in the fact as to WHY many people who wish to shoot farther than 100 yards wish to make it difficult as if by magic they don't know the voodoo words to make it happen! The real challenge as a matter of fact is that of finding a place to shoot for the wannabe long shooters! The guys that live west of the Big River usually don't have this problem but east of the Big Muddy...another story! Marksmanship comes down basically to just a few things:
1. Position
2. Sight Alignment
3. Trigger Control
4. Follow through
5. Mental attitude
For the previous 60 years I've taught marksmanship to many people...a few have gone on to be able to bring home a little junk from shooting matches. Most all of these guys were either competing in Service Rifle events and a few eventually changed over to the NRA Match Rifle category. Teaching iron sights and scopes are basically two different ballgames but the same rules apply to both.
An accurate rifle with proven ammo is a must and generally the term 'proven ammo' means a handload that has been tested to give the best accuracy possible. Factory ammo can be accurate but as a general rule each rifle will perform best with a specific load. Whether or not someone wishes to spend $4000.00 for an accurate rifle is up to the individual but the fact remains that $$$$$ won't automatically make a consistently accurate shooter at any distance! It takes a lot of shooting and paying attention to detail.
Today is my 77th birthday and starting as a young man of 18 I was most fortunate to have had the best marksmanship instructors in the world; the Service Rifle coaches at the USAAMU at Ft. Benning, Georgia! I'm typing this little piece because if possible it's my desire to give something back to any younger folks that might find it useful. I don't need any atta boys or thank yous from anyone. I've won lots of junk over the years I competed; beat some of the best and got beaten myself quite regular as well! No matter how good you may think you are....there's always somebody that will beat you! You'll have good days and days...not so good! It's how you handle those 'not so good' days that's important! If you're serious about shooting...it becomes work. But like sweat....it can be very rewarding!
Being very fortunate I don't have to worry about a place to shoot. My 1000 yard firing line is right out the back door. Old habits are hard to break and by that I mean that I was taught to keep and accurate DATA BOOK! I record everything as per whatever day I'm shooting on. Zeros, wind, time of day, sun position, Barometric Pressure, temperature, starting zeros, finishing zero if different, and then I critique my shooting session...and I have been known to talk pretty badly about myself! Nothing gets my dander up more than to make a bad wind call on my first shot! No matter how much you shoot or how many years on the line....the wind is gonna beat you from time to time! Accept it...or take up bowling! Here's something to think about:
"WINNERS EXPECT IT.....LOSERS HOPE FOR IT!"
Equip yourself with the best rifle/scope or iron sights that you can afford! After I accomplished what my goals were shooting the Service Rifle I switched over to the NRA Match Rifle category and I did well shooting a left hand Remington M700 action in .308 Winchester. I used the same action shooting long range aka 800/900/1000 yards in Palma competition! I have no gripes with Remington as they made the only LH action available at the time!
If you wish to gain the most from your rifle in my opinion if you don't know how to handload....you need to learn! After you've got yourself along the way keep accurate data! Pay attention to conditions and if you visit a lot of shooting forums you may possibly need to install a BS filter on your computer! A lot of what you read ain't necessarily so! There are several books on the market that give good and solid data, written by guys that have seen the elephant more than once! READ READ READ!
There is NO MAGIC to becoming a good or great shooter; no voodoo words make it happen! Marksmanship consist of an iron-clad set of rules that are non-yielding in their nature and unless these rules are adhered to, the results will not be rewarding! Shooting requires work...lots of practice! I have guys come to my range every year to check their rifles before deer season and I'm often amazed that many cannot keep their shots on a 32" x 35" target backboard from 200 yards distance! These guys won't shoot 20 rounds a year in their deer rifles but.....they kill deer every year! Most are within 100 yards distance I might add. These guys are hunters....NOT shooters! There is a big difference between those who shoot 20 rounds a year and those that will maybe shoot 6000 rounds on a yearly basis! Lots of difference betwixt hitting a deer-sized target from 100 yards and on the other hand....a 5" X ring from 1000 yards! And the latter doesn't happen over night!
