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Shooting at an unfamiliar range

Fast14riot

Fast14riot

Gold $$ Contributor
Curious what some of the things those of you who travel for matches do when you are going to shoot a match at an unfamiliar range?

I'll assume most will show up for the practice match if they have one, but what other things do you check out?

Long distance homework, on site prep, day of match, etm...
 
This is a very good question I'm interested in this as well. One thing I have noticed at different ranges is the height of benches and it really takes me some time to get used to height changes in how I shoot
 
Understand prevailing winds, bring a height adjustable seat and rubber / spiked feet for my front rest (dictated by bench type).

Most importantly I like to shoot from the farthest left bench as possible.
 
memilanuk said:
Not if it's not benchrest...
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This I think should be specified in answers. As a lowly belly crawler I don't care what height benches are.

What height I do care about is the range altitude, especially compared to my home range. I also look up the compass direction of fire for the range. Ideally all ranges would be oriented North/South, but that isn't always so.
mmcu said:
Most importantly I like to shoot from the farthest left bench as possible.
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Interesting preference. Left handed and facing away from all others?
 
Talk to ones that's there. Figure out who is a regular and watch him or her through spotting scope. I would say getting there early for some practice is a good thing but thinking about it, some of my best matches at unfamiliar ranges started with "time starts now". Sometimes its just a wash, but you have notes for when you return.
Todd
 
Sling shooter here. I travel and shoot at a lot of different ranges. I will do an “e-scout “ using maps to determine range direction, elevation, dominant land features etc. I then look for recent match results and see who the local top dogs are. On Match day I get in early and pitch in and help if they need set up assistance. I am watching wind the entire time. Helping set up I can see up close and feel any differences in wind along the range.

When the shooting starts I am watching the flags and looking at the sighters of the known good shooters. I will not be the first shot fired. Depending on the switchy-ness of the wind I will assess a bracket and try to send my best estimate of a centered shot. If conditions are mild , I may shoot no wind zero dope to see which flag or mirage or other indicator is matching the drift I see on the target.

After that it is game on as at a normal home course match. Break good shots, don’t take a shot that doesn’t feel right.
 
I recently had a bad experience at a new range. Went for a 600yd match. E targets. The issue was that the targets were very high, especially from prone. My bipod had to be raised all the way up. This threw off my set up so bad that I couldn't get a good scope view. I had to cock my head all weird to get 1/2 a view. I shot 193, 198,197. My neck hurt like hell.
 
Not sure if this answers the OP's question or not. I had high master shooters (rifle and pistol) tell me to not shoot from the same position or at the same range all the time, but that by shooting in different conditions/positions, locations at practice or weekend matches, when it came time at a regional (or whatever) match at an unfamiliar location, the local conditions (lighting, berms, dividers between lanes, eyebrows, etc) would not be a distraction. Instead I could fall back on my muscle memory or tried and true set up, and to follow that. At the end of the day their belief was that once shooting for record began it was your set up, your sight picture and the target. Those were the only constants that ultimately mattered. Practice and shooting under different conditions gave you the ability to adapt and be successful.

I found this to be good advice and it worked for me when I was shooting competitively. Now I compete against my self and I still follow this advice.
 
I look the range up in maps so i know nesw.
Other than that there isn't much to do imo.
Get your bench# set flags and attempt to start finding the prevailing wind.
Sighters as the flags change tell me what I'm gonna do.
Strength of the push is my weakness.
At the 200 nationals in VA, one went short, one went long. 2, 9's with 12 x's ..... I could have bit a bullet in two !
 
Dimner said:
This is a very good question I'm interested in this as well. One thing I have noticed at different ranges is the height of benches and it really takes me some time to get used to height changes in how I shoot
Click to expand...
I found that an inexpensive drummers throne works well for benches of different heights.

When I go to a different range, I like to just stand back and watch the range.
Trees on the edges? How are the leaves blowing? Is there an opening in the trees?
Long grass? Which way and how hard is it blowing?

I hate being in the first relay.
I like to watch the first shots and see how they land.
 
JMayo said:
I look the range up in maps so i know nesw.
Other than that there isn't much to do imo.
Get your bench# set flags and attempt to start finding the prevailing wind.
Sighters as the flags change tell me what I'm gonna do.
Strength of the push is my weakness.
At the 200 nationals in VA, one went short, one went long. 2, 9's with 12 x's ..... I could have bit a bullet in two !
Click to expand...
Green condition at Fairfax is famous for that. It will be shooting good and next thing it will move the bullet twice as far as it should have. Made many shooters cuss over the years ;)
 
Fast14riot said:
unfamiliar range
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Ask if they have an open bar, during the shoot.. If yes, avoid it.

I Shot a 1800 indoor Bullseye pistol match. Between relays, competitors were allowed to drink. One guy was doing shots.
I ask a member of the club about him returning to the firing line. Was told guy shoots better after a few shots.
My pistol box with 4 handgun, was almost knocked to the floor by a drinking shooter.

Hunters Benchrest- some guys got a women to enter after they were all drinking in doors. The scope of the 30-06 opened up her eyebrow on the first shot.
20240930_121424.jpg

Not uncommon to have a bar at a gun club here in Hopewell Big Woods.
 
243winxb said:
Ask if they have an open bar, during the shoot.. If yes, avoid it.

I Shot a 1800 indoor Bullseye pistol match. Between relays, competitors were allowed to drink. One guy was doing shots.
I ask a member of the club about him returning to the firing line. Was told guy shoots better after a few shots.
My pistol box with 4 handgun, was almost knocked to the floor by a drinking shooter.

Hunters Benchrest- some guys got a women to enter after they were all drinking in doors. The scope of the 30-06 opened up her eyebrow on the first shot.
View attachment 1594313

Not uncommon to have a bar at a gun club here in Hopewell Big Woods.
Click to expand...
If I saw drinking at any range regardless of it being a match, I'd pack up and leave. I aint looking for extra holes on my person.
 
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