How to Shoot at Long Range: Best Tips, Rifles, Night Vision Rifle Scope and Mistakes to Avoid

There are a lot of seasoned hunters right now who feel that they do not need hunting tips. They would assume that they already know everything that there is to know. More items, accessories, and mechanisms are being offered to the public now. And the variety of night vision rifle scope and thermal rifle scope and reticles for them can make your head spin. These are meant to make long-range shooting easier and more accurate.

Shooting at long range can be a bit complicated. Some people have tried it and are unable to do it unless they have a lot of practice. As much as possible, people would only want to shoot within short distances. Especially with today’s development of weapon equipment – you can even find the night vision device for a shotgun. If you would be required to shoot at long range, you should know some tips to get the best outcome possible.

How Do You Define Long-Range Shooting in Terms of Distance?

The definition of long-range shooting can vary depending on what people need. Some factors need to be considered, such as the wind and even the gravity drop. The stronger the wind, the harder it will be to shoot on the long-range.

When it comes to distance, this is how you would define long-range shooting. This will be a distance of more than 300 to 1200 yards. Other details that you should know are the following:

  •  Short-range shooting is a distance lesser than 300 yards.
  •  Extra long-range shooting is a distance that is more than one mile.

Most people find it hard to shoot longer than 300 yards. They would need to practice and have the right tools to ensure that they will have better chances of hitting their target when needed.

What Rifle Should You Use for Long-Range Shooting?

If you dream of long-distance shooting using your lovely Mossberg Maverick or Benelli shotgun – forget it. Do you think that the right rifle will make a difference with how effective long-range shooting will be? Yes, it definitely will. When you check out the market, you will be pleasantly surprised. There are so many rifles to choose from. It can be a bit overwhelming too.

One thing that you should know is to always look for precision weapons. These are weapons that are meant for precision shooting. The chances that you are going to hit your target at long range will be higher.

There is no clear rifle that will be considered to be the best for shooting long-range. There are a few things that you should look for so that you can make the best choice. Some of the features that you have to look for are the following:

  •  Choose a caliber that comes with a high BC.
  •  Cost – This will always be important. Can you imagine if you would purchase a rifle that is too expensive? This might be great, but there are other rifles within your budget that can offer almost the same specs.
  •  Availability – There are some types of rifles that are more readily available than the others—research about the type of rifles that are available in your area to be sure.
  •  Recoil – Some rifles will come with higher recoil. If you are not ready, this may catch you by surprise.
  •  Length of Time Needed to Make A Round – What if you need to take more than one shot? The length of time may allow the prey to move. You will make your prey suffer instead of making the kill quick and painless.

These are things that may seem simple. Yet, you will be surprised by the number of people who forget about these things.

How to Shoot Long Range: Tips for Long Range Hynting

How are you going to do that? You will never know when you are going to take the longest shot of your life. It will help if you will always be prepared. These are some of the tips available so that you can make the best hit. And we’ll start with simple first advice: hit easy firing range targets; this will help you feel the rifle. And then, follow the next steps.

Know Your Rifle

People think that the most important thing to do is to shoot. The most important thing is to know your rifle. For every shot that you do, the rifle will take note. It will be smart enough to know what it should do depending on the conditions.

Shoot Using Dirty Guns

This might come as a surprise to new shooters. Most people who have been shooting for a long time use dirty guns. This means that they would not bother cleaning their guns up until they reach 300 rounds. Some would not clean the gun for a whole season.

Squeeze When You Take A Pause

When exactly do you need to take a shot? This is often the dilemma of people who are going to do a long shot. This is especially true for those who would like to do it for the first time. You should take some deep breaths and allow the shot to take place on the last breath. And choose the right timing – right between the heartbeats. There is no guarantee that you will hit your target. This will give you time to get rid of some jitters that you may feel.

Know the Right Position to Take A Shot

When you watch people who are doing long shots in the movies, what is theirs usually in? They are usually in the prone position. This means that you need to lay down on the ground. Make sure that your body is flat and aligned with your rifle. Your shoulders should have the ability to support the gun. Whenever you need to make some changes with the rifle, you need to make some changes with your body and vice versa. Believe following this algorithm will make your long range shooting much easier and productive. Also, this method works both for a long shot pistol and rifle.

Check for Tunnel Effect or Shadow on Your Scope

Parallax error is one of the mistakes that you can make while taking a long shot. To avoid this, make sure that there is no shadow on your scope. Make sure that your objective lens and ocular lens are aligned. This way, your aim will be better. As much as possible, you do not want your view and your aim to be distorted.

Always Check the Wind

One thing that you should know: the wind is not constant. It will always change. If you are going to do a long shot, make sure that you know the direction where the wind is blowing. You also have to know how strong is the wind. Recognize all of these things and make sure that you will make all the right adjustments. There are going to be a lot of differences, for sure.

Get Used to the Recoil of the Rifle

There are times when you will understand what you are doing wrong based on the recoil. Make sure that every time that you shoot, the gun will come back straight at you. If the scope falls back right at the position you have used, you are doing well. If not, then there must be something that you are doing wrong.

Know the Two Measurement Systems for Setting Elevation

There are two measurement systems to set up elevation, namely:

  •  MOA (Minutes of Angles)
  •  MILS (Milliradians)

One thing that you should know is they both work well. You need to choose which one you prefer. Most Americans would prefer the MOA system. If this is something that you are used to, then choose this.

What exactly is the difference in measurement?

  •  For MOA, it will be 1.047 inches for every one hundred yards.
  •  For MILS, it will be 10 centimeters for every one hundred yards.

Some people would use 1 inch for every one hundred yards. It will depend on which one you think will work best.

Possible Mistakes You Can Make When Shooting Long Range

Long-range shooting has become more popular in recent years. Some become too excited to try it out that they make mistakes. What do you think are the common mistakes that you can avoid?

  •  Not holding your breath correctly. As we mentioned earlier that you need to know how to hold your breath to shoot properly. If you hold your breath too long, you may blur your vision because of hypoxia. You may suddenly shoot your shot abruptly. It can ruin the concentration and the stability that you have built.
  •  Not leveling the scope with the rifle. This is not going to matter when you are doing some short-distance shots. For long-distance shots, it will make a huge difference. Give some time and attention in aligning your scope.
  •  Not focusing on the crosshairs. Most people would focus on their target instead of the crosshairs. They may miss their shot because they are too intent on hitting their target. You may want to practice this. The more you allow yourself to look at the crosshairs, the more accurate your long shot will be.

When you become surprised when the bullet leaves the gun, you aren’t expecting it. The shot that you just took may not be too great or accurate. Remember that you need to deliver the bullet to its target. If you do it by surprise, the chances that you will do it will become smaller.