From a practical standpoint, learning the fundamentals of long-range shooting will make you an all-around better marksman—even if you don’t want to spend your weekends shooting a National Rifle League Match or an F-class competition. A general knowledge level, where you can consistently hit targets at 1,000 yards, means attaining a solid grasp of optics, external ballistics, body position, trigger control and ancillary gear like ballistics engines, chronographs and anemometers (wind meters). Traditional hunting ranges, typically 400 yards and in, will begin to seem like a chip shot for sharpshooters with these skills. This proficiency leads to increased harvest for the hunter and more precise shots on game, which leads to more humane kills.
Before a prospective hunter or marksman even purchases or fires a rifle, consider a beginner long-range…
