Are local gun range just added a 500 yard range. It has a board for targets and different size steel plates. This is along with the 200,300,and 400 yard targets and plates on the same range. What would be a good way to practice, I know it’s at set ranges but with the right scope you can see your hits on plates out to 500 yards. Thinking of doing a pbr rang of around 250 and holding low or high on pates to hit where I want. Any suggestions, thanks. 220 imp. and 204 both around 4000 fps.
Practice long distance shooting
- Thread starter Heymartay
- Start date
AWS
Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
For me plates are too big of a target to dial in the rifle , I like shooting paper targets to see what is really happening. Range finders stay home if ranges are known. After a rifle is set up it is fun to ring steel.
I use a cheap range finder as I'm only ranging terrain not animals before I start a sand, mostly on archery stands.
I rarely take binoculars as it is that much more movement on a stand to spook a coyote. I do keep a pair in the truck to scan an open area before I head out. Most places I can rarely see beyond 300 yards.
I use a cheap range finder as I'm only ranging terrain not animals before I start a sand, mostly on archery stands.
I rarely take binoculars as it is that much more movement on a stand to spook a coyote. I do keep a pair in the truck to scan an open area before I head out. Most places I can rarely see beyond 300 yards.
Last edited:
1oldcoyote
New member
Originally Posted By: HeymartayAre local gun range just added a 500 yard range. It has a board for targets and different size steel plates. This is along with the 200,300,and 400 yard targets and plates on the same range. What would be a good way to practice, I know it’s at set ranges but with the right scope you can see your hits on plates out to 500 yards. Thinking of doing a pbr rang of around 250 and holding low or high on pates to hit where I want. Any suggestions, thanks. 220 imp. and 204 both around 4000 fps.
Not knowing your caliber or specific bullet & gr weight. Whenever I bought a new rifle. I went through numerous boxes of ammo & varied gr weights. To find the most accurate bullet @ 100yrds. Then I would stick with that particular bullet. At yardages well beyond 100yrds. I would shoot in varied wind directions & wind speed. To gain a better under standing on how those wind speeds & yardages. Affected my bullet. At varied yardages. I would also make a chart on the side of my buttstock. To utilize to be more accurate, if I had forgotten. I believe it takes a lot of target shooting under varied conditions. To be consistent at long range. Shoot, shoot some more & keep on shooting.
Not knowing your caliber or specific bullet & gr weight. Whenever I bought a new rifle. I went through numerous boxes of ammo & varied gr weights. To find the most accurate bullet @ 100yrds. Then I would stick with that particular bullet. At yardages well beyond 100yrds. I would shoot in varied wind directions & wind speed. To gain a better under standing on how those wind speeds & yardages. Affected my bullet. At varied yardages. I would also make a chart on the side of my buttstock. To utilize to be more accurate, if I had forgotten. I believe it takes a lot of target shooting under varied conditions. To be consistent at long range. Shoot, shoot some more & keep on shooting.
Dark moon 63
New member
I like to dial elevation and just started a long range 6mm 243 project this morning. It's fun and challenging to do hold overs knowing your drop and judging inches. Either one is good practice.
OP's last line states 220 Imp and 204, both around 4000fps.
I would also start with paper targets then move to the steel. Paper will let you know how much your bullet is dropping at different yardages. If the steel is swinging it may (or not) cause a high or low impact. I'm mad, I had a 500 yd target approved at my club, then a board member said we would have to shut the range down to shoot 500yds, so the membership voted it down. Most the board members are skeet shooters or large game hunters and have never shot steel. They haven't got a clue how much fun it is. I haven't given up the idea just have it on a back burner.
I would also start with paper targets then move to the steel. Paper will let you know how much your bullet is dropping at different yardages. If the steel is swinging it may (or not) cause a high or low impact. I'm mad, I had a 500 yd target approved at my club, then a board member said we would have to shut the range down to shoot 500yds, so the membership voted it down. Most the board members are skeet shooters or large game hunters and have never shot steel. They haven't got a clue how much fun it is. I haven't given up the idea just have it on a back burner.
This is a nice range, has 3 sizes of plates and think 3 sizes of small circular steel. Smallest prolly just a couple inches. Meant to write I can see hits out 400 yds not 500. Would be nice to have a spotter for 500. Might shoot one target at all ranges and save it once I get a good load down. Does the high scope mounting on an AR change the pbr compared to regular 1.5 inch distance. Was wondering.
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
Yes center of scope to center of bore distance matters in trajectory charts(shape of the bullet path). The old scope mount on the AR carry handle really messed up ballistic charts.
Dark moon 63
New member
A ballistic app like jbmballistics.com can take the guess work out by bullet bc, velocity and scope height. Should save ammo if that matters.
skinney
Director
Originally Posted By: HeymartayAre local gun range just added a 500 yard range. It has a board for targets and different size steel plates. This is along with the 200,300,and 400 yard targets and plates on the same range. What would be a good way to practice, I know it’s at set ranges but with the right scope you can see your hits on plates out to 500 yards. Thinking of doing a pbr rang of around 250 and holding low or high on pates to hit where I want. Any suggestions, thanks. 220 imp. and 204 both around 4000 fps.
