Archived Posts » 59,757,950
I want to become a Marksman. I do not know how. I need help.
10/9/2010 7:30:37 PM
I am just a regular guy.
I want to understand rifle scopes - how they work, their terminology and their abilities.
I want to understand ballistics and charts for my caliber.
I want to be able to understand the limitations of my rifle and cartridge and scope - that triangle combination.
I want to be able to go through a structered, progressive training schedule. To gradually improve and measure my progress.
I want to be able to move with my rifle as if it were a part of me.
I want to be able to do this, as just a regular guy. What TRAINING products (books, videos, magazines, etc.) shold I purchase in order to achieve my goals?
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
I want to understand rifle scopes - how they work, their terminology and their abilities.
I want to understand ballistics and charts for my caliber.
I want to be able to understand the limitations of my rifle and cartridge and scope - that triangle combination.
I want to be able to go through a structered, progressive training schedule. To gradually improve and measure my progress.
I want to be able to move with my rifle as if it were a part of me.
I want to be able to do this, as just a regular guy. What TRAINING products (books, videos, magazines, etc.) shold I purchase in order to achieve my goals?
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
10/9/2010 7:46:38 PM
Join the Marine Corps and go to Scout Sniper School. Good luck!
10/9/2010 7:51:00 PM
On a more serious note, you could actually learn a lot of the information doing research on the internet. At least to give you some sort of basic understanding.
My advice would to do research, decide on a weapon system(caliber,scope, ect), and go out and shoot with other people with similar goals. Practice a lot and maybe take some professional instruction.
My advice would to do research, decide on a weapon system(caliber,scope, ect), and go out and shoot with other people with similar goals. Practice a lot and maybe take some professional instruction.
10/9/2010 7:52:38 PM
COD MW2
You can be one of the snipers that ruins the game.
You can be one of the snipers that ruins the game.
10/9/2010 8:05:11 PM
OP, utilize the search function here... lots of great info on this site. In fact, way too much to take in at once. You're at the right place. While it is FREE, it doesn't hurt to support the site with a kindly membership donation. 
10/9/2010 8:44:11 PM
Originally Posted By KillAgain:
Join the Marine Corps and go to Scout Sniper School. Good luck!
Join the Marine Corps and go to Scout Sniper School. Good luck!
Thanks for wasting my time.
10/9/2010 9:21:22 PM
AP1776, it might help to tell people what type of training/shooting background you already have.
10/9/2010 9:22:20 PM
Originally Posted By AmericanPatriot1776:
Thanks for wasting my time.
Originally Posted By KillAgain:
Join the Marine Corps and go to Scout Sniper School. Good luck!
Join the Marine Corps and go to Scout Sniper School. Good luck!
Thanks for wasting my time.
You'd become a better gunman, but the net tradeoff isn't worth it. Formal classes can go a long way, and yes, military service will set you up with a pretty good baseline, but if you want to become a proficient shooter it's possible with dedication and cash.
More to the point - for now, a lot of targeting reading can go a long way - just learning the basic physics of rifles, optics, and then familiarizing yourself with the details of a primary weapon system are a very good start.
Dry firing is underrated, and doing so in various shooting positions can really help, though nothing replaces actually putting rounds downrange.
If you can find somebody local willing to help you learn how to improve at shooting fundamentals, take advantage of that. Add practice ammunition, and then keep going back to fundamentals.
Along the line, competitions will start to make sense, especially as you increase your personal skill level at range. For now, focus on the initial step of reading voraciously, and see what local shooters you can join with. If it's a good group of folks, odds are you'll find somebody thrilled to help you become a better shooter.
There are a lot of free reading resources, I'd try to exhaust those first.
10/10/2010 7:48:02 PM
Originally Posted By TehLlama42:
You'd become a better gunman, but the net tradeoff isn't worth it. Formal classes can go a long way, and yes, military service will set you up with a pretty good baseline, but if you want to become a proficient shooter it's possible with dedication and cash.
More to the point - for now, a lot of targeting reading can go a long way - just learning the basic physics of rifles, optics, and then familiarizing yourself with the details of a primary weapon system are a very good start.
Dry firing is underrated, and doing so in various shooting positions can really help, though nothing replaces actually putting rounds downrange.
If you can find somebody local willing to help you learn how to improve at shooting fundamentals, take advantage of that. Add practice ammunition, and then keep going back to fundamentals.
Along the line, competitions will start to make sense, especially as you increase your personal skill level at range. For now, focus on the initial step of reading voraciously, and see what local shooters you can join with. If it's a good group of folks, odds are you'll find somebody thrilled to help you become a better shooter.
There are a lot of free reading resources, I'd try to exhaust those first.
