I just completed Sig Sauer's Academy two day class titled "Advanced Precision Marksman".
At the end I feel a little disappointed. The class consisted of a short lecture session on TD1 where the instructor covered the basics of ballistics, trajectory, angle shooting, and wind.
After lunch, we met at 100 yd range where we confirmed zero and then went back to three hundred yards. During both our 100 and 300 yards, I didn't see the instructor provide much feedback, to individual students, unless they had specific questions. I had issues with my rifle, and he shot it to confirm.
When we got to 300 yards, the instructor helped us calculate come ups using an iphone app, and then we shot paper and steel.
On TD2, we met at 100 yd range to confirm zero, got to put a round through a .50 cal rifle, and headed back to 500 yards. Unfortunately, the range layout prevented us from shooting at 500 without extended target holder, so we moved to 800 yards.
Once again, we got the come ups calculated, split into pairs with one student firing, and the other helping to observe hits on steel.
After lunch, we met back at 500, and this time, the target stands were the right height. Unfortunately, we were shooting paper. Most students, including myself lacked a proper spotting scope to spot paper hits at 500. So it was mostly shooting and praying, until the instructor returned with a decent spotting scope and helped us get on targets.
After 500 yards, we shifted targets to 1000 yard steel. Once again, we just dialed come ups, while the instructor offered occasional advice, after he put a few rounds through a .338 LM.
That was it.
Now, I am not sure what my expectations are for a "precision rifle class", but I was hoping for some drills, and more coaching on the instructor's part. The way this class ran, it was nothing more than a day on the range. The only difference was access to 500, 800, and 1000 yards. Are other "precision rifle classes" the same? Do they have more drills and instruction?
At the end I feel a little disappointed. The class consisted of a short lecture session on TD1 where the instructor covered the basics of ballistics, trajectory, angle shooting, and wind.
After lunch, we met at 100 yd range where we confirmed zero and then went back to three hundred yards. During both our 100 and 300 yards, I didn't see the instructor provide much feedback, to individual students, unless they had specific questions. I had issues with my rifle, and he shot it to confirm.
When we got to 300 yards, the instructor helped us calculate come ups using an iphone app, and then we shot paper and steel.
On TD2, we met at 100 yd range to confirm zero, got to put a round through a .50 cal rifle, and headed back to 500 yards. Unfortunately, the range layout prevented us from shooting at 500 without extended target holder, so we moved to 800 yards.
Once again, we got the come ups calculated, split into pairs with one student firing, and the other helping to observe hits on steel.
After lunch, we met back at 500, and this time, the target stands were the right height. Unfortunately, we were shooting paper. Most students, including myself lacked a proper spotting scope to spot paper hits at 500. So it was mostly shooting and praying, until the instructor returned with a decent spotting scope and helped us get on targets.
After 500 yards, we shifted targets to 1000 yard steel. Once again, we just dialed come ups, while the instructor offered occasional advice, after he put a few rounds through a .338 LM.
That was it.
Now, I am not sure what my expectations are for a "precision rifle class", but I was hoping for some drills, and more coaching on the instructor's part. The way this class ran, it was nothing more than a day on the range. The only difference was access to 500, 800, and 1000 yards. Are other "precision rifle classes" the same? Do they have more drills and instruction?
