If you want to become an expert in long-range shooting this guide isn’t going to get you there. Lots of time on the range and shooting at long distances is going to get you there. However, if you don’t have the right equipment, practice isn’t going to get you very far either, but what the experts recommend for long-range shooting is far out of most people’s price range. However, you can get the equipment that you need for some decent long-range shooting for just a couple grand if you know what to get and more importantly – what you don’t need.
The Gear Needed for Long-Range Shooting
The tools available for long-range shooting are incredibly varied and most of them are incredibly expensive as well. There is no question that they will help you shoot better, but you don’t need everything but the kitchen sink to shoot long distances. Also, they can be complicated to figure out and that’s just an unnecessary headache.
For someone who just wants to shoot long range and impress his friends, there is some affordable tools that you can get. If you want to get into competition shooting or have some other reason for needing the best, then you may want to consider spending money on professional gear, otherwise here’s what you need:
The Gear List
Your Rifle: The first thing that you’ll hear all the experts tell you is that you need a $3000 or $4000 rifle. You don’t. You can get a rifle that will hit your target at five hundred yards with good-quality ammunition with a rifle that costs much less. An example here is the Remington 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD, which goes for about $800. This isn’t the only rifle you can get but it is a good one. Here is the rest of the list.
- Good ammo like the 175 grain Black Hills hollow points
- A decent bipod that allows you to shoot prone easily. Harris bipods are always a good choice.
- A cheek rest is idea for long-range shooting, and gives you storage space as well as positions your eye so that you can maintain accuracy.
- You also need a good rifle scope. A tactical scope is great because they usually come with the mil-dot reticle which gives you a much more accurate shot than some other reticles on scopes we won’t mention. Note: you may have to spend some time getting to know your mil-dot before you can shoot with it effectively.
Finally, you are going to need something to help you estimate range, like a long range rangefinder. You can find a good one for about $400.
Other Guides & Resources
- Shoot Like a Sniper – Outdoorlife.com
- Long Range for Dummies – Shootingillustrated.com
- Begginers Guide to Long Range Hunting on a Budget – Longrangehunting.com