Looks like you are well on your way! I am also just getting into long range shooting but for me it’s to compete in PRS matches. I was super lucky that there is a league local to me and I met a great guy who runs matches and have been able to pick his brain and go shooting with him which has helped a ton. If you can find someone who is local to you that knows what they are doing I would highly recommend talking to them, if no one local like you have said look for guys on here that seem to know what they are talking about and send them a PM and ask if you mind asking some questions, most people are more then willing to help out. Like you my pockets are not to deep so I started with a budget rifle and scope, learned to reload and made up a load that shoots ok out of my rifle and just started doing it. All the reading in the world will never replace real world trigger time. When I am shooting and miss my target or have a horrible group but then correct it and make the hit I always stop and figure out what changed, what did I do different that caused me to miss then hit. Don’t just call it a flyer and move on take the time to nail down exactly what you need to do to put lead on target and practice doing it. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast! Think every step out as you do it (say in your head “ok feet are flat and legs spread, I am comfortable and stable, yes I am set up properly on my rifle I have good eye relief, ok breathing is controlled” etc). When I am alone out shooting it may take me 10 minutes to shoot 5 rounds but it usually results in a good grouping and the more I practiced doing that the more second nature it is becoming and the faster I am getting. I still have a long way to go to keep up with guys at matches but I am making good hits when I do shoot. This works for me at least not trying to say I know anything lol I’ve only been at this this year and just competed in my first match yesterday. End of the day as long as you are having fun and slowly seeing the results you want that’s what counts!
