High Power rifle shooting ranges ?

[Hammer1]

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Was looking at the website of a shooting range which advertised their High Power rifle shooting range.

On the website, they said their HP rifle range went to 500 yards.

Realize that some ranges might not have 1,000 yard shooting or Palma shooting, but thought regular High Power rifle involved 200, 300, and 600 yards.

How would they do the 600 yard shooting limited to only 500 yards ?

Reduced size targets ?

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[Jim Watson]

Yes.
You can get targets scaled to about any shorter range.
There are reduced course matches with everything at 100 yards. The targets are just smaller.

The MR-1 600 yard target has a 12 inch Ten Ring, the MR-65 500 yard target has a 10 inch Ten Ring, right at 5/6 scale.

[kraigwy]

Many HP matches are fired at 500 yards as opposed to 600 yards because of range limitations.

There are also HP matches fired totally on 100 yard ranges. I've even seen them fired across the course at 200.

Range limitations determine the course, not rules. Its all legal.

[Hammer1]

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Can a 600 yard record be set or a championship won on a 500 yard reduced target ?

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[kraigwy]

Can a 600 yard record be set or a championship won on a 500 yard reduced target ?

Nope

[Hammer1]

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Can a leg point towards Distinguished be earned ?

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[kraigwy]

Leg Points or the EIC program is administered by the Civilian Marksmanship Program which require the full course (200, 300, & 600 yards) with the exception of some "first time- 4 pt EIC points"

[4EVERM-14]

Don't think that the reduced targets are any easier then the full distance. They are a challenge and an excellent substitute for the full course.

[Don H]

It seems to me that wind conditions and mirage, and the ability to accurately 'dope' them, would be minimized in a reduced-range course and impart an unfair advantage over those who shoot a full-range course. Is this an accurate observation?

[kraigwy]

Wind is going to get you, but these matches are won and lost on your hind legs. 25% of a normal 80 shot high power match is standing. 40% is rapid fire at 200 & 300 where wind isnt going to get you near as much as your posistion.

20% is laying on you belly shooting slow fire at 600 yards. You can chase spotters (which I'm against) and beat your off hand scores.

Frankly not many of us can practice 600 yard shooting. We just don't have the ranges available plus someone to pull targets for our practice. So learn the fomula (angle of flag / 4 - Velocity) and mid range flags to devermine wind speed, And R*V/10 to make your wind corrections. Not perfect but close. (Range in 100 yards times wind velocity divided by 10 = number of MOA corrections for full value wind)

Then use 100 yard reduced targets to work on offhand and rapid fire. Spend most of your practice off hand, thats where you'll loose most of your points. Dry fire the heck out of your rifle.

Rapid fire is nothing more then a good position, NPI, and followthrough. You can get that by slinging up and watching TV over your front sight.

Don't underestimate the value of practicing with 100 yard reduced targets.

Something I use to do to work on my Offhand during the winter was shoot cast bullets at 50 Ft NRA Small bore targets at a 50 Ft indoor range.

[Don H]

Thank you for the insight!

[dennymac]

Good afternoon. Our club has a 500 yard range and we shoot reduced F Class and NRA High Power Rifle matches. To be honest, I hate the 500 yard target, but it is what it is. It does not seem to be any easier to hit than the 600 yard target, but it just feels different. You should try a few matches at 500 before you get too put off by the distance differences. Even at the lowly 500 yard line there can be significant wind effects. It is hard to tell much difference between the 2 distances, at least for me. Our club is the Southern Indiana Rifle & Pistol Club in Borden, Indiana (http://sirapc.com). We shoot 500 yard practice days the first Saturday of the month March through December. We charge $5 per person to help with the range expenses, and you do not have to be a member to attend. Everyone is welcome to try their luck, with any rifle that you can haul to the line. We shoot everything from .223 to .50 BMG. Come and join us. DennyMac

[darkgael]

Something I use to do to work on my Offhand during the winter was shoot cast bullets at 50 Ft NRA Small bore targets at a 50 Ft indoor range.
I'd sure like to know more about that. The load. The effect of lead on the gas system, if any.
If you have a moment.
Pete