So, you want to learn to shoot like a sniper? Well, there’s a few things you’re going to need to know. Follow these long range shooting tips and you’ll be shooting like a pro in no time.
- Gather Information – You’re on the range to gather as much information about the rifle as you possibly can, not just to shoot. This will teach you how the weapon will perform in every circumstance. Stay tuned for a future blog about this very subject. Use the Subscribe form at the bottom of this page to be sure that you don’t miss it.
- Unclean Fire – It’s OK, even advisable, to leave a rifle dirty for the entire season. Why? For the sake of shooting consistently. A shot fired through a clean bore will hit a different target than the follow-up shots. Firing a round down the barrel, fouling the bore, removes an obstacle standing between you and a great shot.
- Know How to Breathe – Practice your breathing; everyone’s inhale/exhale is different. Once you know your breath and you’ve played around with how many breaths YOU need; on the last inhale PAUSE before your next exhale. THAT’s the moment you take the shot.
- Hide and Seek – Hide in plain site by matching the environment around you. In other words, dress the part of the natural landscape.
- Get to Know Your Ammo – Ballistic-tip bullets, often used by hunters, aren’t as accurate as the ammo a sniper would use. It’s important to test different ammo to determine what works best for your firearm.
Scopes
Beyond those long range shooting tips, you will definitely need a scope. When you’re looking at scopes for your long distance rifles, there are a few things you’ll want to pay close attention to: glass superiority, elevation adjustment, and front focal plane.
- Glass superiority – Side-by-side, in-person comparison is the best way to judge how clear and sharp the image is. As you know, this is important in long range shooting because the wind can be different at the mark than at your location. If this just isn’t an option for you, remember to stick with the companies known for high quality glass.
- Elevation adjustment – The more internal adjustment the better for long range shooting; everyone’s preference is different but at least 100 MOA is a good rule of thumb.
- Front Focal Plane – The advantage to using a front focal scope is that the lines are continuously the equal comparative distance apart. This is important because it frees you up to focus on taking the long range shot – not performing another check, which can distract you.
Best Places for Long Range Shooting
You’re probably expecting a long list of places to go but, in all honesty, finding a great place to go is kind of a personal thing. Sure, recommendations from family/friends and other enthusiasts are important, but in the end you have to be comfortable there.
Let us know some of your favorite long range shooting tips, scopes and places for long range shooting.
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