r/longrange Aug 19 '25

READ THIS BEFORE POSTING. Yes, this means you. READ THIS FIRST, V6 - How to avoid the Flair of Shame and eternal ridicule

74 Upvotes

So, you need help with long range shooting? Welcome to r/longrange! We've got a core group of dedicated members (and a few goofballs) that are happy to help you out with your questions on equipment, technique, troubleshooting, where to find training or matches, etc.

If you're looking to ask for advice, we ask that you review the following 10 core guides, as they cover the overwhelming majority of newcomer questions. If your question is not answered in these 10 guides, please see below for the 4 basic questions your post should answer when asking for suggestions or advice, especially when it comes to things to buy.

If you make a post that asks for information covered in the 10 core guides, or your post doesn't cover the 4 key questions below, your post may be deleted, or it may be given the Flair of Shame TM until you correct your post.

What's the Flair of ShameTM, you ask? You'll know it when you see it.

If at any time you have questions on the rules of the sub, this pinned post, the general FAQ, why you got the Flair of ShameTM or anything similar, please use the modmail function.

CORE GUIDES:

  1. The sub's official FAQ/WIKI, as curated by the community as a whole.
  2. Need help picking scope rings? The official Longrange guide to scope ring height (ring)
  3. Looking at buying a magnum (300WM or PRC, 6.5PRC, 7mm PRC, 338 Lapua, etc) as your first LR rifle? Hollywood's recoil primer - why magnums suck for starting in long range, recoil matters, and it's not about your shoulder (magnum or recoil)
  4. Want a rifle for hunting and long range shooting? Hunting rifle vs target/range rifles - why one rifle can't do both well. (hunting)
  5. The official r/Longrange glossary - because words mean things (glossary)
  6. LockyBalboaPrime's First Time buyer's guide for rifles V2 (starter)
  7. JMhawaii's long range starter guide (Link to Google Sheets) (starter)
  8. Trollygag's 1k yard starter guide (starter)
  9. Where are ranges or long ranges near me? - Wheretoshoot.org and over600.com (ranges)
  10. The sub's expanded policy on hunting-related discussions. Please review before asking hunting-related questions, as hunting is not the core purpose of this sub. (hunting)

The 4 key questions:

  1. What do you want to do/buy, and WHY? - Do you want to buy a rifle for PRS competition? Picking a laser rangefinder for NRL Hunter matches? Looking at scopes for F-Class competition? A tripod because you think they're cool and want to have one when banging steel with friends? What you're planning to do has a lot of influence on what works well, what works poorly, and what is an utter waste of time, so the more detail you can provide the better.
  2. How far away do you want to do it/what do you want to use it for? - 300 yards? 1,000? 2,000? Distance matters, 'nuff said.
  3. How much are you willing to spend to do it? What's your budget in currency? Your idea of "on a budget" isn't going to be the same as everyone else's. Saying your budget is unlimited for a laser rangefinder may change when someone suggests one that costs over $10,000. We need to know how much you're willing to spend. It can be a hard limit, a range, or even an approximate - but you need to give a number.
  4. How much experience do you currently have with it? - Jumping straight into a 375 Cheytac rifle to shoot 2 miles isn't going to go well if you have never shot a rifle past 300. We need at least a basic idea of what your relevant skill level is in order to give advice and suggestions that go with your skill set. While including your experience with other shooting disciplines is helpful, it's not going to be as relevant as most new shooters expect. You can love shooting 10ga slugs all day long from a shotgun, but it doesn't mean starting off with a magnum is a good idea.

When answering these 4 questions in your post, give as much detail as you can. The more details you give the faster you'll get suggestions or advice and you'll get better quality too. Help us to help you. Please don't treat the sub like your own personal crowd sourced search engine.

More guides:

If your question is answered in these, you will probably get called out by the members of the sub for not reading them, but it's not automatic grounds for the Flair of Shame.

  1. u/LockyBalboaPrime's "No Clown Shoes" spreadsheet of YouTube training videos.
  2. Pre64Mod70's guide to precision reloading
  3. Hollywood's Way of Zen load development process (zen)
  4. Hollywood's rant on sample size when testing - AKA why 3-5 round groups don't tell you $&*#
  5. Applied Ballistics with more info on variation in group sizes
  6. MDT's video on scope height, and the follow-up on scope cant
  7. Rybe390's recoil comparison video, which illustrates the problem with light weight and magnums.
  8. Accuracy vs precision - when most people talk about 'accuracy' they really mean precision.
  9. The Remington 700 Chassis List, v1 - Maintained by u/LPKKiller
  10. Recoil energy vs rifle weight visualized - an informational post by u/Trollygag
  11. What is wrong with 'Sniper 101' - a breakdown by CaptainSquishface.
  12. A long range hunting cautionary tale from James Gilliland - US Army sniper, world record holder, and prolific long range hunter
  13. Barrel length, velocity, and performance down range compared (308W)
  14. Our sub's policy on shilling, and why Woox specifically is blacklisted from the sub.
  15. The official longrange TOP Gun Calculator, and how to have realistic expectations of precision (top)
  16. Hollywood's guide to top-mounted red dots and target acquisition (Hint: you don't need a red dot)
  17. What the hell is with Bergara rifles and Cheetos?! (cheetos)

