Why make something.....

[M14AMU]

so easy....so difficult?? Several shooting forums I go to I often see a post titled...."Moving out to 500 yards!" I'm scratching my head wondering....why is this? What's the experience of the shooter? I understand that many folks breaking into shooting probably only have access to a 100 yd. range and that is a shame because in years past there were many more ranges available for reaching on out than there is available today. With the technology that's available today and the improved powders that we have in conjunction with advancements in scopes and improvements in bullet design it's truly amazing to me why some people seem to have problems going on out to what could be called the medium ranges of 500-600 yards....yet they do! Many years ago when I was lucky enough to be selected to shoot with the US Army MTU a coach asked me...."Mulhern do you know where the most important six inches in competitive shooting lays?" I told Sgt Sheets...."I want to hear it from you Sarge!" He responded...."The most important six inches of ALL SHOOTING lies between your ears!" Over a period of four years of constant competitive shooting I discovered that Sgt Sheets advice was right on!! Your rifle does not know whether it's shooting 50' or 1000 yards....only you do! If a person has an accurate rifle and learns how to load accurate ammunition and with adequate reading and a reasonable amount of intelligence...it's no super-human effort to learn how to make accurate hits on a target at once heretobefore distances that were unthinkable!! What it does require however is practice, paying attention to the iron-clad rules of marksmanship which are unyielding in their nature, attention to detail, and a good record of data!! Without a good record of data....you may as well be out behind the barn choking your chicken!!

Here's two cold-bore shots I made this afternoon shooting from 600 yards. Cartridge is the 22/250 shooting 90 gr. Sierra HPBT using 35.5 grs. H4350. Rifle is Rem 700 with 1-7" ROT Hart barrel. AR400 plate is 28"x30" with no bull; I just hold center mass and with the white paint POI is readily visible! HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all and GOD BLESS AMERICA....and all our military men and women!! ;D

2shts600 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

 

[joshb]

You gotta be a 22 yr. old Marine to shoot like that! ;D

 

[M14AMU]

I don't think I'd want to back up to 22 today!! My Dad told me 7 years ago just before he died at age 92..."Son....my generation and your generation has seen the best that America will ever have to offer!" I believe he was right....as usual!!

 

[jonbearman]

So your saying that someone wanting to shoot longer ranges shouldn't try? I am baffled.

 

[Tim Singleton]

I think he's saying, he can't understand why it doesn't come as easily for everyone else as it does for him. The lack of intelligence that hinders the ordinary folk
And how fortunate he is to have a place to shoot longer ranges

 

[jonbearman]

I would say he is fortunate as new joke doesn't have many long ranges in the state.

 

[M14AMU]

So your saying that someone wanting to shoot longer ranges shouldn't try? I am baffled.

No need to be baffled when it's as plain as this:

"If a person has an accurate rifle and learns how to load accurate ammunition and with adequate reading and a reasonable amount of intelligence...it's no super-human effort to learn how to make accurate hits on a target at once heretobefore distances that were unthinkable!! What it does require however is practice, paying attention to the iron-clad rules of marksmanship which are unyielding in their nature, attention to detail, and a good record of data!!"

 

[M14AMU]

It would be great advise if there were competitions for 2 shot 3" groups at 600 yards

Well Tim....regardless of the 3" two shot group....which IS NOT THE GIST of the posting...I think it's damn good advice! That photo was just evidence of what a 22/250 is capable of with the right load and ROT and it does that each time I shoot it!

 

[FatBoy]

Damn, they're wearing you out but I know what you're saying. Over the years I have taken dozens of people off the 100y line to the 1000y line. The comment when I broach the subject is almost always the same. "How do you see that far?"

Everyone has to start somewhere. Having someone who knows the ropes help makes a big difference. Back when Varget and 175SMKs were affordable I used to load for loaner match ammo and drag out my 308. It has a good zero, good ammo and once I explained windage and hold offs they usually come off the line at least smiling, if not hooked.

Happy Thanksgiving and good shooting. Take a kid out shooting this weekend.

Chris

 

[Tim Singleton]

It would be great advise if there were competitions for 2 shot 3" groups at 600 yards

Well Tim....regardless of the 3" two shot group....which IS NOT THE GIST of the posting...I think it's damn good advice! That photo was just evidence of what a 22/250 is capable of with the right load and ROT and it does that each time I shoot it!

I thought you were pointing out how great you are.

 

[M14AMU]

It would be great advise if there were competitions for 2 shot 3" groups at 600 yards

Well Tim....regardless of the 3" two shot group....which IS NOT THE GIST of the posting...I think it's damn good advice! That photo was just evidence of what a 22/250 is capable of with the right load and ROT and it does that each time I shoot it!

I thought you were pointing out how great you are.

No Tim....I'll leave that to you! I don't have to prove squat to anybody!

