Newbie seeking advice

[DangerDario]

Hello,


I just joined the forum.

I have some newbie questions I was hoping some of the experienced members of the forum could help me with.

My background is in competative endurance sports. I have recently started shooting again after many years. I would like to learn how to shoot long distance with an eye toward competing in adventure type competitions like the 24 Hour Sniper Adventure Challenge.

I plan to get profesional instruction to learn the basics and hopefully a little more.

What gear would you recommend for someone like me?

I'm looking for good solid gear that I can grow into and use for a long time. My attitude has always been to buy something good that will last and then use the heck out of it. But, I don't think I need the fanciest or prettiest gear.

So, what do you think?


Rifle?
Scope?

Anything else?

Thanks

Dario

 

[aur0ra145]

Re: Newbie seeking advice

How much are looking to spend for an entire load out? i.e. rifle, scope, bipod, etc.?

Also, will you ever consider handloading ammunition?

 

[DangerDario]

Re: Newbie seeking advice

Aurora,

I can spend about 3k, give or take a little.

I would consider loading my own ammo if it's really important but I would like to keep things as practical as possible, especially at first.

 

[DangerDario]

Re: Newbie seeking advice

...and thanks.

 

[AMG04]

Re: Newbie seeking advice

My first recommendation is to buy a quality bolt action .22lr. Add a decent scope and a bi-pod, then practice shooting in all the positions you would encounter in an adventure type competition.

Standing, kneeling, sitting, prone, from impovised rest such as a barrel or fence.

You will be able to practice sight alignment, trigger control, target acquisition and breathing without breaking the bank.

While you are practicing and shooting as often as possible you can be builing your competition rifle... Picking out all the components: Action, barrel, stock, trigger, scope, bipod, etc. Then ship it to a gunsmith and wait for it to be completed.

By that time you will have had alot of practice and honed your skills to apply to your new build. Its a good way to get a head start. Crawl, Walk, then run with it!

 

[sled_mack]

Re: Newbie seeking advice

I agree with AMG on hardware.

I would also recommend looking into the online training here. You can learn a lot the right way before even going to a class. And do plan on going to a class in addition to the online training.

Good luck!

 

[Strykervet]

Re: Newbie seeking advice

Yeah, a good decent .22. Perhaps one of the CMP rifles that can be had for a steal. Some of those are superbly accurate .22 training rifles that you won't feel bad about dragging around a little. A good sling or the gear you plan on using attached to this rifle may be helpful too.

Nobody wants to hear "get a .22" but any experienced guy will tell you that you need that first and foremost, and will always need one in your collection. If you only have one, it should be a .22 rifle!

If you can shoot any of the National Matches or Service Rifle Matches, that would be ideal. Here there are several rifles that fit the bill and some will work for your sniper shoots as well as the SR, NM or High Power shoots. Those shoots will give you better technical shooting skills. Good practice against good shooters, who will give a new guy advice much of the time.

May need to join a shooting club to take advantage of this.

As for the actual sniper training, well, I guess there are civilian schools out there now. The army books don't have near enough information. It seems hard to me that it could be learned in the absence of instructors, the books are just mainly Cliff's Notes on sniper school.

Good luck though! And have fun making that ghillie too! Seriously, if you know anyone or have access to an industrial stitcher for cheap, you need this. Hand stitching fishing line through glued and laminated canvas duck and layered BDU isn't easy at all.

 

[DangerDario]

Re: Newbie seeking advice

Thanks for the information.

I actually have an old .22 caliber rifle that my Father gave to me when I was kid. I learned how to shoot on it.

It's an old Ruger. It's not bolt action so maybe it won't do but I will look into it and the model suggested above.

I identified some courses on land navigation, wilderness survival and basic precision shooting which I plan to attend.

This should keep me busy and out of trouble for a while

 

[tigerfan_9]

Re: Newbie seeking advice

Check on the online training on here. Lots of great info.