Long Range Shooting School
Some things just seem too complicated at first glance so we just put them on the back burner till a better time comes along. Long range shooting must be one of these because it is rare to get new people to show up at a match unless an “old shooter” has brought them for the first time. Maybe performance anxiety or fear of finding out how bad they really shoot but a lot of people never get to enjoy the fun of doing something they once thought impossible, hitting a target with a bullet fired from a rifle 1000 yards away. Maybe the interest in long range shooting stirred up by the American Sniper movie will encourage a few more people to give it a try.
The sport of long range shooting has a rich history that dates back to the 1800’s. America distinguished itself early as a rifleman’s country in international competition and is currently the home of more gun owners and competition shooters than anywhere on earth.
Long range shooting is a true lifetime sport that will have senior competitors competing with open and junior class shooters without handicap. Not unusual to have a 70 year old man win a match and a 19 year old woman take second or vice versa. That won’t happen in any of the “ball sports”.
Maybe you are asking “exactly what is long range”? Well for the majority of shooters it means 1000 yard shooting. There are 600 yard matches and matches where we shoot 800, 900 and 1000 but the heart of long range is the 1000 yard line. That is around 5/8 of a mile and your bullet will be dropping over 30 feet. That would be hard to figure but you already know it will be 1000 yards for every shot. You also know when you come back next time that it will be 1000 yards every shot so you don’t have to find a “zero” and adjust but one time! Sounds easy already doesn’t it!
But what style of shooting will it be? It’s a question that gets asked a lot. The answer is it’s your choice. You can shoot from a rest with a scope or try your hand at shooting prone while holding your rifle off the ground with the aid of a sling. Most long range matches are a combination of “F” class shooters and “sling” shooters. Since the time limits are the same this doesn’t pose any problems.
“F” class shooting is long range shooting using rest or sand bags on the ground. It might be called benchrest without a bench. The rifle can be supported front and rear on rest placed on the ground and any rifle any sight combination is allowed. F class shooters make up the bulk of the shooters attending our N.C. long range matches. A heavy barrel bolt action in a caliber like 6.5×284 or 6mm with a fast twist barrel and fitted with a 24 power scope would be right at home with this group. Since the rifle is rested and the distance doesn’t change the competition is centered around having the most accurate rifle, loading the most accurate ammunition and reading the wind changes that cause the bullet to deflect left and right.
“Sling” shooters are basically NRA highpower competitors. They shoot from the prone position and the rifle must be supported by the shooter. It take a little more practice to learn how to maintain a good position but the idea is the same. The scoring rings are larger since the rifles are held and not rested. Sling shooters are shooting rifles equipped with open sights most of the time. While this sounds impossible the open sights are very refined and used to center on a black circle in the middle of a white background. It also helps that our ranges face north so the targets are in the sun. Most long range matches will have events for open sights and scope sighted rifles. Usually the scores are almost identical or only separated by a few points. Sling shooters have more shooting opportunities. They shoot in regular highpower matches, Palma matches and Fullbore matches.
Palma is a special long range match fired between the English speaking countries of the world in a host country every 4 years. The format is 15 shots from the 800, 900, and 1000yard line. Rifles must be 308 Winchester caliber and bullets over 156 grains are prohibited. Open sights only
Fullbore is new to the U.S. It is fired from 300 to 1000 yards and with 308 rifles and open sights only. It has it’s roots in military competition and is the most popular long range match for most of the countries that allow rifle shooting. The targets are challenging and it is all fired prone position slow fire. Slow fire means the target is pulled down and scored each shot. All long range shooting of all types are slow fire events. You can use a semi auto but you will only load one at a time.
You will find a lot of different caliber rifles being fired at 1000 yards but the majority will be 308 Winchester and 6.5×284. Most will be bolt actions with long heavy barrels and stocks with features to make them easier to shoot from the prone position. Except for Palma and Fullbore you are not restricted by caliber. Since you cannot use a muzzle brake to vent your muzzle blast and recoil on your competitor lying next to you you might enjoy something less than the largest thing your action will handle. Remember you don’t have to kill the target, only hit it!
Bullet selection will depend on the caliber and barrel but usually it will be a boat tail match bullet chosen for it’s ability to be less deflected by side wind during flight to the target. I always like to save a lot of head scratching and just copy what the winners are using. Once you win you can start looking for something better. By then you should know enough about the sport to make better decisions.
The other equipment needed will consist of a ammo, spotting scope, a ground mat, sunblock, some snacks and drinks and any other comfort items. Position shooters or “sling shooters” will need shooting coats and gloves to help keep them steady and protect from recoil. That rifle didn’t seem to kick when you shot that deer last year but you will firing it close to 100 times at the match each day.