Originally Posted By AmericanPatriot1776:
Thanks for wasting my time.
Originally Posted By KillAgain:
Join the Marine Corps and go to Scout Sniper School. Good luck!
Join the Marine Corps and go to Scout Sniper School. Good luck!
Thanks for wasting my time.
You'd become a better gunman, but the net tradeoff isn't worth it. Formal classes can go a long way, and yes, military service will set you up with a pretty good baseline, but if you want to become a proficient shooter it's possible with dedication and cash.
More to the point - for now, a lot of targeting reading can go a long way - just learning the basic physics of rifles, optics, and then familiarizing yourself with the details of a primary weapon system are a very good start.
Dry firing is underrated, and doing so in various shooting positions can really help, though nothing replaces actually putting rounds downrange.
If you can find somebody local willing to help you learn how to improve at shooting fundamentals, take advantage of that. Add practice ammunition, and then keep going back to fundamentals.
Along the line, competitions will start to make sense, especially as you increase your personal skill level at range. For now, focus on the initial step of reading voraciously, and see what local shooters you can join with. If it's a good group of folks, odds are you'll find somebody thrilled to help you become a better shooter.
There are a lot of free reading resources, I'd try to exhaust those first.
Thank you for the post. Any particular reading sources you would recommend?
10/10/2010 7:52:57 PM
Originally Posted By David14:
AP1776, it might help to tell people what type of training/shooting background you already have.
AP1776, it might help to tell people what type of training/shooting background you already have.
Good point.
Took up hunting within the last 5 years. Have gotten 2 deer. Both shots were within 50 yards through thick woods and both deer died right where they stood. I waited for each shot until I was 100% sure of success. I let other deer pass before I successfully shot my deer.
I was using a bolt action rifle. Savage 30-06. I really only know the basics about precision marksmanship.
I am really looking for a program to follow, that guides me from one level to the next. I also want to have a system to chart and measure my progress.
10/10/2010 8:14:24 PM
If you're starting from scratch, I'd suggest that as a good starting point for the nuts and bolts of ballistics you check out a reloading manual.
10/12/2010 1:22:18 AM
I have heard this is a good place to start to gain some good knowledge on ballistics. I want to get a copy for myself sometime in the next few months.
10/12/2010 2:08:12 AM
the book "ultimate sniper" is so full of info it'd keep you busy for a long , long time.
It costs about $80 , but wow! more info in one book than I've ever seen.
It costs about $80 , but wow! more info in one book than I've ever seen.
10/12/2010 11:59:22 AM
Everything you want is here on ARFCOM. The time you spend digging it out is worth it.
Also, the little books by Jim Owens are excellent and condensed.
Pick a firearm and load and FOCUS on that. The more common the better. I personally focus on .308/7.62 for that reason. I also shot 5.56 for short range.
Learn POSITION shooting and attend clinics or matches at your local range. The people there will provide a huge amount of guidance, only about 50% of which is mis-guided. The fun is figuring out which 50%.
Attend an Appleseed event, two days. Best time you could spend, and you can do it with a good .22LR and a hunting rifle.
That will get you started.
Also, the little books by Jim Owens are excellent and condensed.
Pick a firearm and load and FOCUS on that. The more common the better. I personally focus on .308/7.62 for that reason. I also shot 5.56 for short range.
Learn POSITION shooting and attend clinics or matches at your local range. The people there will provide a huge amount of guidance, only about 50% of which is mis-guided. The fun is figuring out which 50%.
Attend an Appleseed event, two days. Best time you could spend, and you can do it with a good .22LR and a hunting rifle.
That will get you started.
10/13/2010 9:54:44 AM
My best training comes from shooting, shooting, and shooting.
While I am not certified marksman, I understand windage, distance, and know my calibers capabilities, velocities, etc.
I have only been shooting for a couple years now, and I am still currently using 3 different types of rifles and calibers.
1: Romanian PSL 7.62x54r
2: RRA AR15 5.56
3:(Not getting til December) DPMS LR308b already scoped in at 500+ yards.
Get out and shooting long range and see how you do, take record of the windage, distance caliber used and your groupings, workin on your
breathing, finding a good shooting position you are comfortable in, etc.
Best knowledge you can learn and apply are found in the field.
While I am not certified marksman, I understand windage, distance, and know my calibers capabilities, velocities, etc.
I have only been shooting for a couple years now, and I am still currently using 3 different types of rifles and calibers.
1: Romanian PSL 7.62x54r
2: RRA AR15 5.56
3:(Not getting til December) DPMS LR308b already scoped in at 500+ yards.
Get out and shooting long range and see how you do, take record of the windage, distance caliber used and your groupings, workin on your
breathing, finding a good shooting position you are comfortable in, etc.
