should I shoot long range?

[kzin]

I shoot a fairly busy schedule of smallbore and reduced range matches.
All the local ranges are 200y or less.

Nearest 600-1000y ranges are 4-5 hours each way.
My total 600 yard experience is 3 trips before covid.

I'm back on a cycle of thinking I want to shoot some longer range, out to 1000, particularly Palma(f-class).

Sometimes it seems like a very obvious thing to do, sometimes it seems stupid - I should just keep doing what I can practice at home.
I'd be looking at a max of 3 or 4 road trips per year due to costs and not enjoying travel anyway.
At that rate I'd clearly never get good at it.

Should I compromise and make all my road trips 600s?

 

[bugman]

if you can afford the time and money, go for it. Life is too short.

 

[Lbart]

I much prefer 1,000 yard F-Class to anything shorter. Don't worry about getting good at it, just concentrate on enjoying the people and putting the shots as close to the middle as you can. Remember only one person at every match is the winner.

 

[Twdmar]

Do you have a 22lr? Practice at short range with it. You may need to do some load development at longer distance to find a load for 1k. If you afford the gas, do it.

 

[jghoghunter]

Not to be an ass, but good luck with that decision. Only you can decide how much time and money to spend. IF you have a big pile of money you want to get rid of, long range shooting is a good way!!! Have fun!

 

[243Mendoza]

Trying to clean a target at 1000yd (or 600yd depending on wind conditions) keeps shooting from getting boring.

 

[Liven The Dream]

It is a lot of fun, you will enjoy Long Range.
May need to update your equipment.

Long Range ? Sling Prone , FT/R or F-Open ?

 

[jelenko]

It might be easier to not make an all or nothing decision.
If 600 or 1000 seems interesting to you, try one, a couple. If you are enjoying it, do some more.
For me, a key question would be whether I have the right equipment or do I need to buy stuff.

Finally, for me, 4-5 hours one way is not enjoyable. Other than wind reading skills, I get all the challenges I need at 2 and 300.
That said, when I get hooked on something, I go for it.

 

[kzin]

Yeah, the rifle is one reason I feel I should get around to doing this.

Bought a good kelbly based custom f-class rifle on here just before covid.
Rebarreled to 6.5 creedmoor.
Seems like overkill(and over-costly) at 200 locally so it's about time to get it to longer matches or sell it barely shot.

 

[kzin]

Do you have a 22lr? Practice at short range with it. You may need to do some load development at longer distance to find a load for 1k. If you afford the gas, do it.

Lol, I shoot 3 100 yd smallbore f-class local matches a month in summer and 1/month year round.
Plus an indoor match per month.
That's the biggest reason I'm not super-motivated to drive 5 hours to shoot centerfire.

 

[Ringostar]

Do any of the ranges hold multiple day matches? That would be the mandatory for me. I’m not driving 4-5 hours one way, for a one day match.

 

[jelenko]

or sell it barely shot.

Definitely an option.

 

[Twdmar]

Lol, I shoot 3 100 yd smallbore f-class local matches a month in summer and 1/month year round.
Plus an indoor match per month.
That's the biggest reason I'm not super-motivated to drive 5 hours to shoot centerfire.

Then you already have wind reading practice. Long range is fun and challenging but not the boogeyman that some make it out to be. It is a little different than rimfire but if you're not feeling super motivated and are satisfied with rimfire matches, those are fun too. But you might find some.LR shooters who live nearby and maybe you can carpool etc. You just need a little load development. Can you go the day before and shoot a ladder test and take some loading equipment with you?

 

[mikecockcroft]

did i miss where you live? maybe someone knows of matches in your area your not familiar with?

 

[davidjoe]

You can’t tell where you and your gear shake out, until LR. 1,000 yards in Fclass is the transition point between causal and serious competitive shooting. By that I mean that a casual shooter and decent gun can still shoot excellent scores at midrange.

The final 400 yards knocks points (percentage points too) off of every rifle and shooters’ scores. The difficulty escalation in matching one’s 600 scores is so pronounced that to this day I haven’t seen a person claim to have earned LR high master in TR with a .223, nor an open gun shooting a faster case .22. In fact, a gun that can flat devastate the field from 300 to 600 yards, the 6BR and derivatives, may not have actually earned anyone LR high master in Open.

If the jump to long range is a mission you choose to accept, it won’t be long before the new question you have to answer is which midrange matches will you still be attending.

 

[7mmmag]

Absolutely go try it ! The first time I shot my XP @ 1000 it was a amazing time . You will have fun .

 

[Sandstorm]

It is all they say it is and then some.....amazing shit.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I had a friend tell me one time if you don’t know what to do …. Watch yourself. Your actions will tell you. I shot across the course highpower and a few midrange matches a season for years.
Slowly over the past couple of years three new rifles and sets of iron sights were accumulated and I started shooting LR and Palma. Still learning but loving the new journey. Give it a chance if it is in your heart. Very satisfying to send down a string of 10’s and X’s at 1000 yards.

If you are in the Midwest - Atterbury has monthly weekend matches and cheap on base housing. They use E targets so the day goes quickly. ( but your load needs to be supersonic at 1000).

 

[ngb1787]

Take a handful of marbles and put them in your mouth. Every time you think about shooting long range spit a marble out. When you lose all your marbles you are ready to shoot long range, lol.

 

[Delfuego]

Don't worry about getting good at it, just concentrate on enjoying the people and putting the shots as close to the middle as you can.

Great advice here. Make sure you are having fun.