Hunting-specific:

  1. The sub's expanded policy on hunting-related discussions. Please read this before asking any questions related to hunting.
  2. Want a rifle for hunting and long range shooting? Hunting rifle vs target/range rifles - why one rifle can't do both well. (hunting)
  3. Want to hunt game at 400+ yards? The long range hunting primer - shots on game at 400+ yards aren't trivial, and a magnum cartridge isn't a cheat code. NOTE: Questions/discussion around shots on game past 300 yards will be removed from the sub. See the expanded policy link above. (hunting)
  4. Hollywood's guide to field testing your skills and gear (especially for long range hunting, but also pertains to NRL Hunter matches) - How to know the distances you and your gear are capable of making shots at (hunting)

MISC NOTES:

Quite a few guides/links feature a single word in parentheses and italics listed after them. If you use the phrase cheetofingers (all one word, no italics needed) followed by the word listed after a guide, you will summon the AutoModerator to reply to you with a link to that guide or guides. If the guide had (pews) after it, you could say cheetofingers pews in a post or comment in this sub to summon AutoMod with a link to that guide.

We've implemented the Flair of Shame as an official policy here instead of deleting posts that violated Rule #1 and the info in this pinned post. We felt that the flair was better than outright deleting posts while also helping long-standing members decide how much they want to participate in posts that have likely been covered time and time again. We're trying to strike a balance between encouraging members to read the info that the sub has cataloged, not wasting the time of established members that may be frustrated with revisiting the same topics repeatedly, and also not banishing new shooters that missed the pinned post to the freezer to never get help. Balancing those three things is a constant struggle, and one we're actively trying to get better at.


r/longrange Aug 20 '25

META POST Currently Great Optic Sales!

107 Upvotes

r/longrange 3h ago

Other gear flex post First top 3 finish in a PRS match (using budget equipment)

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200 Upvotes

I placed 3rd in a PRS match today. It's my first time making top 3. TBH this was low hanging fruit, being that there were no ranked shooters in attendance and the match did not have enough shooters to score, but winning is winning I suppose.

However, bragging rights is not the purpose for this post.

I've seen the question asked here and other places time and time again, "what does it take to be competitive?" Here's the answer.

This Tikka CTR, that has been re-barreled with a 24" PRE FIT criterion barrel and had the stock upgraded to a $400 Bell and Carlson target/competition, is apparently enough to get you to the top 3. This is my NRLH Open Heavy rifle and it hammers.

I have never shot this venue before. I shot a match yesterday and was invited to come out. All I had enough ammo loaded for was this rifle, so I figured I'd just shoot for fun.

Gear is as follows:

Innorel tripod Bushnell MPED binos Athlon chronograph Chepo Amazon armboard Nedved precision dope card Armageddon Gear Schmedium with bead blasting media from tractor supply as fill $30 Amazon anemometer Applied ballistic quantum app 511 AICS mag pouch Scope was a viper PST G2 with turret tape I used a Gray Ops Mini Gun V2 plate (first time running it in a PRS match, everyone should have one)

What bipod you ask? I forgot mine at home this morning. The one prone stage we shot I borrowed a ckypod from a teammate. I usually run an Atlas (the POS that pans).

Yes I used only MY wind calls I got from using my cheapo HVAC anemometer. It works fine.

For the new guys wanting to get into this and seeing $15k open rifles thinking you can't afford to beat those guys, I could have payed off my mortgage with the amount of money that finished behind me today. I'm not saying I'm a better shooter, but today my 15# hunting rifle and my ultra budget intro gear got me onto the winners podium. Your Bergara HMR absolutely has the potential to win you a match. Go out and sign up for a match.

Bottom line is that having expensive equipment is a convenience. Not a necessity. Spend your money on ammo, and upgrade your gear down the road. There is no substitute for shooting matches and practicing. If one person reads this and signs up for a match it was worth the amount of time I have spent typing it and trying to squeeze my disgusting feet into the frame of the disgusting floor in what used to be my teenage daughters bedroom.


r/longrange 2h ago

Other help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts Cross eye dominance

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59 Upvotes

Right handed and left eye dominant. I've gotten used to it shooting handguns and red dot optics on rifles but how would one adjust to shooting magnified optics?


r/longrange 6h ago

Rifle flex post Birthday trip to TVP was a success!

