Basic Long Range Shooting Mark R. Mebes Sergeant First Class US Army

Basic Long Range Shooting What is defined as “Long Range” Shooting Past 300 yards How far is “too far”?

The Rifle Bolt or single action Centerfire Cartridge Reliable maker Barrel not “shot out” Most new, bolt action deer rifles are capable of holding a pattern out to 600 yards

The Action Bolt actions are most popular Sturdy construction Bedding screws (2 or 4) Gunsmithing an action for accuracy

The Barrel The right “twist” for your caliber and bullet The Crown Muzzle Brakes Bedding Glass Pillars Floating “Truing” the action to the barrel threads

The Stock How is the barrel bedded? Wide forend for stability Cheekpiece Length of pull Vertical pistol grip Recoil Pad Wood or composite Solid or hollow?

The Trigger Factory or Aftermarket 1 ½ to 2 ½ lbs pull Adjustable Accutriggers *Setting your trigger may be the easiest and most important thing you can do to improve your long-range accuracy

Detachable Components Bipods Tripods Shooting Sticks Sandbags Slings Muzzle Brakes

Scopes and Optics Fixed or Variable Power Reticles Hashes Mildots Objective Size Lens coatings Adjustments (Inch or MOA?) Rings How much should I spend? Scope Covers and sunshades Tube Size (1” or 30mm?) Scopes MUST be leveled

Other Optics Spotting Scopes Rangefinders Install a “level” on your scope/action

Bullets Factory Loads Factory Hot Loads Handloads Wildcat Loads Ballistic Coefficient Match-grade bullets Hunting Grade Bullets Chronographs What bullet/load does your rifle “like”?

Skills Shooting Fundamentals MPBR/Zeroing Elevation adjustments Windage adjustments Spotting Practice, practice, practice….

Shooting Fundamentals Breathing Aiming Trigger Squeeze

Zeroing Boresighting 25 m zero range 100 meter zero 200 meter zero MPBR

Elevation Adjustments Range estimation Calculate bullet drop (use ballistics charts) Calculate holdover Use hashes or milldots if you have them Temperature Below 30 degrees, adjust 1 mil at 500 yds, 4 mils at 1,000 Altitude

Windage Adjustments Estimate wind: At your target (most important) Where you are shooting from In between Taking into account terrain Try using heat waves Dust, trees, flags/markers Anemometers

Windage Adjustments A “Full Value” wind is 10 MPH or more Headwind or tailwind will not affect your round appreciably Left to Right or R-L FV winds should be calculated as such: 100 yards-1 inch drift 200 yds-2 inches drift 300 yds-6 inches drift 400 yds-12 in drift 500 yds-22 in drift

Spotting All military snipers use “spotters” Often, the spotter is the more experienced sniper Reading wind Reading splash Adjustments give by MOA “Doping” windage and elevation “Signature”

Extreme Range Effects Elevation above 3,000 ft: Altitude (thinner air) causes bullet to strike higher Approximately 1 inch high per 3,000 ft Windage affect on elevation Rifle with RH Twist L-R FV Wind pushes bullet Right and Down R-L FV Wind pushes bullet Left and Up Coriolis Affect (Past 600 yds) Drift due to the earth’s rotation Northern Hemisphere, adjust Right for every 1 second of travel

Basic Long Range Shooting Practice Practice……

Make Your Shot Count!