We routinely answer a number of questions from new shooters about "long range" when people come to Range 4, where we shoot a long-range, precision course of fire. Here are a few thoughts to help.
1. Know your weapon. A lot of new shooters will purchase a rifle and optic with the desire to shoot long range. Knowing what caliber it is and how it operates is a must, including how to "clear" the weapon so when the range goes cold you can make the weapon safe.
2. Know your Optic and how it operates. Is it a milradian or minute of angle reticle and turrets? Are the turrets in 1/10ths or 1/4s? Knowing these basics allows us to mentor a new shooter (dialing the turret to impact) easily and not spend too much of their money (in ammo) trying to get them on target. Make sure your optic is snug in the rings, usually 14-24 INCH POUNDS - NOT FOOT POUNDS and the mount is secure on the rifle, usually about 40 inch pounds.
3. Know your ammo. Shooters will usually show up with a mismatch of ammo of different types and bullet weights. It's always good to try and stay with a single manufacturer and bullet weight once you find what your rifle prefers. If you are shooting a precision 308 on Range 4 (not a military rifle such as an M1A or a M14), save yourself time and money and do not buy Federal Gold Medal Match in 168gr, it does not perform well on Range 4. Can't tell you why, but I can say the Federal in 175gr is a solid performer. Also understand you get what you pay for with ammo. If you pay $11 for foreign sketchy 308 ammo (which is now $22), you will get $11 results - huge differences in velocity, neck tension, quality and performance between each round and certainly between lots, etc., which means you'll be shooting 4" plus groups at 100y trying to zero your rifle and getting frustrated.
4. Have a 100-yard Zero, this is Rifle 101. Not having the rifle zeroed simply wastes your time and money as you try and determine where the bullet is striking with no previous knowledge. You can waste boxes of ammo trying to take an un-zeroed rifle and get it on target at longer range. Having a zeroed rifle gives you and the mentor a point of reference to work from to build a drop chart and get you on target out to 1,000.
There's plenty more you can learn about long range, but start with these as we have shooters come out weekly who think this is YouTube easy. It is if you want us to blow your $100 in ammo trying, but follow the advice and it's almost Easy Button quick.
The Management