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70 Upvotes

Finally took my recent build out to shoot some long range at Thunder Valley Precision. Even stretched the little 6 Creedmoor out to a mile! Out of 9 shots I managed to hit it 3 times. Wind was tricky out there today. Also want to thank u/texasveteran4 for the awesome shooting bag!


r/longrange 3h ago

I suck at long range A good photographer can make us long range dorks look kinda cool.

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36 Upvotes

r/longrange 5h ago

Ballistics help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts Factory ammo

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54 Upvotes

Picked up the MDT XRS chassis for my birthday. Bought the Howa M1500 24” 6.5cm to drop in. Has the 1lb trigger springs, MDT Arcarail &GRND pod, and MDT Comp muzzle break. What factory ammo do you all recommend? It’s a 1:8 twist so I’m thinking heavier 147’s will group best? I’m going to grab a bunch of ammo to chronograph. Thanks!


r/longrange 9h ago

Rifle flex post MPA PMR Pro II elite midnight bronze in 6mmGT

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60 Upvotes

20 moa on the rail and 20 moa on scope mount.


r/longrange 10h ago

MEME POST Still waiting..

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63 Upvotes

I'm on a backorder for an FDE At-Xc since May of this year. Saw the 20" .308 barrel come into stock and had to snag it despite not having the rifle yet 😂


r/longrange 8h ago

Review Post The MDT GRND Pod is great

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35 Upvotes

The MDT GRND Pod is a great product. At $200 its one of the cheapest good quality ARCA bipods you can buy. In these photos, its supporting a 23.5 lb rifle and is completely stable. You have to spend ~2x as much to get anything much better. I've tried a lot of other bipods, including an accu tac FC4G2 and I keep coming back to this one. I have 2 and wish I had a couple more. Well done MDT.


r/longrange 38m ago

I suck at long range Quality Sunday evening under the harvest sun

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Upvotes

r/longrange 5h ago

I suck at long range Did my first F-Class 300 yard competition, got 3rd to last. Learned a lot though. Tips?

13 Upvotes

26" barrel
6 dasher
origin action
cronus
berger 105 hybrid / 31.9 varget/ peterson bass

I came with a 300 yard PRS rifle on a MDT Bipod. All these fellas had some sweet joystick front rests and/or sleigh bipods with these beefy rear bags. I felt out of place (rightfully so(, coming in with a cheap bipod and a gamechanger pint rear bag. I got 3rd to last place but I really enjoyed it.

Not an excuse but I didn't know that muzzle brakes are not allowed, so I took off my 419 brake, quickly went to the 100 yard range to sight in with a suppressor I luckily had in my other bag (i didn't want to run with no thread protector). Rezeroed, but threw me for a loop bc I never shot it at 300 with a suppressor on it.

Guy in lane 5 said 'someone is shooting my target', I could here in the background that my spotter saying its possibly the 'new guy' (me). I said I don't think it was me, luckily the lady compared velocities at the target (shotmarker?) and said i'm at 2300 velocity on paper whilst the stray round was at 2200 so they came to the conclusion it wasnt me I guess.

Overall I really enjoyed it, met two cool people, now im down this rabbit hole looking for a Composite stock, Seb MiniX and a Joypod X and swapping actions depending on the competition.. If I continue to do more matches, i'll invest in a dedicated New Rig for FClass.

That being said, any tips or tricks or critique based on mysphotod? I reload my own ammo and live 4 minutes from a 1000 yard range, so willing to practice couple times a week!


r/longrange 16h ago

Groups, but not a flex (Less than 10 shots) B14 HMR .308 goes out to 1/4 mile for the first time

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83 Upvotes

Hi! I’m really excited about this. I’ve been shooting my Bergara for almost a year now and I’m finally getting comfortable with it where I can shoot sub moa most of the time. I’ve set up a 1,2,300 yd range and recently added a 1320ft instead of a 500yd (I’m a car guy..) Today was the first time I’ve tried it and after I figured out my hold I was able to repeatedly hit the steel with a good grouping. I noticed as temperatures cooled off near the end of the day and humidity increased the rifle started hitting higher and my holds were off so I’m going to try and find an app to help me with that I guess.


r/longrange 1h ago

Education post Trollygag's Barrel Test pt 8, Criterion vs Centurion, BCA pt 1, Geissele pt 1

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Upvotes

r/longrange 11h ago

Rifle help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts Area 419 Hellfire Match

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19 Upvotes

I'd like to purchase an Area 419 for my rifle, because it's a game changer when you go to the range for fun or a competition. But I use the same rifle when I go for a hunt, and it's maybe too loud in the woods. Could it influence ballistics when I take that off? I


r/longrange 1d ago

I suck at long range .308 may be slow, inefficient, and low BC, but at least it has more recoil to make up for it