IMHO your wasting your time with a ballistic app for ranges out to 500, you can easily run your dope by just shooting collecting data and writing it down. If you're going beyond 500 absolutely, but there is junk on a ballistics app you don't need for that close of a range. I have quite a few of my rifles memorized regarding hold out to 400 yards in Mils and MOA.
I would use a 100 yard zero, and write hold down from there on out. 200 might be a half a min hold, which is still on fur, 300 might be 3 minutes which will be holding, and 400 might be around 4 mins or 1.6 mils. Having a FFP for quick hold over will be easy for ya, or maybe you'd just prefer dialing, then holding for wind.
IMHO your wasting your time with a ballistic app for ranges out to 500, you can easily run your dope by just shooting collecting data and writing it down. If you're going beyond 500 absolutely, but there is junk on a ballistics app you don't need for that close of a range. I have quite a few of my rifles memorized regarding hold out to 400 yards in Mils and MOA.
I would use a 100 yard zero, and write hold down from there on out. 200 might be a half a min hold, which is still on fur, 300 might be 3 minutes which will be holding, and 400 might be around 4 mins or 1.6 mils. Having a FFP for quick hold over will be easy for ya, or maybe you'd just prefer dialing, then holding for wind.
For me, I would do a 100 yard zero and really get to know my reticle. I would not do a zero at a longer distance to limit introduction of more variables. Once I had my zero I would dope the rifle and put a little cheat sheet in my scope cap or on my stock to remind me of my holds as far as the rifle will shoot.
Originally Posted By: J GaltFor me, I would do a 100 yard zero and really get to know my reticle. I would not do a zero at a longer distance to limit introduction of more variables. Once I had my zero I would dope the rifle and put a little cheat sheet in my scope cap or on my stock to remind me of my holds as far as the rifle will shoot.
^^^This. Simplifies the math over sighting in mid-range.
Regards,
hm
^^^This. Simplifies the math over sighting in mid-range.
Regards,
hm
JTPinTX
Custom Call Maker
Most topics have been covered pretty good so I won't rehash them. But I will throw this out there. Anything over 3000 fps impact velocity starts to get detrimental to steel targets. When 4000 fps muzzle velocity was mentioned that kind of jumped out at me. So if you are going to shoot steel just make sure that you are far enough out impact velocity has fallen below that.
-from the guy who has some big divots in some of his steel.
-from the guy who has some big divots in some of his steel.
Go with what you know.
Once again I would say, for me I would look to limit variables in order to limit my introduction of error. If I zero the same for my 7mm rem mag as I do my 204 ruger then the error I have at 100, 200, etc can be attributed to something I didn’t do correctly. I get the max point blank range ideal, I have had it preached to me by those far more talented than I will ever be.
Once we went to the range to test in a quantitative fashion, it became clear which method was most effective. It wasn’t close.
Once again I would say, for me I would look to limit variables in order to limit my introduction of error. If I zero the same for my 7mm rem mag as I do my 204 ruger then the error I have at 100, 200, etc can be attributed to something I didn’t do correctly. I get the max point blank range ideal, I have had it preached to me by those far more talented than I will ever be.
Once we went to the range to test in a quantitative fashion, it became clear which method was most effective. It wasn’t close.
Originally Posted By: skinneyOriginally Posted By: HeymartayAre local gun range just added a 500 yard range. It has a board for targets and different size steel plates. This is along with the 200,300,and 400 yard targets and plates on the same range. What would be a good way to practice, I know it’s at set ranges but with the right scope you can see your hits on plates out to 500 yards. Thinking of doing a pbr rang of around 250 and holding low or high on pates to hit where I want. Any suggestions, thanks. 220 imp. and 204 both around 4000 fps.
IMHO your wasting your time with a ballistic app for ranges out to 500, you can easily run your dope by just shooting collecting data and writing it down. If you're going beyond 500 absolutely, but there is junk on a ballistics app you don't need for that close of a range. I have quite a few of my rifles memorized regarding hold out to 400 yards in Mils and MOA.
I would use a 100 yard zero, and write hold down from there on out. 200 might be a half a min hold, which is still on fur, 300 might be 3 minutes which will be holding, and 400 might be around 4 mins or 1.6 mils. Having a FFP for quick hold over will be easy for ya, or maybe you'd just prefer dialing, then holding for wind.
Truth
Listen to someone walks the talk
IMHO your wasting your time with a ballistic app for ranges out to 500, you can easily run your dope by just shooting collecting data and writing it down. If you're going beyond 500 absolutely, but there is junk on a ballistics app you don't need for that close of a range. I have quite a few of my rifles memorized regarding hold out to 400 yards in Mils and MOA.
I would use a 100 yard zero, and write hold down from there on out. 200 might be a half a min hold, which is still on fur, 300 might be 3 minutes which will be holding, and 400 might be around 4 mins or 1.6 mils. Having a FFP for quick hold over will be easy for ya, or maybe you'd just prefer dialing, then holding for wind.
Truth
Listen to someone walks the talk