The run up has officially begun. I’ve got Wednesday through next Tuesday off for pre-run up, PRC, and after event work and clean up. I will be in positions 54/55 this year. Any visiting bloggers are more than welcome to swing by. I’m more than happy to teach you how to snipe some boomers and help you put some rounds down range accurately. (Note: I’ll probably walk up and down the line for 45 minutes prior to lunch to look at other hardware and take video and pictures. After lunch I’ll be there the whole time.)
I’ve noticed from talking to some people they are extremely put off at the thought of shooting long distances. They somehow feel it is extremely different than shooting 100 yards. While yes it is different, and experience is a great help it’s not actually that different. Fundamentals never change, sight picture, breathing, squeezing the trigger, that’s all basic and standard. What is different is the amount of thinking ahead of the shot. Experienced shooters can easily do this mental preparation on their own; however what really makes it possible for any shooter connect to a target at long range is the spotter.
Whenever possible the more experienced shooter is actually the spotter, not the trigger man. Squeezing the trigger is simple and once mastered it becomes second nature. The spotter watches the trace, following the bullet to the point of impact. Here’s the basic order of operations and responsibilities of each during a shot.
| Step | Spotter | Shooter |
| Target Acquisition | Spotter locates a target and relays it to the shooter | Shooter confirms the correct target with the spotter. The shooter also makes the correction to parallax for the new range. |
| Range | Spotter estimates the range to target and proper elevation adjustment. | Shooter confirms elevation change and dials the scope. |
| Wind | Spotter estimates the wind and dope changes necessary | Shooter confirms wind doping change and dials the scope. |
| Target Hold | Spotter specifies the hold for the crosshairs on the target. | Shooter hold in that position and waits for the fire when ready command. |
| Fire | Spotter issues the fire command. | As quickly as consistently possible the shooter puts the round down range. |
| Follow Trace | Spotter follows the trace to impact. | The shooter calls his shot. IE did it break where did the shot break on target? Was it on the hold or elsewhere? |
| Adjustment | Spotter uses the shot call and actual impact to adjust the point of impact. | Shooter confirms elevation and wind changes |
| Go to Target Hold |
As you can see above, most of the work sits on the spotter not the shooter. If the shooter can shoot under a MOA at 100 yards, is confident in their ability, can count, and accurately call their shots. They can squeeze the trigger on a rifle and hit a target 700 yards away 7 inches in diameter. It all really rests on the spotter.
Calling shots for some is difficult; the key is maintaining concentration on the sight picture up to the break of the shot and remembering it.
I do it a little bit differently by concentrating on each aspect of a shot, breathing, trigger squeeze, sight picture, and thinking about what was not consistent about that last break. I know how a good shot feels to me, if it did not feel good I think about why it didn’t. I learned this technique while being taught competition rifle and pistol. My drills involved calling the shot without looking at the paper.
If for some reason you still feel uncomfortable, hit up the PRC with Gene. I have no qualms shooting at 700 yards now, but the first day on the line at a PRC I was nervous like the people I talk to now. Especially in that wind, I usually got calm winds when shooting, so I called it a baptism by fire. A lot of people feel the long range shot is magic. It isn’t, it is a spotter and the fundamentals of shooting. (Plus Modern Ballistics never hurt either.)
If you’re nervous about shooting at long distance, swing by my position and I’ll get you a boomer on the berm at minimum.
TMM is the owner, editor, and principal author at The Minuteman, a competitive shooter, and staff member for Boomershoot. Even in his free time he’s merging his love and knowledge of computers and technology with his love of firearms.
Many know his private name and information however due to the current political climate, many are distancing themselves due to the abandonment of Due Process.
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