New distance shooter - need help coming up to speed

[kravi]

Hi folks, looking for thoughts on how to prep for an NRL Hunter team event in April. I've got lots of limitations, hence me trying to crowd-source my strategery.

So I've been shooting 2gun for a few years now, and USPSA (not that this is relevant), but I'm brand new to any kind of precision shooting. Yes, my local 2gun match has a stage every month that goes out to 300 yards, and yes, once a year I shoot Woodland Brutality which goes out to 400 yards, but that is the limit of my experience shooting at any real distance.

Starting December I'm joining the range where my 2gun events are held, so I'll have access to a 300 yard range (my local range only has a 100 yard rifle range but is 20 minutes away instead of an hour).

My rifle is very, uhm, "entry level". I bought (at a nice discount) a new Bergara HMR in 6.5CM (22" barrel - I have a can on the end). I'm still trying to figure out what kind of ammo she prefers (I'll settle it this Saturday), but its probably the 130gr Fed GM Berger Hybrid (or the 140gr which I haven't shot yet). I'm shooting 10 round groups to determine how the rifle likes the ammo - making it an apples to apples comparison. I don't really trust 3 or 5 round groups for much of anything.

So with access to a 300 yard range, an entry level rifle, and a friend who is also new to precision shooting (and across the country from me so we can't even practice together), what are your thoughts? From a workflow perspective, we're already starting to put that together. But from a "you need to learn to shoot out to 1000 yards limited toa 300 yard range" perspective, I need all the help I can get. My buddy, at least, has enough land he can shoot to 400 yards (except for a month every 4 months where the sheep are pasturing in between him and the backstops -don't ask).

So at this point I don't even now what I don't know. Help me Obi-wan, you're my only hope.

Gracias!

P.S. Just to be clear, my buddy and know we're going to get trounced. We just want to do the best we can with this rather severe limitations, have fun, and start doing it multiple times a year together.

 

[wpeach1912]

Get a schmedium game changer and a barricade. Practice getting into and out of position and moving between positions. Watch some MDT, Phil Velayo, and Franks videos on some of the positional shooting fundamentals. Your money is made in PRS being able to shoot well from positions and making good wind calls. Wind calling is a longer term developed skills. Franks and Chris’s videos on wind strategy are great starter points. Get a good velocity in your ammo and that should get you close to dope at 1k

 

[Sheldon N]

Agree with the above recommendations.

One other thing that I'd suggest practicing is getting into position with scope on target, especially if you've got a place where you can do it on natural terrain. Most of your NRL Hunter positions are going to be logs, dirt slopes, a rock, etc, and not necessarily a barricade facing square to the target. Getting familiar with using your bipod for a makeshift prone position or knowing where to place a bag, and then quickly finding the target through your scope is a crucial skill.

The problem you'll see with newer teams is that they'll find/range the targets in a reasonable amount of time but partner 1 will take a long time getting into position/finding targets in their scope and use up all the time, leaving partner 2 with no time to shoot.

 

[usafa77]

Sign up for skills division. RO will help you, takes the pressure off and makes it a fun learning experience.

 

[kravi]

Agree with the above recommendations.

One other thing that I'd suggest practicing is getting into position with scope on target, especially if you've got a place where you can do it on natural terrain. Most of your NRL Hunter positions are going to be logs, dirt slopes, a rock, etc, and not necessarily a barricade facing square to the target. Getting familiar with using your bipod for a makeshift prone position or knowing where to place a bag, and then quickly finding the target through your scope is a crucial skill.

The problem you'll see with newer teams is that they'll find/range the targets in a reasonable amount of time but partner 1 will take a long time getting into position/finding targets in their scope and use up all the time, leaving partner 2 with no time to shoot.

Unfortunately I'm in the People's Republic of Maryland - no places I can take a rifle out to "nature" to practice. So it all has to be synthetic practice in my house. At my range I can slap my bag over a chair, a table, or even a barricade, but can't get much more organic than that.

Any hacks for learning wind when you only have a 300 yard runway?

Cheers!

 

[kravi]

Sign up for skills division. RO will help you, takes the pressure off and makes it a fun learning experience.

We thought about that, but unfortunately you can only do skills division solo. There is no skills "team" group.

Cheers!

