As a huntsman, you must have stability to adopt skills in order to bring in a well-placed shot on your target. Long range shooting means paying attention to detail, and overlooking details may result in a miss. Most shooters use the same approaches to assure accuracy. Below are some feasible long range shooting tips to help you make the best shot.
1. Buy a Fine Scope
The most important of all long range shooting tips is the importance of purchasing great optics. A good quality scope aids you in low-light shooting scenes and has a precise windage as well as elevation adjustments. Here are a few considerations when buying a rifle scope:
- Zoom power. Optical magnification is a subjective matter but keep in mind that you’ll generally need a magnification of at least 18x to shoot long range.
- Glass quality. You need clear, sharp glass. The best way to ensure you’re buying quality glass is to look through the scopes you’re planning to purchase and pick the one offering the closest viewing quality as what you see with your own eyes. Some of the most renowned manufacturers known to use great glass include Swarovski, Premier Reticles, U.S. Optics, and Schmidt & Bender.
- Elevation adjustment range. When shooting long range, the more elevation adjustment the better. Look for a scope with at least 100 MOA.
- Objective size. The larger the objective lens, the more capable it is to gather light. Some of the most popular sizes for long range shooters include 50mm and 56mm.
Our suggestion: Vortex Viper PST 1 4×24
2. Buy Quality Rings as well as Mounts
Take into consideration that the distant your scope gets adjusted off from its optical center, the larger its latent for a distorted and even darker picture. This scenario most likely to appear if the scope is adjusted beyond its maximum range. You can purchase a lapping kit at any supply houses for gunsmithing, reloading or target shooting.
3. Snug the Rifle Screws
Check your rifle screws as often as possible. Bedding screws must be tightened accordingly as referred to manufacturer’s specifications. You may read your manual or talk with the manufacturers in order to make sure the accurate amount of torque to be applied in each bedding screw.
4. Clean Your Rifle Barrel
After verifying the rifle is not loaded by simply removing its bolt, check out the muzzle of your rifle under the sunlight. If you see a shining copper back at you, good cleansing is in order. When a barrel accumulates any powder residue as well as copper fouling, its accuracy lessens.
There are a lot of hunters that purchase cheap gun cleaning kits thinking they’re enough for the job. However, purchasing a quality cleaning kits can also improve your accuracy. You should also buy a rifle cleaning cradle to hold your rifle securely when cleaning process occurs as well as cleaning rod guide.
5. Break in Your Rifle Barrel
Properly breaking in a rifle barrel is significant for target and hunting rifles. It is a very essential step in order to optimize the accuracy capability of your hunting rifle.
Break-in process takes time when it comes to the range. Take into consideration using a cheap ammo that you can find. Using your clean barrel, try to fire one shot and clean the barrel afterwards. All copper must be taken out. Remember that cleaning the barrel is much more easier and copper fouling must be minimal.
6. Check the Trigger Pull as well as the Action Fit
Trigger pull is very essential in making an accurate shot. There are a lot of hunting rifles with trigger pulls that ranges from excellent to awful. Proceed to your gunsmith if your hunting trigger has a excessive creep, and a trigger job will cost you for about 100.
7. Find the Right Bullet Suited for Your Rifle
Each rifle found in a gun store varies differently, and the rifle of your choice will tell you which bullets it does not fit in. Your job therefore is to find the one that suits. Equally important is to use the right ammo depending on the game you’re planning to shoot.
8. Prone Like a Pro
Shooters prone at a notable angle to the rifle. If you draw up your knee this will lift the abdomen off the ground, minimizing the heartbeat’s effect on your stability. To minimize crosshair throb you can also place a folded jacket under your chest.
If you’re shooting with a bipod, the best way would be to lay straight behind the rifle. Use your toes to move forward and load the bipod. This position will minimize muzzle jump during recoil.
9. You Must Learn Wind
Professional shooters say that “Rifle shooting is a science, but shooting in wind is an art.” When you are in the range, you must learn to read the wind in order to make a shot quickly. You might wonder how to to this? There is only one technique, shoot often while wind is blowing. Take into account that you must don’t get hung up on one location but consider the terrain as well as the distance and weather conditions present.
10. Use a Level Bubble
Moving on to the last of our long range shooting tips, we’re discussing the important of keeping everything level. Your eyes can’t level the scope in the field even though it may be level to the axis of the rifle. You need a level bubble to mount to the body of the scope; level it up to the crosshairs.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these long range shooting tips will help you master this skill. In order to learn new techniques, you might consider taking a gun class from experts. But if ever you do not have enough time nor money, you may attend local matches within your area and learn from professionals.
Therefore, if something is not working well according to your plan, don’t get stuck; instead keep going and repeat the process. If you miss a shot, then continue trying until you hit your target. Try shooting to the left, right, high or low until you master it.
Nice tips. Good thing I bumped into this blog. What cleaning kit could be best suited for a rifle?