Once I started shooting 500 with open sights in NRA High Power, I got comfortable
with what could be done. I did stuff myself that I was unaware that ANYONE could
do, just out of ignorance. Real High Power shooters could smoke me by a mile, I
never got past Expert. Realized that to get to the next level would require really
getting serious about practice, better equipment than a bone stock Colt HBAR Match.
But it taught me a lot about wind, running (and trusting) the sights for different ranges,
and different loads. Just the idea that you could run the sight down to the bottom, come
up 59 clicks and be right on target at 500, or up 9 and be on at 200 was a revelation
to a newbie.
Once shot a 100-7X for the first ten shots at 500, then blew it up to 197-12X for the whole
string. That was my very best day, ever. I was tickled that this could be done
with irons, never could match those scores. And of course, there were guys in my
club who equaled that pretty regularly, and stomped me flat at 200 standing. That
really scared me the first time....I worried about hitting the berm. Eventually was
getting lower 80s standing 200, just amazed the heck out of myself. Still not all that
impressive on a absolute scale, but well beyond what I imagined was possible in my
ignorance. Good coaching from better shooters and reading NRA books helped my
learn a lot. I learn by challenging myself, had fun, although eventually an 80 shots
for record day was really tiring, esp in August in KS.
I wish I had somewhere to shoot long distances, I'd by a .338 Lap and give that stuff
a try. My brother has one, I have shot it a couple of times. Pretty neat, but not
worth fooling with at the 300 yds normally available to me.
Bill
There are some coastal wetlands for bird hunting, but nothing I know of where a person could just go set up and shoot a rifle or handgun.
