Long range training advice

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Ardathian

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I just recently finished a PRS style rifle build with a Remington 700 chambered in 260 Remington. I'm curious to hear from the CGN community what is a good plan of attack when it comes to training.

What has worked for you in the past? What would you do different if you knew better? Should I start at 100yds and just keep marching the target out a 100 yds at a time? Should I stick with paper targets or is steel enough? How much time should I spend trying to make tiny little groups (which is really fun too) at a specific distance?

Luckily I have the possibility to shoot in my own backyard out 1500 yds or so. I would like to know how to make the most of every round sent down range so I am consistently learning and challenging myself.

I've put about 25 rounds through my rifle so far and just printed my first (barely) sub moa group at 100 yards. Can't wait to do more.
 
Develop a good load. Don't get hung up on group size, if you are around .5moa and have consistent muzzle velocity you are good to go.

Get a .223 trainer and some small (1.5-3moa) gongs for 100m. Build some props/barricades and learn what the typical stage course of fire looks like. Develop a training plan. Dry fire. Check out 65guys.com for those.

I shoot super cheap reloads for my .223 But since the ratio between my 223 group size and practice gongs is the same as my competition gun and match steel, they are effectively equal.

Start slow, just worry about building a stable shooting position and learning how to move from position to position. Once you are getting better, go faster and/or use smaller gongs.

I also have a .22lr trainer, very similar to my 223 and comp gun. When doing training, I run each practice stage three times. .22lr, dry fire .223 and then live .223

Only shoot your competition gun to verify your drops and practice wind calls, occasional stage simulation.

Check out this thread: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/781488-Great-instructional-videos-for-the-long-range-shooter!
 
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Shoot, shoot, shoot.
Shoot at 100 shoot at 101 and shoot at 1500. Keep shooting at different distances, don't limit yourself to round numbers.
Shoot in the wind, shoot when it's hot shoot when it's cold. Shoot uphill and down and shoot offhand.

I sound like DR. Seuss.

Then point is to shoot as much as you can afford, wear out the barrel and screw on a new one to do it again.shoot with a friend and make a competition out of it.
I have a 223 that I put thousands of rounds a year through and I found that shooting dirt rats before friend does helped me immensely.
I like reactive targets, not explosives, but things that react. Dirt rats are impressive and steel is great. Paper is good if you are grouping and solving.
 
It would behoove you to take a course from a training company such as Rifles Only, K&M precision, etc. Their flagship classes are 4-5 days long and are very comprehensive in the material they cover, and the facilities are miles ahead of anything north of the 49. Honestly, there isn't anything in Canada that even compares, so it's a good excuse to make a trip.

Also - shoot matches. You learn a lot by just putting yourself out there and shooting courses of fire under pressure. This is where you really start to see your weaknesses. Don't wait "until you are ready" - people who say that never end up shooting a match. You will never feel ready. Last place at a match still beats a forum poster with 13,000+ posts.

A lot of people love to spend $$$ on guns, but are afraid of taking professional training for some reason. My learning accelerated exponentially once I started taking professional training and shooting comps.
 
Interesting thread.

I started shooting last year and attended my first PRS match in July. We mostly shoot prone but we practiced a little on a wobbly barricade and ATV seat, on different target size and different range, always under 500y.

I mostly shoot my ''good gun'', no 22lr trainer, no 223. I shot the match gun (308) so I can get used to riding the bolt, handling the gun and knowing my scope. I placed 2nd at that match without much equipment other then a rear bag. What I mostly focussed on during that match was ''slow is fast''. I ran short on time for all stages except maybe 1 or 2 but I was building a good position and taking good shots.

If I had access to a range like yours I would definitly shoot at 3-4 different ranges at a time and pratice barricade type positions or any position where you are not supported at the back of the rifle. A DIY barricade, a big log on the ground, a log positionned at 45 degre so you can shoot at mutiple heights.
 
Get a load that your happy with and start practicing with a balance between shooting prone and off of barricades or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Dry firing is important too and helps develop trigger control. The are some great matches being put on by WRAS and SAPRL in Alberta.
 
As much as I would love a .223 setup, it isn't exactly in the budget. Baricades and logs are though.
I have been making a habit so far to dry fire first at the target half a dozen times. I find that helps to centre myself and focus on the task at hand. Lots of things to try before a match next season. Thanks for the advice!
 
Ardathian said:
I've got everything in a Cadex chassis which would be easy to swap out. I thought it had to be a whole separate setup.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I do, but that's just convenience. Quite a few .223 700s on the EE, could pick one up easy and flog the stock. Just zero your scope on your competition rifle and record the adjusts when you switch to 223.
Cheap reloads are easy, I use campro 55gr and range pickup brass. I'd rather shoot lots of good enough then a handful of very good.
 
If you can't afford a school down south. A reasonable substitute exists in Canada. Over a few years probably would pay for itself in equipment purchases that dont work.
 
