New to Long Range Accuracy, advice in getting started please

[PMB]

Hello, glad to have found the forum.

Before I signed up here I wrote to the site admin asking if there was a "Getting Started in Long range Accuracy" FAQ or thread and he replied "You may want to start a thread in our Forum: Forum.accurateshooter.com
But the most important is have a great barrel, top-quality bullets, and a stable platform (bench or prone) that can repeat precisely from shot to shot."

A little background : I'm a grandfather, been shooting since I was a wee lad. C&R collector, reloader, NRA Instructor in a few disciplines.
My favorite shooting sessions involve long distance and drop calculations, but I haven't gotten past the level of chrono my loads and reading ballistics tables or doing quick calculations.

I'd like to make my goal of being proficient at 1000 yards (just because it is an easy number to remember.)
I have several calibers in rifles... But none of these fancy numbers that I see here.
I have .308, 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag, x54R, x39, 8mm, 7mm, .303, 6.5x55 Sw, and a couple handgun calibers.
Using handgun calibers lets me do some of my favorite type of shooting (lobbing) without having a 1000 yard range.

Added: I forgot a few. .243, .270, .30-40, .45-70.
May I have some advice for a beginner? How does a newbie get started in the long range game?

Thanks in advance and very kind regards,
Mike

 

[johara1]

Start from scratch, build a gun, you don't need a cannon just a Dasher…….. jim

 

[40X Guy]

Hi Mike, you are on the very best forum related to shooting there is. I joined this site 4 years ago and have learned tons of info that I have applied to my LR shooting. Plus just simply reading threads here on site.

As Jim just posted if you are wanting to get into the 1000 yard game then I also think a 6 Dasher is the way to go. Read Jims story/interview on the home page about his equipment and his advice. Also a welcome aboard!

Frank

 

[Mega]

I would agree with the comments, go to a 1,000 yard range and join in, watch and learn plus listen to those that do well.

No 1,000 yard here but 800 yards I've tried. One big factor I see is learning to read the wind / mirage which can be practised at mild distances like above 300 yards. Don't know about others but in my book understanding the conditions has way more benefit than a particular calibre. The little .222R held some long distance records for quite some time and I bet the shooter knew how to read the wind.

 

[LCazador]

+1 on what dmoran says, get involved in some long range matches. And before building a firearm and investing in equipment, observe what everyone else is using in your area. There is always a need for scorers and help, and folks will gladly help you in selecting equipment and calibers.

 

[watercam]

Couldn't agree more - your learning curve will be much shorter if you attend some matches. Go and watch and listen the first time (but have a rifle in the car - think about your '06 w/ 175 grain or heavier bullets or your 6.5 Swede with 140s). Often the folks will make some room for you to get your feet wet.
Always remember - it's about having fun FIRST...

 

[PMB]

Thank you for the welcome and the tips.
Took me a little bit to find the article, but it was worth it.

Attending matches may be a rare thing for me... I was surprised to find no ranges listed in Washington or Idaho. Looks like I'll have to find a schedule for LR matches in Oregon.

Is there a spot that lists upcoming matches around the country? I haven't seen one on here or on IBS. Still kind of figuring out the layout, so I may have missed it.

In the meantime I'll be slogging my way through several hundred pages here.

Thanks again.

 

[LCazador]

Find the closest range to you and contact them regarding fees, upcoming match schedule, diciplines available, and ask if they need help in an upcoming match. Maybe someone in the Oregon, Washington state area can chime in. Again welcome to the Forum!

 

[stool]

I WILL SECOND ON GOING TO A MATCH.
find some clubs, check their schedules and go.
i went to several 1000 matches and just watched while collecting parts for my rifle.
good news is you can learn and help out at the same time.

ps if you mention where you are..i'm sure several will tell you what is close..

 

[gaboon]

I agree with all above. With one advice don't buy cheap equipment and start small.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Thank you for the welcome and the tips.
Took me a little bit to find the article, but it was worth it.

Attending matches may be a rare thing for me... I was surprised to find no ranges listed in Washington or Idaho. Looks like I'll have to find a schedule for LR matches in Oregon.

Is there a spot that lists upcoming matches around the country? I haven't seen one on here or on IBS. Still kind of figuring out the layout, so I may have missed it.

In the meantime I'll be slogging my way through several hundred pages here.

Thanks again.

How far are you from Missoula Mt? We shoot monthly 1000 yard br as well as a few f-class matches. We'd be happy to help you get started.

