Making a successful long range shot is an incredibly satisfying feat. This challenge has tested the finest in the sport as well as the amateur sports enthusiast. Here are tips for bettering your technique, no matter if you are beginner or a master at long range shooting.
Suggested long range shooting techniques:
- Have the gun already zeroed before getting to the shooting range or competition or it is waste of ammo—and the gun is on the power setting you want it to be.
- Lean into any barricade that you are shooting over to ensure it won’t wobble back as the gun fires.
- Kneel in a reverse kneeling position, in which you can rest your shooting hand’s elbow on the same knee. (Right handed shooter, resting the right elbow on the right knee for steady).
- Shoot targets right to left for a smoother shooting transition between targets as you lean your elbow naturally into your knee for support. (However it is recommended to practice both ways right to left and left to right.)
- After sighting through the scope, take off the safety and go through each of the holds for each target: dead on hold, six o’clock hold, and so forth.
- When standing up and moving or transitioning between barricades, be sure to keep the 180 degree hold on the gun for safety and to keep the gun’s muzzle always pointing downrange at the targets.
- To shoot over flat surfaces, kneel in a reverse kneeling position, rest the barrel of the gun on the flat surface until the hand guard comes up next to the barricade to steady the shot—this would be a more stable shot. Another way is to stand up and rest the gun on the magazine –if it has one—and shoot leaning over pro-style. This would be a faster transition between targets.
- In shooting long range courses, you must let the site or retical settle on the target.
- Typically in transitions that are far apart and you are looking through a scope with some magnifications, don’t hunt for targets in the scope. Shoot the first target, then a quick look up from the scope to find the next target, then “drive” or pull the gun scope up to your eye for the next target.
Recap
Zero your rifle before the match
Know your holds
Master your positions