Posted: 2/4/2013 8:39:09 PM EDT
|
Feb. 2-3, 2013
Independence Training Precision Rifle AAR -Class registration and pre-class communication was easy and provided all needed information. -02/02/2013-0700- Morning of class we assembled and did the standard “liability waivers” and meet and greet. Safety/Medical brief was short but covered all bases. (Note: Rule number 5-“Maintin control of your weapon at all times.”) -Everyone laid out gear on the 100m (meter) line. Quick talk about some of the differences of guns present, (EG- Semi Auto vs. Bolt) a discussion of how to use various scopes (few different reticles present) and our data books. At this time we were all provided with a ballistic worksheet containing information on our specific bullet loads, ammo make, and weight. Specs were asked for pre-class by Glen. (This was nice, since I didn’t even think about printing it out before hand) We were also each given, if needed, a “bean bag” to use. Yet another item I did not bring. -0800 (approx.)- We got into prone position. The instructors helped us get settled, and into proper form. As we all got set with scopes closed they marked proper cheek weld locations with some moleskin on the rifle stock, rifles if possible were adjusted to fit. Scope covers where then popped and scopes were aligned properly. -Data recorded (Alt, Temperature, Wind, Position of Sun, location and target type) and this would be recorded after every adjustment period. If something changed we were instructed to note it. (This paid off HUGE on day 2) We we’re also split into teams, this would help us keep an eye on conditions (Spotter) while concentrating on the shot (Shooter) mechanics. -Cold bore shot taken and recorded/Discussed. 3 shot group fired/recorded. Adjustments made to body position or settings…repeat. -This went on until everyone was comfortable with their groupings. Was looking like a LONG weekend, my groups sucked and trigger control was nonexistent…it showed. -Move to 200m, adjust scope for 200m. This is where I needed the sheet they provided, without it I would have been guessing where to even begin. Data recorded (I am seeing a pattern develop) Shoot 3, evaluate, adjust record repeat. -Range cold- to our targets for close up evaluation and markings. This is also where a new style target was brought in. We went over measuring distance using the mil-dot scope system. Ran some sample equations. Wind calculations were now being taught and measured, by sight and feel, and then adjustments calculated. Wind speeds verified by weather stations for those that had them. -300m, adjust scope for 300m. Shoot 3, evaluate, adjust record repeat. -100m-Day 1 Challenge. We set up to run a “small” challenge. The details I will leave out because like most of the “finals” for Independence, they are best done unknown. However, if you would have told me that morning we would be doing what we did, my answer would have been you crazy…”I” cannot do that. Needless to say I went 3 out of 5 for my shots, apparently I can do that. -02/03/2013-0700- Questions asked/answered. Short review of yesterday’s lessons and topics. -100m Cold Bore Shot taken and recorded. Compared to yesterday…what was different? About 10* cooler and the sky was cloudy, did that affect the outcome? Why/Why not was discussed. -300m, adjust scope for 300m based in yesterday’s data and today’s conditions. Shoot 3, evaluate, adjust record repeat. (Calling your shot had been addressed on day one, constant reminders starting NOW. Build a good habit base early) -400m, adjust scope for 400m. Shoot 3, evaluate, adjust record repeat. This is where my printed data started to fall apart. It got me in the ballpark, but learning my particular platform was becoming a requirement. -500m, adjust scope for 500m. Shoot 3, evaluate, adjust record repeat. Hello wind, we had everything from 0 wind to full value 15 MPH cross winds. Spotter was of great importance at this stage. Last shots before lunch I actually recorded my best group of the class so far. -Move to the unknown distance range after lunch. This place was AMAZING. Closest reactive target at 100m, our furthest target was 600m. Range is capable of I believe 1500m. -Worked in teams engaging single targets up to 5 with a time limit on target availability. Four hours of absolute fun. Shooter/spotter would switch every evolution. My shooting partner Ben ran 5 targets from <100m->500m in 38 seconds with me as spotter. Was a really accomplished feeling to know I provided him the information he needed to make hits on the quick. 5 shots 5 hits. Ben and I choose at the beginning of this range to NOT use range finders, we would succeed or fail by what we learned earlier in class. -Final test, individual challenge (No Spotter) - There is no ruining this…it is a straight up test of everything you have learned. 2 Steel Targets (5”x7”) randomly placed on the range. You had to spot, and then use scope only to distance the target (No rangefinders, etc) and make adjustments as needed. 5 shots, you MUST hit the closer target before you can engage the farther target. -Shot 1- Low Right -Shot 2- Right, Elevation Good -Shot 3- Hit -Shot 4- Low Right Target 2 -Shot 5- In the Target Stand- Windage Good, Elevation Low Recap, certificates handed out and class photos taken. Open Q&A/Critique Overall- This was a really amazing class for me. Some of it was because I have no real experience behind a bolt gun. I have done some shooting of them, but nothing that would push an average shooter. Glen, Josh, and Brett we prepared and knowledgeable about all topics that we discussed and the flow of the class moved along at about the perfect pace. I am a technical kind of person and really like to grasp step 1, 2, 3, 4 before even considering step 5. Well precision rifle does not really allow that, and as much as we crammed in that weekend, time was not available either. I got into the “groove” for position, at the 300m area. While it was not an issue, I would have liked some more foundational time closer to the targets. Maybe an optional pre-course of say 20 rounds even a week or so before would work? Go out and just get the “feel” for it. Another option I thought of is a staged series of