You have to set your goals and expectations first. The Hide calls ELR "Beyond 1000 Yards". Most of the members of this sub-forum shoot at much longer distances than 1K. For many folks, a mile is a convenient first goal, in part because it does not require a competition quality ELR rifle, which is expensive. You have to make a spend plan that couples logically to your shooting goals. There are lower cost options, but if money is not an issue for you, I'd point you at the "buy once, cry once" approach. Do you plan to compete? Competing would drive you towards a reasonably powerful cartridge choice and I'd recommend a high quality optic.
You can start by exploring the limitations of rifles you already own. Stretch them out to their limits and make mods such as optics and mounts that allow you to shoot longer. Get a decent spotting scope and a partner with similar goals. You can look for facilities that teach ELR classes and possibly save quite a bit of time to get into the zone. But you will still need to set goals and expectations first.
You can start by exploring the limitations of rifles you already own. Stretch them out to their limits and make mods such as optics and mounts that allow you to shoot longer. Get a decent spotting scope and a partner with similar goals. You can look for facilities that teach ELR classes and possibly save quite a bit of time to get into the zone. But you will still need to set goals and expectations first.
Starting with what you have is good advice.
The build/ buy once is great advice.
If you plan to compete there is Light and Heavy class. The big guns are definitely more pricey to build and run. You could build something like a 338 Edge that would be competitive in the light gun class for a very reasonable price.
If you have a fast 7 or 30 cal hitting a mile is pretty easy if you've got good ammo.
The build/ buy once is great advice.
If you plan to compete there is Light and Heavy class. The big guns are definitely more pricey to build and run. You could build something like a 338 Edge that would be competitive in the light gun class for a very reasonable price.
If you have a fast 7 or 30 cal hitting a mile is pretty easy if you've got good ammo.
also good ballistics will never beat out good splash, you can't correct off what you can't see.
Best advice I can offer is to NOT try to reinvent the wheel, and to NOT try to force any gear/rifle/cartridge which isn’t already placing at or winning matches into ELR service. There are few things which are less productive than showing up to the Indy 500 in a Minivan, and showing up to an ELR match with the wrong rifle/cartridge/gear is one of them.
I agree with everything written above.
I've taught good, reasonably intelligent shooters who have never shot past 600 yards to hit a steel E-type silhouette at a mile in less than a dozen rounds -- with guns they already own and one with a borrowed scope. The magic is in having software and data charts you can trust, a good spotting scope, and experience reading wind and splash.
Hits at 1300 Meters on his birthday:
I've taught good, reasonably intelligent shooters who have never shot past 600 yards to hit a steel E-type silhouette at a mile in less than a dozen rounds -- with guns they already own and one with a borrowed scope. The magic is in having software and data charts you can trust, a good spotting scope, and experience reading wind and splash.
Hits at 1300 Meters on his birthday:
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Not positive, but I don’t think they’re talking about Sinister…
Setting goals and first trying at distance with what you have are both good suggestions. "Buying once" is typically a good idea but ELR can be VERY expensive (rifle, optics, reloading gear and ammo components, ranging and target solutions aids, and professional training can run you well north of $10K). That said, the availability of ELR distances (for practice and competitions) and what gear you have to try out with will help in providing suggestions. Given you joined SH two days before your first post, and your profile provides no location info, where are you located and how far are you willing to travel to practice and compete? Have you competed in a rifle shooting discipline before, and if so, which - are you even interested in competing? And what gear do you already have - in particular, rifle, chambering, and optics (details)?