I leave you with these thoughts...the ruminations of an old man that is most thankful for the many blessings that the Good Lord has granted onto me and tomorrow I think I'll have three of my grandsons here and if the weather fitting we'll shoot some long range!
Adios my friends!
1. Position
2. Sight Alignment
3. Trigger Control
4. Follow through
5. Mental attitude
For the previous 60 years I've taught marksmanship to many people...a few have gone on to be able to bring home a little junk from shooting matches. Most all of these guys were either competing in Service Rifle events and a few eventually changed over to the NRA Match Rifle category. Teaching iron sights and scopes are basically two different ballgames but the same rules apply to both.
An accurate rifle with proven ammo is a must and generally the term 'proven ammo' means a handload that has been tested to give the best accuracy possible. Factory ammo can be accurate but as a general rule each rifle will perform best with a specific load. Whether or not someone wishes to spend $4000.00 for an accurate rifle is up to the individual but the fact remains that $$$$$ won't automatically make a consistently accurate shooter at any distance! It takes a lot of shooting and paying attention to detail.
Today is my 77th birthday and starting as a young man of 18 I was most fortunate to have had the best marksmanship instructors in the world; the Service Rifle coaches at the USAAMU at Ft. Benning, Georgia! I'm typing this little piece because if possible it's my desire to give something back to any younger folks that might find it useful. I don't need any atta boys or thank yous from anyone. I've won lots of junk over the years I competed; beat some of the best and got beaten myself quite regular as well! No matter how good you may think you are....there's always somebody that will beat you! You'll have good days and days...not so good! It's how you handle those 'not so good' days that's important! If you're serious about shooting...it becomes work. But like sweat....it can be very rewarding!
Being very fortunate I don't have to worry about a place to shoot. My 1000 yard firing line is right out the back door. Old habits are hard to break and by that I mean that I was taught to keep and accurate DATA BOOK! I record everything as per whatever day I'm shooting on. Zeros, wind, time of day, sun position, Barometric Pressure, temperature, starting zeros, finishing zero if different, and then I critique my shooting session...and I have been known to talk pretty badly about myself! Nothing gets my dander up more than to make a bad wind call on my first shot! No matter how much you shoot or how many years on the line....the wind is gonna beat you from time to time! Accept it...or take up bowling! Here's something to think about:
"WINNERS EXPECT IT.....LOSERS HOPE FOR IT!"
Equip yourself with the best rifle/scope or iron sights that you can afford! After I accomplished what my goals were shooting the Service Rifle I switched over to the NRA Match Rifle category and I did well shooting a left hand Remington M700 action in .308 Winchester. I used the same action shooting long range aka 800/900/1000 yards in Palma competition! I have no gripes with Remington as they made the only LH action available at the time!
If you wish to gain the most from your rifle in my opinion if you don't know how to handload....you need to learn! After you've got yourself along the way keep accurate data! Pay attention to conditions and if you visit a lot of shooting forums you may possibly need to install a BS filter on your computer! A lot of what you read ain't necessarily so! There are several books on the market that give good and solid data, written by guys that have seen the elephant more than once! READ READ READ!
There is NO MAGIC to becoming a good or great shooter; no voodoo words make it happen! Marksmanship consist of an iron-clad set of rules that are non-yielding in their nature and unless these rules are adhered to, the results will not be rewarding! Shooting requires work...lots of practice! I have guys come to my range every year to check their rifles before deer season and I'm often amazed that many cannot keep their shots on a 32" x 35" target backboard from 200 yards distance! These guys won't shoot 20 rounds a year in their deer rifles but.....they kill deer every year! Most are within 100 yards distance I might add. These guys are hunters....NOT shooters! There is a big difference between those who shoot 20 rounds a year and those that will maybe shoot 6000 rounds on a yearly basis! Lots of difference betwixt hitting a deer-sized target from 100 yards and on the other hand....a 5" X ring from 1000 yards! And the latter doesn't happen over night!
I leave you with these thoughts...the ruminations of an old man that is most thankful for the many blessings that the Good Lord has granted onto me and tomorrow I think I'll have three of my grandsons here and if the weather fitting we'll shoot some long range!
Adios my friends!
CL