 

[d.id]

I am confident that those sites you speak of are most of the problem.
Bad advise, a sales pitch to sell equipment that is really not needed and often cost prohibitive or just an author's ego suggesting that they are super human to have "achieved" mid range effective fire.
.
When I broach the subject with a new shooter they always assume 900 yards is superhuman, takes 1000s of rounds of practice and years of training.
Then I put them on my gun, adjust it to fit them. Dial the scope in while explaining cant, parallax and angle........then have them smack a four inch target with the first or second round (that's always fun).
Then I have to talk them off the $5K dollar ledge and explain how inexpensive it CAN be.
.
Most of the shooting sites are just like "hunting shows", they are a damn infomercial disguised as entertainment or education.

 

[hogpatrol]

I'm not a psychiatrist but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night so here goes. It's all about the shooter's "comfort zone" and not being able to break out of it. If one shoots at an acceptable accuracy at 100 yds. stretching out to 500+ equals an open door to failure. Whoa, don't want to go there! I see many shooters at our 100,200,300,400,500 meter range going no further than 200. I had an instance where I suggested a buddy try his .222 at the 500m Ram target. He was adamant that he could not possibly hit it. I crunched the numbers, cranked the elevation turret a bunch of inches (he almost had a panic attack) and let him have at it. Thwack! He hit it. Took a couple more shots and hit both times. I wanted him to try it on his heavier calibers but that wasn't going to happen. Thought the triple deuce was just luck. Too much chance of failure to try it again on another rifle. It all came down to those six inches between his ears.

 

[mauser284]

so easy....so difficult?? Several shooting forums I go to I often see a post titled...."Moving out to 500 yards!" I'm scratching my head wondering....why is this? What's the experience of the shooter? I understand that many folks breaking into shooting probably only have access to a 100 yd. range and that is a shame because in years past there were many more ranges available for reaching on out than there is available today. With the technology that's available today and the improved powders that we have in conjunction with advancements in scopes and improvements in bullet design it's truly amazing to me why some people seem to have problems going on out to what could be called the medium ranges of 500-600 yards....yet they do! Many years ago when I was lucky enough to be selected to shoot with the US Army MTU a coach asked me...."Mulhern do you know where the most important six inches in competitive shooting lays?" I told Sgt Sheets...."I want to hear it from you Sarge!" He responded...."The most important six inches of ALL SHOOTING lies between your ears!" Over a period of four years of constant competitive shooting I discovered that Sgt Sheets advice was right on!! Your rifle does not know whether it's shooting 50' or 1000 yards....only you do! If a person has an accurate rifle and learns how to load accurate ammunition and with adequate reading and a reasonable amount of intelligence...it's no super-human effort to learn how to make accurate hits on a target at once heretobefore distances that were unthinkable!! What it does require however is practice, paying attention to the iron-clad rules of marksmanship which are unyielding in their nature, attention to detail, and a good record of data!! Without a good record of data....you may as well be out behind the barn choking your chicken!!

Here's two cold-bore shots I made this afternoon shooting from 600 yards. Cartridge is the 22/250 shooting 90 gr. Sierra HPBT using 35.5 grs. H4350. Rifle is Rem 700 with 1-7" ROT Hart barrel. AR400 plate is 28"x30" with no bull; I just hold center mass and with the white paint POI is readily visible! HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all and GOD BLESS AMERICA....and all our military men and women!! ;D

2shts600 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

Shooting is just like weight lifting in some ways! People get scared by the numbers. Just telling someone that it is 500lbs. on the bar is enough to pysch them out before they have even touched the bar. I tested this over and over again and when people did not know how much they where lifting they could magically lift more than they could if they knew how much weight was ont he bar or the machine! Likewise a lot of small plates was easier than just a few very large plates!

The mental game is very real. I started using visualization and mental rehearsal back in 1988. I learned about it from mentors that had close ties to Russian Sports Research. To this day it is a hard sell to most people. Just like people do not want to hear that your physical fitness or lack of it can also affect your shooting does not mean it will but it can. I do not want to hear a lot of things but I do not close off my options and possibilities with out careful consideration!

Beliefs can make or break us it does not matter if those beliefs are factual or not!

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

The problem with newer people shooting longer ranges is that they cant read wind or Ill say they read it incorrectly and then they always go back fighting the load/gun when the wheels fall off because at a 100y the gun shot bug holes when he did his part.

Biggest mistake I see in windy conditions is new shooters waiting for the wind to drop of before they shoot, nothing imo can kill a group like that lazy wind when you start popping them off when you believe the conditions are easy. One of our top national shooters told me many years ago that the wind is your friend, when it blows hard it usually blows consistent and that 10min chat with him about conditions changed my shooting abilities tremendously

You can spend all the money you want on the best gear and have the best load with the latest Kestrel if you can see the wind changing or coming/going you might as well go play tennis on Saturdays