Since it is hard to describe every type of long range shooting I will just try to describe how to try shooting a 1000 yard match with a local club. The closest one for eastern North Carolina and me is the Coastal Carolina Rifle Club.
So what kind of rifle will you need? The rules allow several but if you have never been to a match or don’t have a friend to help you it is probably best to go and observe the first time. Shooters love to talk and they love new shooters that want to try so you will find lots of advice. You can shoot old military rifles like an M1 Garand or a tricked out match rifle. You can spend a lot or a little but a shooter that shoots anything learns more than one that stays home and talks about shooting.
Entry in the match is easy. First look at the club web site. coastalcarolinarifleclub.com. Check out the club information and pick an upcoming match. The range is on base at Stones Bay and it is an active USMC range where Marines shoot most week days. Access is restricted so you will need to email your intentions and vehicle information at least 10 days prior so a pass can be made available at the sentry gate. You simply stop at the gate, show your ID and pick up your pass. The Marines are great host and very accommodating.
Next you drive to the 1000 yard range and go to the range house to enter and get your target assignments. You will pay an entry fee and usually a target puller fee. Having a paid target puller allows the shooter more time to prepare and enjoy a leisurely day. It is without question money well spent.
Normally each target will have 4 shooters assigned. Relay 1 will shoot first. Relay 2 will assist the shooter during sighting and record the hits on a score sheet. Relay 3 and 4 will be waiting in the area behind the firing line or operating the target if no paid target pullers are available. Relay 2 shoots next while relay 1 scores and 3 and 4 are still idle. When relay 2 is finished 3 and 4 come to the firing line while 1 and 2 rest and prepare.
Most 1000 yard matches are fired with a 30 minute time limit. Shooters are allowed unlimited sighting shots to get on target and the score keeper can assist. The target is pulled down in a pit and a white disc is inserted in the shot hole. When the target is raised the shooter can see where the shot impacted and adjust as needed. When the next shot is fired the target is pulled and the spotting disc is moved to the new shot hole. The old impact is covered with a paster and the process is repeated. The shooter will tell the score keeper when he is ready to begin shooting the 20 rounds for score.
Once the shooter has started firing the shots for record the score keeper cannot assist or coach the shooter since this is an individual competition. Team matches are the only time a shooter can get advice on adjusting sights, wind changes or other help. Many shooters fire 5 or 6 rounds before “going for record” but if it takes as many as 10 it will be hard to complete the 20 record shots before the time expires. Extra time will be given if the target breaks or is slow but not for taking too long to shoot.
For F class shooters the ability to hold the rifle steady on target no problem since it is rested but firing from rest brings its own peculiar set of difficulties. Rifles powerful enough to be accurate at 1000 yards are going to recoil. This recoil must be handled the same each shot to get good accuracy. You can’t change any pressure on the rifle without affecting accuracy. It is like shooting a tuning fork.
Once shooters learn how to shoot regardless of sling or rested they must learn to compensate for wind deflection. A 10 MPH wind will move a 308 bullet 100 inches when it is blowing from the side (full value). Since the 10 ring on the target is 20 inches and you are aiming at the middle it is only 10 inches from the middle to the 9 ring. So if everything else is perfect and the wind changes over an average of 1 mph you will shoot a nine!
1000 yard wind reading is a subject that deserves it’s own article but here is the short version. The sights or scope will have adjustments that are made to move the strike of the bullet 1/4 minute of angle per click. That equals 2.5 inches at 1000 yards. You look at the angle the wind is blowing in relation to the bullet flight. Straight in the face at 12 o’clock or at behind at 6 o’clock has zero value, across the range from a 3 or 9 o’clock has full value.
Here is an example. 1000 yard with an eight mph average wind coming in around 2 o’clock. It is hitting the flight of the bullet around a 45 degree angle and will be a half value wind. It will move the bullet strike 40 inches to the left. You will adjust 16 clicks to the right ( 1/4 minute adjustments) for a center hit.
While it is impossible for most shooters to find a 1000 yard range to use for practice a lot of training can be done at short range. Reduced targets are available to simulate for 1000 yard shooting at 100, 200 or 300 yards. A good 22 target rifle fitted with scope or open sight will teach the basics of position shooting with a sling and help you build a good prone position. Even match air rifle at 10 meters prone will make you a better 1000 yard shooter.
One of the most important things to find for a shooter is a shooting buddy. This should be someone close to your ability so your natural competitive desire will encourage you to practice. Having someone to travel to matches, listen to your ideas and push you a little when you want to find an easier sport will have a wonderful effect on your shooting and add to your fun. Hopefully you will do the same for your buddy!
Timothy P. Whealton