{"id":2147,"date":"2024-03-18T22:28:25","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T22:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/?p=2147&#038;fishpig=1644526264&#038;preview=true"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","slug":"5-long-range-shooting-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-long-range-shooting-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Long Range Shooting Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-long-range-shooting-tips\/#5_Tips_for_Long_Range_Shooting_Consistency_is_Key\" >5 Tips for Long Range Shooting : Consistency is Key<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-long-range-shooting-tips\/#1_Choose_the_Right_Rifle_and_Caliber_-_5_Long_Range_Shooting_Tips\" >1. Choose the Right Rifle and Caliber - 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-long-range-shooting-tips\/#2_Invest_in_Quality_Optics_-_5_Long_Range_Shooting_Tips\" >2. Invest in Quality Optics - 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-long-range-shooting-tips\/#3_Secure_a_Stable_Rest_-_5_Long_Range_Shooting_Tips\" >3. Secure a Stable Rest - 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-long-range-shooting-tips\/#4_Master_Trigger_Control_-_5_Long_Range_Shooting_Tips\" >4. Master Trigger Control - 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-long-range-shooting-tips\/#5_Practice_Breathing_Techniques_-_5_Long_Range_Shooting_Tips\" >5. Practice Breathing Techniques - 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-long-range-shooting-tips\/#Bonus_Tip_Practice_Consistency_-_5_Long_Range_Shooting_Tips\" >Bonus Tip: Practice Consistency - 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Tips_for_Long_Range_Shooting_Consistency_is_Key\"><\/span>5 Tips for Long Range Shooting : Consistency is Key<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p><a title=\"Rifle Marksmanship : Follow Through\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-marksmanship-follow-through\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1488\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Long-range shooting is a skill that develops<\/a> over time. We start with a BB gun and gradually move up, not just in <a title=\"The Best Coyote Hunting Cartridges\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/the-best-coyote-hunting-cartridges\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">caliber but also in distance<\/a>. Each step is about challenging ourselves and pushing limits, from 20 yards with a BB gun to over 500 yards with a precision rifle. The following five <a title=\"6 Tips for Shooting Tighter Groups\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/6-tips-for-shooting-tighter-groups\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1484\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tips will help you refine your technique and improve<\/a> consistency, making those long shots more satisfying and achievable.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_7217\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7217\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7217 size-full\" title=\"Long Range Shooting\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/9Q7A7659-1024x683-2.jpg\" alt=\"Long Range Shooting\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/9Q7A7659-1024x683-2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/9Q7A7659-1024x683-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/9Q7A7659-1024x683-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/9Q7A7659-1024x683-2-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/9Q7A7659-1024x683-2-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/9Q7A7659-1024x683-2-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7217\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/scope-height-does-it-affect-accuracy\/\">Long Range Shooting<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><hr \/><h4>1. Choose the Right Rifle and Caliber &#8211; 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/h4><p>The first step to success in <a title=\"Rifle Marksmanship: Scope Fundamentals\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/improving-rifle-marksmanship-part-1\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1478\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">long-range shooting is selecting the right rifle<\/a> and caliber. Calibers like the 6.5 Creedmoor are popular because they offer flat trajectories with manageable recoil, ideal for maintaining accuracy at longer distances. When choosing a rifle, <a title=\"Why You Might Consider a Ballistic Calculator\u00a0\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/why-you-might-consider-a-ballistic-calculator\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1479\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">consider factors like weight\u2014heavier rifles<\/a> provide stability when resting, which improves accuracy. Opting for quality brands like Bergara&#8217;s HMR Pro in the Premier Series can provide near-custom performance at a more accessible price point.<\/p><h4>2. Invest in Quality Optics &#8211; 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/h4><p>Your <a title=\"Building the Ultimate Hunting Rifle Part 1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/building-the-ultimate-hunting-rifle\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1493\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rifle scope is a vital part of your setup<\/a>. It\u2019s <a title=\"A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Long-Range Shooting Gear\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/a-beginners-guide-to-long-range-shooting-gear\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1480\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">essential to choose a scope built for long-range shooting<\/a>, featuring quality glass that won\u2019t blur your vision. Select a reticle system\u2014either MOA (<a title=\"Rifle Shooting and Academic Knowledge\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-shooting-and-academic-knowledge\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1490\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Minute of Angle<\/a>) or MRAD (Milliradian)\u2014that aligns with your <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-the-impact-ballistics-calculator-helps-shooters\/\">shooting<\/a> style and environment. A good <a title=\"How to Properly Mount a Rifle Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/how-to-properly-mount-a-rifle-scope\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1494\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">optic also provides adequate eye relief<\/a> and excellent light-gathering abilities, enhancing clarity and comfort. Resources like <a title=\"Rifle Marksmanship: Scope Fundamentals\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/improving-rifle-marksmanship-part-1\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1481\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TRACT\u2019s blog can guide you through scope<\/a> selection. Sean Utley\u2019s <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"review\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/videos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1477\">review<\/a> of the TORIC 4.5-30&#215;56 ELR scope offers insights into what high-quality scopes can deliver for long-range shooting.