Best knowledge you can learn and apply are found in the field.
10/14/2010 4:19:05 AM
Read this
http://demigodllc.com/articles/practical-long-range-rifle-shooting-equipment/?p=1
http://demigodllc.com/articles/practical-long-range-rifle-shooting-equipment/?p=1
10/14/2010 5:15:31 AM
Originally Posted By slashsplat:
Everything you want is here on ARFCOM. The time you spend digging it out is worth it.
Also, the little books by Jim Owens are excellent and condensed.
Pick a firearm and load and FOCUS on that. The more common the better. I personally focus on .308/7.62 for that reason. I also shot 5.56 for short range.
Learn POSITION shooting and attend clinics or matches at your local range. The people there will provide a huge amount of guidance, only about 50% of which is mis-guided. The fun is figuring out which 50%.
Attend an Appleseed event, two days. Best time you could spend, and you can do it with a good .22LR and a hunting rifle.
That will get you started.
Everything you want is here on ARFCOM. The time you spend digging it out is worth it.
Also, the little books by Jim Owens are excellent and condensed.
Pick a firearm and load and FOCUS on that. The more common the better. I personally focus on .308/7.62 for that reason. I also shot 5.56 for short range.
Learn POSITION shooting and attend clinics or matches at your local range. The people there will provide a huge amount of guidance, only about 50% of which is mis-guided. The fun is figuring out which 50%.
Attend an Appleseed event, two days. Best time you could spend, and you can do it with a good .22LR and a hunting rifle.
That will get you started.
The Appleseed project will give you the fundamentals to which you can apply to all other aspects of the shooting sports.
Appleseed Project
10/14/2010 10:39:01 PM
I'll +3 for Appleseed - 10/22 with tech sights
Originally Posted By Kent2:
The Appleseed project will give you the fundamentals to which you can apply to all other aspects of the shooting sports.
Appleseed Project
Originally Posted By slashsplat:
Everything you want is here on ARFCOM. The time you spend digging it out is worth it.
Also, the little books by Jim Owens are excellent and condensed.
Pick a firearm and load and FOCUS on that. The more common the better. I personally focus on .308/7.62 for that reason. I also shot 5.56 for short range.
Learn POSITION shooting and attend clinics or matches at your local range. The people there will provide a huge amount of guidance, only about 50% of which is mis-guided. The fun is figuring out which 50%.
Attend an Appleseed event, two days. Best time you could spend, and you can do it with a good .22LR and a hunting rifle.
That will get you started.
Everything you want is here on ARFCOM. The time you spend digging it out is worth it.
Also, the little books by Jim Owens are excellent and condensed.
Pick a firearm and load and FOCUS on that. The more common the better. I personally focus on .308/7.62 for that reason. I also shot 5.56 for short range.
Learn POSITION shooting and attend clinics or matches at your local range. The people there will provide a huge amount of guidance, only about 50% of which is mis-guided. The fun is figuring out which 50%.
Attend an Appleseed event, two days. Best time you could spend, and you can do it with a good .22LR and a hunting rifle.
That will get you started.
The Appleseed project will give you the fundamentals to which you can apply to all other aspects of the shooting sports.
Appleseed Project
10/14/2010 11:09:03 PM
+4 for Appleseed.
It's a beginner level course, but establishes a good baseline and good habits.
Bottom line: You need to know where you rank against known skill levels. If Appleseed is too easy, then move up. However, I've seen people who thought they were good shots get flustered with that little 1 inch target at 25 meters. The only way to hit it is the techniques they show you. Then you can move up to larger calibers and complex ballistic calculations later.
It's a beginner level course, but establishes a good baseline and good habits.
Bottom line: You need to know where you rank against known skill levels. If Appleseed is too easy, then move up. However, I've seen people who thought they were good shots get flustered with that little 1 inch target at 25 meters. The only way to hit it is the techniques they show you. Then you can move up to larger calibers and complex ballistic calculations later.
10/17/2010 4:25:06 PM
If you're serious about it, I'd talk to the guys at American Precision Arms. They helped me tremendously - I would've saved a lot of money just going straight to them a few years back. The path I took was to get marginally "better" rifles every few months as I felt my self-taught and instructor led development warranted. If I had it to do over again, I'd talk to Jered or Mark at APA, tell them my goal (in my case, it was to hit a .5 MOA target cold bore at 1000 yds repeatedly), and let them build the gun that would meet my needs. They walked me through what I needed and why I needed it, and a few months later I had the gun in hand. Jered will do a training course for you and develop a way for you to measure YOUR progress. Another option for training is Rob Sheppard (on these boards as cmshoot). Both Rob and Jered are class acts and neither charges enough for their time and knowledge.