 

[stool]

i'm pretty sure wash does a 600yd match...lets see if anyone jumps in

 

[abishai]

Good advice from all . Long range shooting is something you have to see to believe . Showing up to a match would be fun to watch , showing up to a practice would be much less formal ........ In a match, I am on my game , and would have no time or mental energy to talk ....... At a practice session , I would put you behind my rifle and talk your ear off - probably buy you a beer after you shot all my amo up ..... A speedy 6 mm is the place to start . Dasher ? XC ? 243 ? 6 CM ? 6 x 47 ? In the end , find a mentor . I personally root for my competitors . When I loose , It forces me to get better

 

[stool]

lets just say that has not been how i was received.....
very relaxed, very friendly at the match

Good advice from all . Long range shooting is something you have to see to believe . Showing up to a match would be fun to watch , showing up to a practice would be much less formal ........ In a match, I am on my game , and would have no time or mental energy to talk ....... At a practice session , I would put you behind my rifle and talk your ear off - probably buy you a beer after you shot all my amo up ..... A speedy 6 mm is the place to start . Dasher ? XC ? 243 ? 6 CM ? 6 x 47 ? In the end , find a mentor . I personally root for my competitors . When I loose , It forces me to get better

 

[Alexander-M]

Mike, (from another 'old novice')

Most definitely, try to attend a match and talk with some of the competitors if at all possible.

You shared with us what rifle calibers you have, but did not say what the rifles were. You see, maybe you already have a rifle with which you could start. That is what I did.

At 68, I also am a grandfather, several times, have been shooting for a very long time, but just started in F-T/R (F-Class, Target Rifle, restricted to .223 and .308, prone with a bipod) last August. Several years ago I competed in ‘Across-The-Course’ high-power matches (200, 300, and 600 yards, iron sights, sling) with an AR15, and did OK, but had to stop due to back problems, which have since subsided.

Last July I went to see an F-Class match, 600 yards, and decided that I would like to give it a try. Since I had no clue as to whether I would like it, I did not buy anything but instead used what I had. I used a DPMS Long Range .308 AR-style rifle with a Falcon Menace 5.5-25x56 Tactical 30mm Riflescope from SWFA – great combination, by the way.

I shot in my first match in August (600 yards) and got hooked! My score was nothing to brag about (280-8X out of 300), but I had the feeling that I could learn, and improve. More importantly, however, was how friendly everyone was, and the obviously overall enjoyment that they were having!

I decided to buy a new rifle, and opted to not spend too much and keep it simple, so I bought a Savage 12 F-T/R .308. I had always wanted a NightForce riflescope, but simply had not been able to justify the cost. Well, it would be now or never, so I bought a Nightforce NXS 12-42x56 .125 MOA NP-R2. I couldn't be happier with my purchases!

Since then I have shot in three more matches, all at 600 yards, have done better in each one, have learned a lot, and know that there is a lot more yet to learn, which is the fun part. Perhaps I will get to shoot at 1000 yards in the near future, and from what I gather, it is more challenging to go from 600 to 1000 than from 300 to 600, so I will be in for quite an awakening.

I have made a few friends who also shoot F-Class and their help has been invaluable. And needless to say, I have learned more in this forum since I joined nine months ago than in the previous 50 years that I have been shooting.

Good luck!

Nando

 

[Romulus]

Great advice from all.

If I were starting long range shooting I'd get some Savage 12 LRP from a gunstore with a good price ($890) in 6.5 Creedmoor or 260 Rem and buy a Vortex Viper PST FFP ($880) for the field/tactical disciplines or a target type scope like a NF, but you could also save money with the Vortex Viper line in this discipline too.

This setup will allow you to plink out to 3/4 Mile (1320) with good precision and your system will cost less than most competitors scopes AND you'll be up and running with the big dogs.

Hope you enjoy airing out some bullets.

 

[243Mendoza]

Thank you for the welcome and the tips.
Took me a little bit to find the article, but it was worth it.

Attending matches may be a rare thing for me... I was surprised to find no ranges listed in Washington or Idaho. Looks like I'll have to find a schedule for LR matches in Oregon.

Is there a spot that lists upcoming matches around the country? I haven't seen one on here or on IBS. Still kind of figuring out the layout, so I may have missed it.

In the meantime I'll be slogging my way through several hundred pages here.

Thanks again.

PMB
There a loads of matches in WA; see http://www.wsrpa.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=96&Itemid=28.

We have an excellent 1000yd range near the Tri-Cities area.

 

[seymour fish]

PMB, Pragmatics come into it. Paper vs steel vs that rock/dirt spot over there. If the latter, you need sufficient mass to produce a signature. High desert without a spotter, you need the above, along with light enough recoil to spot for yourself thru the scope at around 6-12 power. What access do you have to longer ranges, either impromptu or formal? What game tickles your fancy? How much gear is too much to lug around? What local experts, in disciplines you favor, can you access for help/guidance? Getting on a well-tuned rifle, zero'd for elevation, good no-wind zero in it, spotter feeding you wind calls is an eye-opener. Attending a match, as everyone has suggested, will tell you what you need to know, and may afford you that opportunity. Jump in. Seymour

 

[Dshooter]

First off welcome....all great advice mentioned above by experienced shooters. What kind of long range shooting are you interested in? Shooting 1000yds for tiny groups on paper, or maybe shooting Long range at various distances to 1200yds on steel? If you can't find any bench rest, f class, f/tr near you; there should be several tactical comps in your area. Tactical is slightly different as in your shooting to simply hit steel targets from various positions and various distances out to 1000/1200 yds. It's a great sport no matter the discipline that interests you.