<\/p><h4>3. Secure a Stable Rest &#8211; 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/h4><p>A stable <a title=\"6 Tips for Shooting Tighter Groups\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/6-tips-for-shooting-tighter-groups\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1482\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rest is crucial for consistent long-range shooting<\/a>. It can be a shooting bag, pack, or a bipod. <a title=\"Rifle Marksmanship: Breathing Control Techniques\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-marksmanship-breathing-control-techniques\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1491\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to Bergara Academy instructor William \u201cBart\u201d Bartholomew<\/a>, a few fundamentals will improve stability:<\/p><ul><li>Avoid contact between the barrel and the support, as it affects the natural barrel whip and decreases accuracy.<\/li><li>Cushion the rifle on the support to prevent it from sliding, ideally positioning support just behind the front sling swivel.<\/li><li>Whenever possible, <a title=\"Rifle Marksmanship: Key Elements of Good Shooting Positions\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/key-elements-of-a-good-shooting-position\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shoot from the prone position for maximum stability<\/a>.<\/li><li>Ensure the rifle aligns straight on the support to allow recoil to flow directly backward, improving precision.<\/li><\/ul><h4>4. Master Trigger Control &#8211; 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/h4><p>Trigger control is one of the most challenging yet essential <a title=\"Long Range Shooting Etiquette\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/long-range-shooting-etiquette\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1483\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">principles in long-range shooting<\/a>. Proper trigger control minimizes disturbances to your setup, maintaining sight picture and body alignment. Ideal finger placement is between the fingertip and second joint. Dry firing at home can help you practice your technique without needing to go to the range. This practice can significantly reduce common shooting errors, especially for beginners.<\/p><h4>5. Practice Breathing Techniques &#8211; 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/h4><p>Controlled breathing can help relax the body and reduce movement. Snipers often use the &#8220;respiratory pause&#8221; method, timing shots during a natural pause in exhalation. This is typically a 2-3 second window when the body is at its calmest. Even for recreational <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/tag\/shooters\/\">shooters<\/a>, this technique helps steady the shot. Take the time you need to settle both your breathing and heartbeat.<\/p><hr \/><figure id=\"attachment_7218\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7218\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7218\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG_4250-1024x683-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Long Range Shooting\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/IMG_4250-1024x683-1.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/IMG_4250-1024x683-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/IMG_4250-1024x683-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/IMG_4250-1024x683-1-960x640.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/IMG_4250-1024x683-1-450x300.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/03\/IMG_4250-1024x683-1-150x100.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7218\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/making-the-shot\/\">Long Range<\/a> Shooting<\/figcaption><\/figure><h3>Bonus Tip: Practice Consistency &#8211; 5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/h3><p><a title=\"Rifle Shooting and Academic Knowledge\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-shooting-and-academic-knowledge\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1489\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Consistent practice is essential in refining your skills<\/a>. Just like playing basketball or golf, the more you <a title=\"hot weather shooting techniques\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/tag\/hot-weather-shooting-techniques\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1485\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shoot with proper technique<\/a>, the better you\u2019ll become. Long-range shooting requires commitment to honing each element\u2014rifle choice, optics, rest, trigger control, and breathing. Invest the time and resources, and the \u201cring of steel\u201d from your long-range shots will be more rewarding.<\/p><p>For more in-depth guidance on mastering these skills, explore our <strong><a title=\"Rifle Marksmanship : Shot Analysis\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/rifle-marksmanship-shot-analysis\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1492\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rifle Marksmanship Series<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p><ul><li>Part 1 &#8211; Scope Fundamentals<\/li><li>Part 2 &#8211; Trigger Control Equals Success<\/li><li>Part 3 &#8211; Follow Through<\/li><li>Part 4 &#8211; <a title=\"What is Good Marksmanship?\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/what-is-good-marksmanship\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1486\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Breathing Control Techniques<\/a><\/li><li>Part 5 &#8211; Key Elements of a Good Shooting Position<\/li><li>Part 6 &#8211; Supported Shooting Positions<\/li><li>Part 7 &#8211; Shot Analysis<\/li><\/ul><figure id=\"attachment_1372\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1372\" style=\"width: 970px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1372 size-full\" title=\"Rifles Scopes\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/TRACT-ELR_970x250.jpg\" alt=\"Rifle Scopes\" width=\"970\" height=\"250\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1372\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rifle Scopes<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><span style=\"color: #3366ff\"><a style=\"color: #3366ff\" title=\"Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tractoptics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener sponsored\"><strong>FOLLOW US: FACEBOOK<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 Long Range Shooting Tips<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12024,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2265,2267,2273],"tags":[2566,2899,2906,3032,3157,3158,3159,3160,3161,3162,3163,3164,3165,3166,3167,3169,3186,3189,3190,3191,3192,3202,3203],"class_list":["post-2147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rifle-scope","category-shooting-skills","category-tractoptics","tag-competition-shooting","tag-long-range-rifle-scope","tag-long-range-shooting","tag-rifle-scope","tag-scope-sighting","tag-scope-throw-lever","tag-scope-tracking-target-printable","tag-scope-tracking-test","tag-scope-turret","tag-scope-turret-adjustment","tag-scope-turrets","tag-scope-turrets-explained","tag-scope-windage","tag-scope-windage-adjustment","tag-scope-windage-and-elevation","tag-scope-with-ballistic-calculator","tag-shipping-game-meat","tag-shooting","tag-shooting-a-moving-target","tag-shooting-at-a-moving-target","tag-shooting-at-moving-targets","tag-shooting-moving-target","tag-shooting-moving-targets"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2147"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11307,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2147\/revisions\/11307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}