 

[kravi]

Get a schmedium game changer and a barricade. Practice getting into and out of position and moving between positions. Watch some MDT, Phil Velayo, and Franks videos on some of the positional shooting fundamentals. Your money is made in PRS being able to shoot well from positions and making good wind calls. Wind calling is a longer term developed skills. Franks and Chris’s videos on wind strategy are great starter points. Get a good velocity in your ammo and that should get you close to dope at 1k

Thanks for the tips. I've got a Xero for velocity so getting dope should be straightforward. It is the wind calls that have me nervous. Because my understanding is that it is an organic experience thing - not something you can "study". And my only 22 is an un-accurized Ruger 10/22 which is approximately 500 MOA (I exaggerate slightly for effect here, obviously).

 

[Sheldon N]

So it all has to be synthetic practice in my house. At my range I can slap my bag over a chair, a table, or even a barricade, but can't get much more organic than that.

Any hacks for learning wind when you only have a 300 yard runway?

I wouldn't sweat the wind side of things too much. If you can read up on some of the basic wind shortcuts like "mph gun" that should get you in the ballpark.

More important will be shooting and managing recoil to where you can see your impact and make a correction if you miss.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

What part of Maryland are you in? And take that stupid fucking nationals avatar off. Only DC and NOVA homos root for that shit.

We have places you can practice out past 1K here in the peoples republic, but you gota know people.

Your best bet is start shooting PRS matches with the gear you have. They start up around april. You could also get a rimfire gun and shoot PRS22/NRL/MARS. There you can learn positional shooting and wind. And there are probably 5 matches every weekend within a 3 hour drive. You can throw a scope with turrets on that 10/22 and go shoot a NRL22 match.

NRL hunter is a game like anything else, and pretty lame IMO. PRS is way more fun, action packed and you will be around much better shooters to learn the skills to excel at any of these games. The top NRL hunter shooters are all high level PRS guys.

 

[kravi]

What part of Maryland are you in? And take that stupid fucking nationals avatar off. Only DC and NOVA homos root for that shit.

We have places you can practice out past 1K here in the peoples republic, but you gota know people.

Your best bet is start shooting PRS matches with the gear you have. They start up around april. You could also get a rimfire gun and shoot PRS22/NRL/MARS. There you can learn positional shooting and wind. And there are probably 5 matches every weekend within a 3 hour drive. You can throw a scope with turrets on that 10/22 and go shoot a NRL22 match.

NRL hunter is a game like anything else, and pretty lame IMO. PRS is way more fun, action packed and you will be around much better shooters to learn the skills to excel at any of these games. The top NRL hunter shooters are all high level PRS guys.

LOL, I'm in Olney (or as my wife calls it, Lonely), smashed between DC and Columbia, more or less. And I grew up in DC so no choice but to be a Nats fan. As a kid my dad would take me to see the Orioles, but every time we got to the game he'd remind me "Son, this is not your team. Your team was stolen from us twice already. We're here because it is baseball and we can get here, but don't go rooting for the Orioles."

I was looking at some PRS matches in Pennsyltucky, but as you said, the soonest is April and that is when my NRL Hunters match is. I plan on trying to shoot some next year afterwards, but it doesn't help me prep for that first event, unfortunately.

Any suggestions on getting access to any of those 1k+ places?

Cheers!

 

[Kfive73]

I’d say grab a cheap wind meter from Amazon and just carry it around with you (and maybe a pair of binos). Read up on mirage and wind and vegetation movement and wind. When walking around or whatever, just stop, guesstimate the wind, and check it with your meter. Granted it will only give you the wind where you stand, but when you start looking down range where a target would be, it’ll give you a better idea of what’s going on. And trust yourself. I’ve missed a lot of shots because I second guessed myself… or listened to other people. I’m a mid pack shooter, so take my .02 with a grain of salt

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

LOL, I'm in Olney (or as my wife calls it, Lonely), smashed between DC and Columbia, more or less. And I grew up in DC so no choice but to be a Nats fan. As a kid my dad would take me to see the Orioles, but every time we got to the game he'd remind me "Son, this is not your team. Your team was stolen from us twice already. We're here because it is baseball and we can get here, but don't go rooting for the Orioles."

I was looking at some PRS matches in Pennsyltucky, but as you said, the soonest is April and that is when my NRL Hunters match is. I plan on trying to shoot some next year afterwards, but it doesn't help me prep for that first event, unfortunately.