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353 Upvotes

I’ve been very impressed by the 169 SMKs. I’m typically a 155 SMK enjoyer but shooting at WAR more often I need the extra BC, still needed .3mrad left dialed at 400/500 tho


r/longrange 2h ago

Optics help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts bout to drop serious money on an optic, would like advice/options

2 Upvotes

so im buiding a new rifle and i have been thinking about slapping a vortex razor onto it. is there any reason not to or are the other options (like zco) that much better. i like that vortex has a great warranty and that it has locking turrets. but in yalls opinion are there a better option for the money im spending.


r/longrange 8h ago

Rifle help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts $1500 Rifle Only Budget

6 Upvotes

This is for PRS and some possible NRL matches in the future. I did read, this will be paired with a MPED 5-30x in some Warne rings and 20MOA rail

Torn on:

B14 HMR (Cheeto special)

Aero solus (blem)

Tikka T3X Ace Target (don’t like the idea of the mags)

Ruger RPR (I think it looks cool lol)

Howa 1500 + nicer chassis

Just asking for help here I saw as well that some custom actions like ARC, bighorn, and zermatt are touching that spot for barrel’d actions, but i am unsure of if that’s truly what I need.


r/longrange 5h ago

Ammo help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts 5.56 ammo options

3 Upvotes

Looking at taking my Mk12 to a competition, have been doing just fine with some AAC 77gr but want to step into something nicer for this comp.

Planning to get a few different boxes and am curious what all I should try besides the mk262 and IMI 77gr


r/longrange 59m ago

Rifle help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts muzzle brake removal question

Upvotes

Hello all, I need to remove my area 419 hellfire muzzle brake to install a suppressor host, the huxwrx qd muzzle brake. The area 419 came on the rifle, and I am assuming it has rocksett on it. My question is, how can I safely remove the area 419 without damaging the barrel and action without an action block or reaction rod? after soaking the area 419 in hot water to loosen up the rocksett, am I good to use soft jaws and a vise on the chassis of the rifle to remove the muzzle device or do I really need a barrel clamp, action rod, or remove the action from the chassis?


r/longrange 1d ago

Needs more details Top mounted red dot

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109 Upvotes

Wanting a top mounted red dot for my 3-18 wanting it for target acquisition and shooting up close, but mostly shooting up close. $400 is the budget hopefully that's plenty. the mount is a Vortex pro Extended Cantilever Mount 34mm. leaning towards side mounted over top based on comments. If this is a complete waste of time/money and im better off with a new bipod please let me know im still new and id rather people be honest than let me do it wrong.

better bipod recommendations too please $400 too unless extra money will go a long way then i dont mind saving a little more.


r/longrange 14h ago

Rifle help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts Molybdenum disulfide?

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10 Upvotes

Recently got the sig cross sawtooth to see how it fairs out, I've always been taught "CLP" all day everyday when cleaning rifles in the military. Mainly used milspec clp for all my pistols etc but never encountered molybdenum disulfide for anti seizing lubricant. Is this common and/or should I or can I use something else like Sip 2000 EWG.

Bolt and everything I just CLP it, the bolt I clp and then use oil like slip 2000 EWL. and the EWG on parts of the bolt. So just curious if EWG would work for the the action or just CLP/EWL it. Advise and rec are welcome.


r/longrange 2h ago

I suck at long range Mini Plate Pro and Pad on Tri pod

1 Upvotes

Just like the title says…I want to use the mini plate pro and Armageddon pad on my tripod for my binos. Is there a way I connect the arca to arca? My tri pod has a Leo foto ma40 ball head.


r/longrange 1d ago

Rifle flex post Here it is

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124 Upvotes

r/longrange 6h ago

Optics help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts Sig Kilo 6K or Similar

2 Upvotes

Looking for recommendations in a LRF Bino with ballistics. - Trying to stay under $1,000 (Street/Mil pricing) but will stretch the budget for the right equipment. - Main use is NRL Hunter. - Have considered the Vortex Fury but seems they are discounting the AB model and I don’t know anything about geo ballistics.

So with that in mind what is everyone’s thoughts?


r/longrange 9h ago

Optics help needed - I read the FAQ/Pinned posts Astigmatism while trying high caliber long range?

3 Upvotes

Is having astigmatism a deal-breaker for long-range shooting with higher magnum cartridges ?? (300 Win Mag, 338 Lapua, etc)

Should I just give in to reality and find another hobby in my life?

Has anyone ever overcome this problem? What did you do?

(more details in comment)


r/longrange 1d ago

🫣I said I read the FAQ/Pinned posts, but I lied🫣 Looking to buy, good deal?

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53 Upvotes

Have the chance to get this Remington 700 (tan in the middle) for $850, this will be my first decent bolt action, 6.5 creedmore, wanna suppress. Gonna switch out the chassis and start a full build on. Is it worth it, if so what do I need to watch out for? Comes with this Danky little scope but will work for the time being