Long Range Precision Shooting
First of all, what distance is “Long Range?” There are arguments about where mid range turns to long range and where extreme long range begins. We use the term “long range” to encompass all, but more specifically, the generally agreed upon breakdown is kinda-sorta:
- 200 to 400 yards is Mid-Range
- 400 to 1,200 yards is Long-Range
- 1,200 to a mile is Extreme Long Range (ELR)
- A mile and beyond is Extended ELR
Having said this, a shooter that has on one occasion hit a target at 1,050 should not consider himself an “Extreme Long Range Shooter.”
D.O.P.E.
D.O.P.E. refers to Data Observed from Previous Engagements. The term is used as shorthand for describing elevation and windage adjustments for shots. It is almost always used casually in a non-technically correct manner, but everyone “gets it.”
Examples include,
- “What is your dope for 700 yards?”
- “My dope says I should have 2.5 mils for this wind, but it is hitting more like 2.”
- “I am dope-ing it as 39 minute up and 6 left.”
Most shooters have a log book that they constantly update with data. Many use electronic ballistic calculators to calculate their “dope” and most good shooters have confirmed their dope in the field.
Log Book – Data Sheet
Most long range shooters keep a good record of their shooting.
Where can I learn to shoot a sniper rifle?
This is a common question that brings up another point. What is a the difference between a hunting rifle, a target rifle and a sniper rifle? It is mostly the name, however shooters with different purposes have some different options.