Any suggestions on getting access to any of those 1k+ places?

Cheers!

Your best bet for matches will be in PA and down at Quantico. MDPRS has matches in Westminster but it's like shooting inside of a phone booth. Expect to drive 2-3 hours to shoot one days. War rifles is one of the best facilities on the East Coast, it's on a mountain owned by Geissele. Well worth the drive.

Best thing you can do is go shoot some rimfire stuff and learn about positional shooting, shooting on the clock, and how to manage gear. It's the cheapest form of practice. MDPRS has a beginners match in late winter/early spring you should shoot. Matches start up around April here so you have time to gather gear. If you want help just message me and we can get you pointed in the right direction. We practice on the eastern shore but right now hunters have the property so we won't be able to start killing steel until around Jan. There aren't really many nrl hunter opportunities on the East coast. They are just as much if not more of a gear race than ours and unless you have good range finding binos with a solver...you will be at a huge disadvantage. You will also need a good tripod and supporting gear as well. You can actually get started with less in PRS and build the stuff up over time. Both are huge money and time sinks so just be aware before starting down the path. I would not recommend these sports to someone without a good amount of disposable income. And then you really have to want it.

 

[Kfive73]

I have to agree with Deathbeforedismount on the expense. Make sure you want it. It gets expensive fast. One day I sat down and figured out… with the cost of ammo, march fee, gas, barrel deterioration, equipment deterioration, etc… it was roughly $4 for every trigger pull. And I shoot was shooting way less than I would have liked. Making the time for it is a whole different battle

 

[Sheldon N]

Both are huge money and time sinks so just be aware before starting down the path

Truth!

@kravi Honestly, PRS is easier to start in because you get to watch everyone else shoot, you get tips and pointers from your squad on wind and how to be better, and you get to shoot more rounds and get more reps in. Rimfire or centerfire, either would be great.

NRL Hunter is a bit easier on the ego when you start out. You're on your own, no one is watching you, and if you only hit a few targets you don't feel bad because you didn't see three other shooters clean the stage like you do in PRS. NRL is also practical so no one makes fun of you having a "gamer gun".

I think NRL Hunter is harder - there's more chaos going on trying to find/range targets, manage gear, shoot from awkward natural hunting positions, with a lighter + higher recoiling rifle. And even though you have 4-6 minutes, often you are shooting faster than you do in PRS because you're running out of time. I personally think NRL Hunter is a blast, I'm going to shoot more of it this year.

There's no harm in going and enjoying a team match with your buddy as your first match. However, I would toss a suggestion in the mix... you might have a better time if you and your buddy both signed up for skills division, shot the course of fire together and took turns going first every other stage. The RO's should let you watch each other shoot since you're both skills division, and you could both learn from each other's mistakes. I think it would be a better experience than the team struggle of shooter 1 using up all the time and shooter 2 not getting much opportunity to shoot, and getting no assistance from RO's since you aren't in Skills division.

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

Get some practice in, maybe shoot a match with what you have and then Take A Class (that offers loaner rifles). Most are not cheap, but in the end, will save you thousands.

Go to the training thread and look around. There are classes in Florida and Georgia, which offer a great experience, cabins to stay at and you will learn in two days what it takes some years to learn.

 

[kravi]

These are great tips, guys, and thank you! The money challenge is painfully clear already. I'm still a pair of LRF Binos and a Kestrel away from minimal setup (luckily my friend has both that I can poach). And this is just a "bare minimum" setup. I can see it going downhill fast! And at some point I'm probably going to get dragged down the reloading rabbit hole too, ugh.

I'll talk to my friend (and the Match Organizer) about maybe running skills with my buddy - see if there is room for it. That's not a bad idea at all.

Cheers!

 

[kthomas]

Honestly nothing is going to get you ready to shoot a match than just...shooting a match.

That's just the way it currently is.

Being limited to 300 yard "synthetic" ranges there's really only so much you can do. Work on fundamentals. Work on shooting from compromised positions. Work on transitioning between different positions. Shooting from tripod. Check out videos mentioned above for such ideas.

IMO, the best money you can spend to help get prepared is to go to some professional rifle training. I don't think anyone focuses on NRL Hunter team type situations, but a class at a place like Rifles Only would be very helpful. They have a satellite school up in NH now, which isn't too far away from you.

Good luck and have fun in your endeavors!