courses. The reality is I like doing whatever it is I train in, and I just have no idea when I will be able to run these skills again. Now this is a good time to add, I was using a borrowed rifle, and the cheapest ammo I could find in this panic buying time of everything gun. Had I ever ran my rifle before this, I assume that would have been worked out. I could have asked more questions, and am fully confident the team of instructors would have helped. I basically didn’t know what to ask or do in the first few evolutions. Most of my thoughts were occupied by “don’t let the scope hit you in the face.” The facility was great, and the progression of subjects and difficulty was for me about spot on after 300m. Even the wind waited until I was comfortable in my skill to kick up. Before this class I always thought precision rifle was a HUGE money game, and while yes a lot of the high dollar gear gives an edge….If you can shoot and apply basic fundamentals, the “precision” part only magnifies your weak points as a shooter that need to be corrected. The class touched on “Long Range Shooting Mindset” and I would have liked more on this. Josh has a unique perspective when it comes to long range shooting and I would like to know more about his thought on the matter. Getting the mind right (in any skill set) is vital and I would have really liked more information about the staffs thoughts and lessons learned. Time was my greatest enemy in this class for if we had a week and I could afford it, I would show up fat, happy and ready to go each morning. Gear Used: Remington 700- 18”Barrel with unknown 6”-9” bi-pod (Borrowed) Bushnell Elite 3200 Tactical Rifle Scope 10x (fixed) 40mm Mil-Dot Reticle (Borrowed) NcStar Drag Bag/Shooters Mat (Borrowed) Leupold 10X42 Olympic Black Binoculars 308 Winchester, American Eagle, 150 Grain Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail x142 rounds Keep in mind the ENTIRE supply list above is sub $2000 in a normal retail market. While that is not cheap, before this class I was sure I “needed” to spend more than that on optics alone. Would “better” ammo/optics etc. have helped, yep. Was it needed to have a kick ass time and learn more than I imagined, NOPE. Best Shots by me: 3 Shot MOA group at 300m 2 Shot group 4” at 500m Final Challenge- Winner of Challenge I have a new “hobby” in shooting. While I enjoy handgun and carbine, those are both “life skill” training for me. Precision Rifle is something I am going to start doing for fun, the life skill part will be a bonus. Have fun and Stay Safe, Jason TCB LLC |
|
@Jared- Take the class. Like i noted i had to borrow damn near everything to make this work, others paid over market for ammo. The general talk at the end was that if we could continue the next day at any cost we would.
@Dual Shooter- Others were shooting match grade ammo. I fired a heavier match grade group of 3 from 400m that Glen gave me to shoot. The group size was literally cut in half, so yes ammo matters. Obviously point of impact shifted but i ran it as a grouping comparison of cheap vs. quality ammo. For adjustments on day 1 and the first half of day 2 (basically our time on known distance) I adjusted for elevation with the turrets and windage and combination of turret plus hold over as spotter saw the range conditions. This helped me build enough dope on the data sheets that when we got to the unknown distance I ran everything with holdovers except the final challenge. That was again a turret adjustment and trying to call my own windage with holdovers. If i could rewind and do it over, i would have overpaid for match grade ammo. i just was in a position of not taking the class or running it with lower grade plinking ammo. Glad i chose to run the course, but it would have been more valuable to run better ammo. This is especially true if i had been running my own rig. All of the dope i created is basically "practice" since i will not run that combination again and may never even get behind the that particular rifle again. |
|
Thank you for the review, Jason! This is one of my favorite courses, and I wish we had the interest level to teach it more often.
Quoted:
-02/02/2013-0700- Morning of class we assembled and did the standard “liability waivers” and meet and greet. Safety/Medical brief was short but covered all bases. (Note: Rule number 5-“Maintin control of your weapon at all times.”) Damn right. 
|
|
One more thing, while printed data sheets are nice. A good ballistic calculator is much better. Strelok is free for android and it works good for ranges out to about 1000yrds, it just needs a little tweaking to dial in paste that. Shooter cost's $10 and has more info built in and covers ranges better.
But under 1k yrds, both work great. |
|
Quoted:
Post here, I should be in for the next class. Just is there a limit on what caliber I can bring, ie 338lm? I know most ranges don't want you to hit steel at that close of range. Also do mind posting what range you use for this. Quoted:
One more thing, while printed data sheets are nice. A good ballistic calculator is much better. Strelok is free for android and it works good for ranges out to about 1000yrds, it just needs a little tweaking to dial in paste that. Shooter cost's $10 and has more info built in and covers ranges better. But under 1k yrds, both work great. There is no limit on caliber, and we don't work on steel until 300m and out. I personally use the Shooter app for my Droid, and I like it a lot. That beind said, ballistics calcs are good, and we'll demo them in class if someone uses one, but nothing beats doing it on the fly utilizing the fundamentals. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
That being said, ballistics calcs are good, and we'll demo them in class if someone uses one, but nothing beats doing it on the fly utilizing the fundamentals. No BS...that was my favorite part Agreed! When you looked at me and said "I don't want to use a rangefinder." I couldn't have been happier. Nothing more satisfying than hitting those targets with our own calculations in less than 40 seconds with the help from my spotter! 
I don't even need my rangefinder anymore. I'll get my review up when I'm not in class. |