You’ve decided to start up a new hobby that all your friends have been talking about. Long range shooting has become all the rage and shooter’s gear has become quite complex. Of course, there is a lot to learn about your new passion. There are some things to consider before starting out. So, where do we begin? If you are a capable marksman and own a high power rifle capable of killing the game you desire at an extended distance that is a good start. Also, you will need ammo that is consistent and up to the task. Make sure you have a scope on your rifle of at least 9 power. Since you are a beginner, if it is factory it should work just fine. The next step is to test the rifle, optics, and shooter. The purpose of this task is to find at what range you can put a bullet in an animal’s vitals.

Now that you’ve got your gear and tested your equipment it’s time to practice shooting fundamentals from the bench: trigger squeeze, sight picture, and breathing. Take the techniques you’ve learned and apply them to field practice. Setting up various sized objects at various distances can also be a good practice. Continued practice will help you become proficient in dialing and doping wind. Just remember with everything practice makes perfect and as you grow into a better shooter you will gain more confidence. Getting started in long range hunting doesn’t have to break the bank. Following this advice will get you started and you can upgrade your equipment as you go. A nice reward for improvement.