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

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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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?

7. 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

8. Detachable Components
Bipods
Tripods
Shooting Sticks
Sandbags
Slings
Muzzle Brakes

9. 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

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

11. 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”?

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

13. Shooting Fundamentals
Breathing
Aiming
Trigger Squeeze

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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”

19. 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

20. Basic Long Range Shooting
Practice
Practice……

21. Make Your Shot Count!