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AR15.COM
1/15/2026 3:40:51 PM EDT
[Last Edit: usncorpsman1][Edited]
Yesterday has got to be the best day I have ever had at the range. There are not many places to shoot long range in my area so I made the hour drive to Bradford Sportsman Farm to qualify on their 850yd range.

I had never shot past 200yds with a scope on a static range and my longest was 500yds open sights on the Marine rifle range. I was a little nervous even though I am a fairly decent shooter.

Qualification consists of 1 shot on target at 400,500,600,700,800 and 850yds. You then dial back and do the same in reverse. Next you do holdovers at 400, 600, and 800. Finally you have to place 3 shots on target at 850 on a 24x24 target.

The day was perfect. Temp was 55 degrees with no wind or mirage to speak of. I set up my gear which was inspected by the instructor who was absolutely wonderful and full of knowledge. He set up his gun and spotter and class began.

My instructor had me dial up to 850 for a cold bore shot. My heart jumped as I was not thinking we would start out at that range. I had already plugged my data into the Hornady ballistics App and printed out little cheat sheets do I dialed up 7.36 mils and fired a shot. The instructor yelled impact. I was hooked at that moment and the rest of the class went extremely smooth. As a matter of fact, it did not feel like a class at all. The instructor is just that good.

I was extremely impressed with my GAP 6GT using Hornady 108 ELDM’S. By the time I left, I was hitting 8” plates at 850 with ease. Same with the Sig Cross using Hornady 123 ELDM’S. I left extremely confident in my shooting abilities, my rifles, optics and especially my reloads.

I have to give a shout out to my lovely wife. She got me an annealing machine for Christmas and I was able to keep my 6GT and 6.5 Creedmoor SD’s in the single digits. This no doubt helps when trying to shoot consistently at longer ranges.
1/15/2026 3:55:32 PM EDT
[#1]
Awesome post. Sounds like a great day.
1/15/2026 5:19:37 PM EDT
[#2]
Awesome! It is addictive
1/15/2026 7:48:16 PM EDT
[#3]
I did a fun shoot on our LR precision range.  What a hoot, but I took possibly the worst rifle/optic combo for the task.
6.5cm Ruger with a 1x6 hunting optic.  Even the 4’ plate at 1000 was small.  Some guy was doing the job with a 20” AR and heavy bullets, and a huge scope.

I could get into it I think.

If life was easy nobody would quit.
1/15/2026 8:16:11 PM EDT
[#4]
Good time, there's something really satisfying about hearing the smack on steel at extended ranges.
America is at that awkward stage, it’s too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards....Claire Wolfe
1/15/2026 8:43:34 PM EDT
[#5]
Well. The wind is the hard part. Even alternative positions aren't as bad. At least you can dry fire alternative positions.
1/15/2026 10:46:08 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Bearcat24][Edited] [#6]
Wait until you hit 1000 yards. Big woody! Especially when you hit 10 out of 10. Did this with a RPR 338LM with my reloads. Awesome feeling. Brought my Savage 308 just to see. 4 out of 10.
1/15/2026 10:52:07 PM EDT
[#7]
I completely understand.

I’ll be 56 tomorrow and it makes me feel like a little kid with the coolest toys.

Smaking the smallest steel as far away as possible.

Turning money into noise is what my mother called my shooting addiction.
1/16/2026 12:04:34 AM EDT
[#8]
Sounds like a good time! Just keep pushing it out further!