10/20/2010 5:05:59 PM
Originally Posted By Shooter62:
the book "ultimate sniper" is so full of info it'd keep you busy for a long , long time.
It costs about $80 , but wow! more info in one book than I've ever seen.
the book "ultimate sniper" is so full of info it'd keep you busy for a long , long time.
It costs about $80 , but wow! more info in one book than I've ever seen.
Yup, anytime people come up to me and say they want to learn sniper stuff, I hand them a worn out, dog-eared copy of this book. After they read it, then it gets to the fun stuff. The best advice anyone has ever given me, "practice the fundamentals, learn from everybody, and take it with a grain of salt"
10/24/2010 1:49:36 AM
Also recomend the Ultimate sniper book, got myself a copy and boy is it full of great info.
Pat
Pat
11/4/2010 6:30:32 PM
If you can do an appleseed bootcamp - 8 days 200$ you will be well on your way including some distance 4-600 yds and will have a good idea of what to work on to progress, if you are serious and can go to TX nov 13 contact me and I would also go
11/12/2010 10:19:54 AM
applesseed shoot is a great way to start.
Read the Precision Rifle forum here on AR15
Read the FAQ on Snipers Hide: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=237232
That should get you well on your way.
Read the Precision Rifle forum here on AR15
Read the FAQ on Snipers Hide: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=237232
That should get you well on your way.
11/16/2010 6:23:12 PM
Can't say enough good stuff about the Appleseed Project, I just got back actually, had a great time and learned a TON. Do it.
11/16/2010 6:57:52 PM
appleseed bootcamp
12/1/2010 6:30:21 PM
Originally Posted By AllAmerican2000:
applesseed shoot is a great way to start.
Read the Precision Rifle forum here on AR15
Read the FAQ on Snipers Hide: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=237232
That should get you well on your way.
applesseed shoot is a great way to start.
Read the Precision Rifle forum here on AR15
Read the FAQ on Snipers Hide: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=237232
That should get you well on your way.
Good advice here....the precision rifle forum here and the FAQ on "the hide" should keep you busy reading for some time. I'd also recommend "The Ultimate Sniper" as a good resource. Once you get a good understanding from these resources, seek out professional training. There are some excellent schools out there in just about every part of the country now.
12/13/2010 5:05:11 PM
I'm a fairly new long range shooter myself and still have alot to learn. In the summer of '09 I agreed to head out to Eastern WA with some friends who were experienced at shooting LR, and needed to get up to speed quickly. A couple things that helped me immensely were -
1) Shooter ready software -
http://www.shooterready.com/
When looking up the site for a link I found that they have come out with a new version (I have the previous version). I think this software is the nuts (no affiliation). They say it's not a video game, but more of a shooting simulation, and that's true. There are interactive classes for mil dot ranging, ballistics, understanding MOA and elevation come ups, reading and adjusting for wind, and even shooting at moving targets. You then take what you have learned to the shooting simulations and practice doing the math and "shooting". I showed this program to a good friend who had been to GPS sniper school and he was impressed. The software uses range cards developed by Sierra v6. which leads me to -
1) Sierra v6 ballistics software
https://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=store&page=item&stock_num=0602
I used this software to create a range card for my 24" bbl LR308 shooting Black Hills 175gr. As a new shooter I simply followed the come ups on the card and it put me on an IPSC target at a mildot ranged 800yds (ie approx), as well as various other shorter distances. It works.
This is a pretty good resource for shooting technique -
http://becomingriflemen.wordpress.com/
FWIW
1) Shooter ready software -
http://www.shooterready.com/
When looking up the site for a link I found that they have come out with a new version (I have the previous version). I think this software is the nuts (no affiliation). They say it's not a video game, but more of a shooting simulation, and that's true. There are interactive classes for mil dot ranging, ballistics, understanding MOA and elevation come ups, reading and adjusting for wind, and even shooting at moving targets. You then take what you have learned to the shooting simulations and practice doing the math and "shooting". I showed this program to a good friend who had been to GPS sniper school and he was impressed. The software uses range cards developed by Sierra v6. which leads me to -
1) Sierra v6 ballistics software
https://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=store&page=item&stock_num=0602
I used this software to create a range card for my 24" bbl LR308 shooting Black Hills 175gr. As a new shooter I simply followed the come ups on the card and it put me on an IPSC target at a mildot ranged 800yds (ie approx), as well as various other shorter distances. It works.
This is a pretty good resource for shooting technique -
http://becomingriflemen.wordpress.com/
FWIW
12/18/2010 1:23:58 PM
good luck with doing the scout sniper school.
