Mastering Long Range Shooting
As quickly as he uttered the command “Send it”, my breathing settled in a natural pause, and the pad of my finger began its slow, steady squeeze. At my preferred weight, just 2 ¼ lb, the trigger broke like ice, and the round headed down range. I watched the splash 825 m away, and knew I was on steel. My spotter and world-class shooter Chris Reed, Precision Rifle Series competitor and winner of History Channel’s Top Shot television show Season 2, guided me in with “Three-tenths down.” I made the adjustments and settled in again.
“Send it.” My breathing paused, I squeezed the trigger and sent another round down range. “Perfect elevation … go two-tenths left … waiting on you.” I fired again. “Fire a couple more. You’re in there.” Two more shots left me with a three-shot group of just under 7.5 cm at 825 m! While Reed has been a great coach of over the years, another world-renowned shooter,
Scott McRee also has had the dubious honor of putting up with my trigger-time antics for scores of hours. Not only did he build my first two precision rifle kits, both with standard yet battle-proven Remington 700 short-actions from Brownells, he machined the chassis himself, as he continues to do often for many of his customers. He’s the perfect combination of knowhow and precision artisanship.
Yes, I’m a lucky guy to get the face and range time I do with a couple of marksmen like Scott and Chris. That said, while my rifles are world-class, match-grade, yet affordable, works of art, I must still do the hard work on the trigger to consistently bang steel at extended ranges. And like building a home, marksmanship begins with the right foundation.
Starting there, check out these 10 tips to get your steel ringing
