This post was originally published on Athlon Outdoors.
Long-range shooting is almost addictive. The thrill of hitting targets at 1000 yards and beyond has drawn many people into this arena. The biggest hurdle to achieving hits and shooting tight groups is ensuring everything is ready before you press the trigger. Unlike shooting at closer ranges, long-range shooting requires you to focus on precision priorities. These are seven small things that, when combined, can help you achieve long-range accuracy.
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Precision Priorities – Critical Points for Long Range Accuracy
The first things we need to focus on are centered around our optics. Take time to adjust the ocular focus. It is essential to ensure the reticle is crystal clear within the scope. The clearer the reticle is, the better chance you have of making your shot. This is something you should check every time you break your rifle out. Moving your rifle in a bag or case can occasionally nudge that ring.
Set Your Parallax
Next on our checklist is to adjust the parallax. Parallax occurs when the reticle’s apparent position shifts relative to the target if your eye is not perfectly centered. This becomes more significant at longer distances or higher magnifications. Adjusting the parallax refocuses the scope so the reticle and target are on the same focal plane. This is one of the most commonly overlooked priorities and is the cause of many of our misses.
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Another item within our scope is to ensure it is level. An unlevel or “canted” scope causes shots to impact low and to the side of the point of aim, especially at long range. This happens because the reticle is no longer aligned with a level horizon, which causes a consistent drift in the bullet’s impact point. While minor for short-range shots, a canted scope can cause significant misses at medium to long distances. An excellent tool for this is a scope level.
Correct Grip
Now we will focus on setting up on the rifle. One helpful hint I learned long ago was to avoid wrapping my hand around the stock. When you press the trigger, your entire hand flexes, which can cause minute motion in the stock. I suggest gripping the stock with your shooting hand thumb, sitting on the side of the stock above your trigger finger. This helps us avoid sympathetic squeeze.
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Another priority that helps us avoid unnecessary movement in the gun is to load the bipod. Once you are behind the gun, gently lean into it and build forward pressure on the bipod. This helps stabilize the entire platform and gives us a more solid view through our optics. This can also help with recoil management.
Rear Bag
An essential item for gun stability is the rear bag. We set it under the butt of the stock and gently squeeze it to adjust our elevation. Ensure, however, that your bag is properly aligned with your rifle. An angled bag, when squeezed, can cause slight side-to-side motion on your rifle.
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Our last item on the checklist is follow-through after you press the trigger. It is essential that we remain still on the gun well after the shot has been fired. While the time it takes for our round to exit the rifle is less than a split second, any movement can cause a miss. You should stay behind the optic and try to watch your shot hit the target. Not only does this help with accuracy, but you can essentially become your own spotter and see where the round impacts.
Precision Priorities
Long-range precision shooting is absolutely a challenge. Yet with a focus on some fundamentals, we can get good hits and improve our accuracy. So grab your rifle and hit the range.
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The post Precision Priorities – Long Range 101 appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