Which substitute would that be? I would welcome the opportunity to be taught by experienced individuals and have no problem paying for their time however dissapearing for a week from work and personal commitments isn't on my agenda for the near future. I can easily dedicate an hour a day a few days a week outside so I am looking more at the DIY grind even if it takes longer. I enjoy the journey of learning new skills inspite of the sometimes frustrating days.
 
Keep a training log.
Lots of on-line resources for creating your own, it will help you build an understanding of how different factors will impact your shot.

Learn as much as you can about reading the wind.
Ballistic computers and weather/wind meters are very prevalent, but they can't tell you what the wind is doing down range.
 
Ardathian said:
Which substitute would that be? I would welcome the opportunity to be taught by experienced individuals and have no problem paying for their time however dissapearing for a week from work and personal commitments isn't on my agenda for the near future. I can easily dedicate an hour a day a few days a week outside so I am looking more at the DIY grind even if it takes longer. I enjoy the journey of learning new skills inspite of the sometimes frustrating days.
Click to expand...

Sierra 64 Riflecraft offers outstanding training. He is based out of central Alberta.
 
As with anything in life,

#1: Establish a Goal

Do you wish to be proficient at 500 yards, 1000 yards, or a clean game kill at 200 yards?
How much study of your caliber/rifles abilities are you willing to commit?

Establish your goal. Then focus.

Ardathian said:
I just recently finished a PRS style rifle build with a Remington 700 chambered in 260 Remington. I'm curious to hear from the CGN community what is a good plan of attack when it comes to training.

What has worked for you in the past? What would you do different if you knew better? Should I start at 100yds and just keep marching the target out a 100 yds at a time? Should I stick with paper targets or is steel enough? How much time should I spend trying to make tiny little groups (which is really fun too) at a specific distance?

Luckily I have the possibility to shoot in my own backyard out 1500 yds or so. I would like to know how to make the most of every round sent down range so I am consistently learning and challenging myself.

I've put about 25 rounds through my rifle so far and just printed my first (barely) sub moa group at 100 yards. Can't wait to do more.
Click to expand...
 
The end goal is to be able to pick up the rifle and put first round hits on random distance targets out to 1000yds. I realize this is a rather lofty goal so I am searching for the bite size goals to make and reach on the way.

Does it mean shooting exclusively prone at the beginning, working in 100 or 200 yard increments until 1000yds? Or start shooting some positional from the beginning? Maybe it is better to focus on mid range first with steel at 4,5, and 600 yards?
 
You could try out Prairie Long Range Academy in Dundurn. Couldnt see that being a negative.

And it sounds like it aint that far from you.
 
Ardathian said:
The end goal is to be able to pick up the rifle and put first round hits on random distance targets out to 1000yds. I realize this is a rather lofty goal so I am searching for the bite size goals to make and reach on the way.

Does it mean shooting exclusively prone at the beginning, working in 100 or 200 yard increments until 1000yds? Or start shooting some positional from the beginning? Maybe it is better to focus on mid range first with steel at 4,5, and 600 yards?
Click to expand...

Not sure what your experience with shooting a rifle is but that is where I would start... learn the fundamentals of "shooting". How to get behind the rifle? How to breathe and trigger control? Learn the ACT of shooting and develop the coordination that leads to consistency. Use all positions you may encounter in the field or sport. Learn one thing at a time.

This is the largest hurdle as with any physical skill, it takes time and practise. I would lean on a rimfire as you can get alot of rds downrange for little money and wear. In the past, I set up a rimfire to mimic my centerfire so the ergonomics were similar. If you are going to learn positional shooting, dry firing can help alot but I enjoy to see an impact as it will let me know if I am developing any bad habits.

At the same time, learn about the wind and external ballistics... understand what happens to the bullet as it flies through the air. Wind reading book by Miller and Cunningham is my fave for understanding the basics and having simple methods to understand what is going on.

For external ballistics, the FIRST Applied Ballistics book is a great resource. You dont need to get as complicated as some but understand drag, drift, spin drift and BC.

As you learn HOW to shoot, you will improve your reloading skills so you can make your rifle more consistent. Load tune for the lowest possible vertical and most consistent accuracy. It may require better scales, dies and prep but if you don't make the ammo as consistent as possible at SR, it will only get worst at LR.

With the fundamentals solid, just go shoot at longer distances. Learn about ballistic tables and weather and how that can affect your flight... but most importantly, prove the data through real world shooting. When training for F class, I focus on conditions alot and shoot very little. Make a wind call, then shoot to see if you are right. Wait a second, repeat the process. I find that "chasing the spotter" can lead to more hits BUT you aren't learning as much about why you missed in the first place.

If you are consistently shooting sub MOA at 200 and 300yds, distance is merely more UP and more DRIFT. Figure out the fundamentals at short range and the long range stuff will be far easier then you think.

Good luck with your journey.

Jerry
 
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