Long range newbie...training in NorCal?

[NorCalAthlete]

Hi all...

Found this forum through the Calguns.net forums. I just bought a POF .308 20" AR for getting into long range (500-1000 yard) shooting. Reading articles and watching videos online is one thing, but nothing beats hands on shooting with someone who knows what they're doing for really learning how to shoot long range. I live in San Mateo, so I think the closest range would be Sacramento Valley, but if anyone knows of any closer ones to me that'd be great as well. So, is there anyone who wouldn't mind taking a newbie out and schooling me on this? Thanks in advance...

edit - and yes I used the search function, nothing popped up for "NorCal" or "Northern California" other than 1 post on weightlifting and 1 other one on some match results.

[DirtRacer151]

Calguns.net

I just bought a POF .308 20" AR for getting into long range (500-1000 yard) shooting.

Yes, Sac Valley is an awesome range that you MUST see!! Go visit the NorCal boys at NCPPRC on their forum to find out practice dates and such.
BTW... RUN!! ;)

[NorCalAthlete]

Heh, yeah yeah I know, here come the "OMG PISTONS CAN'T SHOOT ACCURATELY" crowd. Ummm maybe I missed something but I didn't see a norcal board? Is it a separate forum completely?

[GforceJunkie]

http://www.ncpprc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DirtRacer151]

here come the "OMG PISTONS CAN'T SHOOT ACCURATELY" crowd.

I speak from experience my friend

[264Charlie]

Heh, yeah yeah I know, here come the "OMG PISTONS CAN'T SHOOT ACCURATELY" crowd. Ummm maybe I missed something but I didn't see a norcal board? Is it a separate forum completely?

Sent from my iPhone.

Board is not as active as this one but you can find event info on the NCPPRC site.

...and pistons don't shoot sorry If you don't like it. It's not a crowd but simple facts.

[NorCalAthlete]

Got the forum, registered and waiting for approval. Thanks for the link

As for piston vs DI - I'd say it's at least 85% shooter, 10% rifle, 5% luck with wind and whatnot (give or take). When you're talking 3/4 MOA vs 1.2 MOA...yeah that's a difference of several inches or whatever at long range, but I'm more worried about being able to hit a 2'x2' target than being able to take the wings off a fly you know? I'm still learning!

edit - nice rifle I ordered the PRS stock with mine, how do you like it? I've heard some people complain that it puts you too far back from the scope, but it seems to me that's easily fixed by moving your mounts...or the scope within the mounts a bit.

[Juice5610]

but I'm more worried about being able to hit a 2'x2' target than being able to take the wings off a fly you know? I'm still learning!

This makes no sense... Even if your still learning, why settle?

[264Charlie]

Got the forum, registered and waiting for approval. Thanks for the link

As for piston vs DI - I'd say it's at least 85% shooter, 10% rifle, 5% luck with wind and whatnot (give or take). When you're talking 3/4 MOA vs 1.2 MOA...yeah that's a difference of several inches or whatever at long range, but I'm more worried about being able to hit a 2'x2' target than being able to take the wings off a fly you know? I'm still learning!

edit - nice rifle I ordered the PRS stock with mine, how do you like it? I've heard some people complain that it puts you too far back from the scope, but it seems to me that's easily fixed by moving your mounts...or the scope within the mounts a bit.

Are you trying to convince me or yourself you made a good choice? I call tell you are still leaning and the best advise I can give you is listen to people that have made the same mistakes.. James did not post his rifle to show how nice it is but that he made the same mistake. It's a f*ing POS.

You will never learn to shoot trying to hit a 2'x2' target. You lean to shoot well by shooting 3/4MOA or less targets at all times. Anyone can hit a 2'x2' target inside of 700.

As for the 85% shooter, 10% rifle and 5% luck you could not be further form the truth... You must have a good rig to trust your shots and calls... To compete and win it's 100% rifle & 100% shooter... Luck has nothing to do with it. A great shooter with a POS will maybe equal and average shooter with a killer rig. If your rig or game is off, you will place mid pack now days. Remember the difference of a good shot or a bad one at 1K is only 12". Tthat includes shooter errors, wind calls, and rifle slop.

Not only will you be lucky, very lucky to get 1MOA out of your rifle but it's going to shoot very slow. At 1k accuracy is important but so is speed. Find my barrel length thread for more info.

[AR15barrels]

edit - nice rifle I ordered the PRS stock with mine, how do you like it?

He fought it and fought it and fought it before finally getting rid of it and getting a bolt gun that was much more accurate.

[MichaelV]

Got the forum, registered and waiting for approval. Thanks for the link

As for piston vs DI - I'd say it's at least 85% shooter, 10% rifle, 5% luck with wind and whatnot (give or take). When you're talking 3/4 MOA vs 1.2 MOA...yeah that's a difference of several inches or whatever at long range, but I'm more worried about being able to hit a 2'x2' target than being able to take the wings off a fly you know? I'm still learning!

edit - nice rifle I ordered the PRS stock with mine, how do you like it? I've heard some people complain that it puts you too far back from the scope, but it seems to me that's easily fixed by moving your mounts...or the scope within the mounts a bit.

