look standing sitting and kneeling and I'm not experienced enough to say a word about it.

[sigstroker]

Well, I'm for sure never going to be able to pull the trigger between heartbeats, my pulse is too high.

[kcstott]

Well, I'm for sure never going to be able to pull the trigger between heartbeats, my pulse is too high.

I get so relaxed on a rifle I could fall asleep on the cheek rest

[American Muslim Gun Owner]

great question.

the temp difference is part of the ballistic calculations, so experienced shooters can compensate for that, but they might prefer stable temps while practicing, or i'd just prefer the cool temps.

another reason long range shooter prefer morning or evening when it is cool is the effect of mirage on being able to see your target clearly. it distorts your view particularly at high magnification. sometimes you can even see 2 targets or if the target is small, you might not be able to see it at all.

wind is a bigger factor, but for practice, i doubt good shooters avoid it if they are trying to get better at estimating wind, either for competition or hunting.
the exception might be if they are testing hand loads loads or zeroing a rifle, where they want to minimize the variables to get valid results. is it me, or the wind?

when it isn't too bad to see the target, experienced shooters can make use of mirage to see wind direction more accurately downrange.

My observation is that the folks that come in during the morning hours and then leave before tend to be an older crowd that seems quite focused. They also appear to have hand-loaded ammo on hand.

Thanks for the info on using the mirage to judge the wind.

In my last post read point #2 again about leaving your bolt open.

On my rifle shooting my load at 1000 yards i can predictably send the round high by doing nothing but let the round sit in a warm or hot chamber.

get on the rifle, get in position, bolt open, look through the scope, adjust your bags, set a round on the sled, (single round feed for me) look through the scope again, breathing in control finding your rhythm, settle on the aiming point, watch the cross hairs settle, close the bolt, once you have your breathing and cross hairs in rhythm and settled on the aiming point press off the shot and follow through. As you get more experience and can take more time you can press the shot between heart beats. Yeah that sounds all super sniper delta seal ranger crap, but it's true. if you can't see a flicker of your heart beat in the cross hairs your position is not stable. By the way that's only for prone shooting. Heart beat and breathing have a whole other look standing sitting and kneeling and I'm not experienced enough to say a word about it.

I went back and reread it and now I understand what you meant. How do you guys deal with hot chambers? Just let the ambient air do its thing?

Well, I'm for sure never going to be able to pull the trigger between heartbeats, my pulse is too high.

I get so relaxed on a rifle I could fall asleep on the cheek rest

I think I need to hit the gym for a bit before I start hitting the prone position. Otherwise I'll need a taller bipod. And probably fall asleep if its warm. I actually tend to drink 7-11 coffee and eat mints while shooting, but I may have to look for a more tactical fuel source as I get more serious.

[sigstroker]

I get so relaxed on a rifle I could fall asleep on the cheek rest

I'm sleeping everywhere. I'm asleep right now!

I had some heart issues as an infant so I've always had a fast pulse. It would take JJ Racaza to pull the trigger between my heartbeats.

[sigstroker]

I went back and reread it and now I understand what you meant. How do you guys deal with hot chambers? Just let the ambient air do its thing?

You can buy a battery powered fan that goes in the loading port/chamber.

[smoothy8500]

How do you guys deal with hot chambers? Just let the ambient air do its thing?

You can buy a battery-powered fan that goes in the loading port/chamber.

Really don't see them at NRA F-class matches. A string of fire is 22 rounds fired in 22 minutes with a generous break between strings. Heat is just accepted as part of the match that has to be managed.

The fans may be more common on PRS/Practical matches where 6-12 rounds are shot around 2 minutes or so, and the time between stages is closer to 15-20 minutes. Although, I haven't seen any at the Pendleton matches yet. You have to consider rifles are parked on the dusty ground which may be why they aren't quite in vogue.

[Bicky]

Just read your other thread about the rifle. Shooting a traditional stock with a larger scope sucks. It is difficult to get a proper cheek weld and build a stable position. You will probably want some kind of cheek riser. You can try:
-use cut up mouse pad and duct tape
-get a stock pack. These will usually offer some adjustment by adding layers between stock and pack
-get a kydex cheek piece, as shown in one of the pics in that thread. Installation is easy, but it's a little daunting to drill big holes in your brand new gun