There is a sticky in this sub forum for a series of videos from the National Shooting Sports Federation made by a stand up guy named Ryan Cleckner.
Cleckner was a Ranger sniper team leader in Afghanistan and has been involved in shooting his whole life. He was a guest on Top Shot, a firearms lawyer, instructor, and there is a video of him making a one round, thousand yard shot standing unsupported with a Barrett M82. He knows his stuff.
Anyways Ryan published a book a while ago, the Long Range Shooting Handbook.
This book is an outstanding resource. Don't let the beginner notion put you off. If you aren't a lifelong competition shooter or qualified sniper (and even if you are) you will probably get something out of it.
What really sets it apart from other books to me is the practicality of it. While he stresses that good equipment is important he puts far more emphasis on good fundamentals and being able to hit what you're shooting at. For example he explains the coriolis effect and how ammunition is assembled but mentions it is infinitely more important to focus on your reticle and apply steady pressure on the trigger. Or how wind formulas are no replacement for actually practicing in the wind.
Lots of other topics include how to set up your rifle, positional shooting, how mils and MOA work, shooting at angles, calling your shots, and spotting. I especially liked his cross ankle sitting position and found it much easier than cross legged.
The information is presented in a very neutral manner. As in this works for me but you should try it for yourself.
There are so many other articles, books, and DVD's out there that say things like if you're not shooting this caliber you're wasting your time or this new reticle/bullet/bag/wind meter is going to change everything. This book is very refreshing in that it puts a lot of the emphasis on the shooter and his or her skills and not fluff.
It kind of stings when he says if you need a ballistic calculator or a kestral to hit a target you aren't as effective as someone who doesn't but he is 100% right.
The book is available on Amazon in printed or Kindle format and he has another one on the way. I have asked several Canadian firearms retailers if they would carry it. It's basically an instruction manual for precision rifles and would really let a new shooter get more out of their rifle and equipment. 25% of the proceeds go to charities to support veterans.
In addition to the NSSF videos and the book Ryan also has a podcast series called Going Ballistic. They are free and very helpful. Some have stories and ATF information but there is a lot of good stuff and he even took the time to answer some of my questions in one!
https://www.goingballisticpodcast.com
He also did a two part interview with another podcast group called Hunt Backcountry that was really, really good. They are episodes 072 and 073.
https://m.soundcloud.com/huntbackcountry/072-building-a-backcountry-rifle-shoot-like-a-sniper-part-1
I didn't even know what a podcast was until recently but you can listen to them right on the website like an MP3. I listen to them while I am driving.
So many people, myself included, worry endlessly about their gear but I think they would gain a lot more if they focused on the fundamentals of shooting.
Cleckner was a Ranger sniper team leader in Afghanistan and has been involved in shooting his whole life. He was a guest on Top Shot, a firearms lawyer, instructor, and there is a video of him making a one round, thousand yard shot standing unsupported with a Barrett M82. He knows his stuff.
Anyways Ryan published a book a while ago, the Long Range Shooting Handbook.
This book is an outstanding resource. Don't let the beginner notion put you off. If you aren't a lifelong competition shooter or qualified sniper (and even if you are) you will probably get something out of it.
What really sets it apart from other books to me is the practicality of it. While he stresses that good equipment is important he puts far more emphasis on good fundamentals and being able to hit what you're shooting at. For example he explains the coriolis effect and how ammunition is assembled but mentions it is infinitely more important to focus on your reticle and apply steady pressure on the trigger. Or how wind formulas are no replacement for actually practicing in the wind.
Lots of other topics include how to set up your rifle, positional shooting, how mils and MOA work, shooting at angles, calling your shots, and spotting. I especially liked his cross ankle sitting position and found it much easier than cross legged.
The information is presented in a very neutral manner. As in this works for me but you should try it for yourself.
There are so many other articles, books, and DVD's out there that say things like if you're not shooting this caliber you're wasting your time or this new reticle/bullet/bag/wind meter is going to change everything. This book is very refreshing in that it puts a lot of the emphasis on the shooter and his or her skills and not fluff.
It kind of stings when he says if you need a ballistic calculator or a kestral to hit a target you aren't as effective as someone who doesn't but he is 100% right.
The book is available on Amazon in printed or Kindle format and he has another one on the way. I have asked several Canadian firearms retailers if they would carry it. It's basically an instruction manual for precision rifles and would really let a new shooter get more out of their rifle and equipment. 25% of the proceeds go to charities to support veterans.
In addition to the NSSF videos and the book Ryan also has a podcast series called Going Ballistic. They are free and very helpful. Some have stories and ATF information but there is a lot of good stuff and he even took the time to answer some of my questions in one!
https://www.goingballisticpodcast.com
He also did a two part interview with another podcast group called Hunt Backcountry that was really, really good. They are episodes 072 and 073.
https://m.soundcloud.com/huntbackcountry/072-building-a-backcountry-rifle-shoot-like-a-sniper-part-1
I didn't even know what a podcast was until recently but you can listen to them right on the website like an MP3. I listen to them while I am driving.
So many people, myself included, worry endlessly about their gear but I think they would gain a lot more if they focused on the fundamentals of shooting.
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