Hey NorcalA,

Welcome! This forum is a high precision crowd, so the your piston AR is not going to get the love here you might be looking for. (AR15.com might be more your peeps.) Piston 308 ARs are cool and fun to shoot in the desert, hitting watermelons and having some chuckles with friends but you aren't going to be competitive with the precision Norcal guys on their range. (those guys are really really good, -ask me how I know ; )

There is a bunch of info on this board and while we don't shoot semis much, they can be really accurate with the right tweaks. Enjoy your new stick!

MV

[DirtRacer151]

He fought it and fought it and fought it before finally getting rid of it and getting a bolt gun that was much more accurate.

^ this

I sent that POS back to the factory 2x before finally giving up and selling it. I think they've solved their CS issue but the CS guy there was a complete asshole.

You're making this more of a DA vs Piston argument where most of us are more concerned with it being a semi in the first place. We will leave the DA vs Piston debate to calguns.

Semis are a bitch to shoot well. They must be driven much differently. Follow up shots are not always as quick and on target as you would hope. Most of the time you're just going to be sending hail marys. I'm willing to bet money that at just about any distance with 10rds at an MOA sized target that i will put more hits on that target in a faster time with my bolt gun then you can with your POF. We're not talking spray and pray either.

I once had the same ideas as you. Semis just look so much cooler and who wouldn't want the ability for those quick follow ups when zombies hit the earth. Then i brought my 20" POF out with CaPRC and stretched her out. Its a bitch to get loads hot enough to make it accurately to 1k in a semi. I was popping primers all day long and replacing firing pins just to keep up. You will be at even more disadvantage shooting at Sac Valley because of the Density Altitude there. I was lucky to be shooting at high elevation on hot days. Honestly the POF will be fine if you're looking for a zombie gun or just blasting with your buds in the desert but for learning 1k its the least desirable platform you can use next to a 10/22.

We aren't trying to convince you to buy a bolt action and sell your POF to shoot 1k...ya know? We're just trying to tell you to sell that POF and get a bolt gun instead if you wanna shoot 1k... make sense?!!

(just remember... we don't shoot bolt guns because WE think they look cooler. I think any one of us would rather have a semi that ran as good and fast but its just not possible in this day and age)

[264Charlie]

^ this

I sent that POS back to the factory 2x before finally giving up and selling it. I think they've solved their CS issue but the CS guy there was a complete asshole.

You're making this more of a DA vs Piston argument where most of us are more concerned with it being a semi in the first place. We will leave the DA vs Piston debate to calguns.

Semis are a bitch to shoot well. They must be driven much differently. Follow up shots are not always as quick and on target as you would hope. Most of the time you're just going to be sending hail marys. I'm willing to bet money that at just about any distance with 10rds at an MOA sized target that i will put more hits on that target in a faster time with my bolt gun then you can with your POF. We're not talking spray and pray either.

I once had the same ideas as you. Semis just look so much cooler and who wouldn't want the ability for those quick follow ups when zombies hit the earth. Then i brought my 20" POF out with CaPRC and stretched her out. Its a bitch to get loads hot enough to make it accurately to 1k in a semi. I was popping primers all day long and replacing firing pins just to keep up. You will be at even more disadvantage shooting at Sac Valley because of the Density Altitude there. I was lucky to be shooting at high elevation on hot days. Honestly the POF will be fine if you're looking for a zombie gun or just blasting with your buds in the desert but for learning 1k its the least desirable platform you can use next to a 10/22.

We aren't trying to convince you to buy a bolt action and sell your POF to shoot 1k...ya know? We're just trying to tell you to sell that POF and get a bolt gun instead if you wanna shoot 1k... make sense?!!

(just remember... we don't shoot bolt guns because WE think they look cooler. I think any one of us would rather have a semi that ran as good and fast but its just not possible in this day and age)

Well said


Sent from my iPhone.

[NorCalAthlete]

Hahahaha much <3 guys. I'm here to learn. I guess I should have mentioned I have a Remington 700 too... though even with that one I bought the VTR instead of an SPS or something. Didn't know the difference at the time and figured they were all pretty much the same...then found out how many different models of Remington 700s there are! Sorry, didn't mean to make this a DI vs Piston argument, it's just usually the first thing I hear. I understand the points about having a perfect rig and perfect shooter working in perfect combination to win matches. I can shoot tight groups, with or without optics, I've just never shot past 300-400 yards before with a rifle. The Remington will likely get built up for a custom bolt action once I get comfortable shooting long ranges, or I'll just end up buying another rifle entirely. Sucks about selling your rifle though DirtRacer...you can never have too many firearms!

I didn't buy the POF just because it looks cool or for zombie SHTF...(though it does). I like the ergonomics of the AR platform...it's what I'm used to shooting through the military...and I figured between the longer barrel, twist rate, .308 instead of 5.56, etc it'd be a better long range platform than the Remington or my other AR.

Oh, and I don't care about love for my rifle...it could be the ugliest, most hated thing on the range for all I care as long as it shoots and works. If it's not up to spec...then like I said you'll be seeing me posting about custom builds! Hehehehe...anyway I look forward to shooting with you guys and learning from you.