Rookie mistakes

29aholic

29aholic

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 1, 2010
687
2
58
Southwest MO
#1
Well I finally got to shoot past 300yds yesterday and I thought I would share a couple of rookie mistakes I made.

1. Don't dick with your rig the night before a shoot and not check your zero. I had zeroed the rifle Thursday night and everything was GTG. Friday night in preparation for yesterday I decided I needed to check my rings for some unknown reason. Front clamp was alright, but the back clamp took a little over 1 turn. I had a chance yesterday to check my zero before going out to the long range, and thought to myself "Nahh, I am good". Wrong answer!! I was dialing for elevation (see mistake #2) and holding for wind (there was none). Well by the time I got to 700 my mysterious windage really reared its ugly head and I was holding completely off the left side of the target to get a hit. At first I thought my scoped had taken a crap, but the more I thought about it I realized "Dumbass you added windage when you tightened the rings!"

2. Know which way to turn your dial! I had my data and knew approximately how many MOA's I needed to get to 300. I dialed it in (the WRONG WAY) had sent the round. Spotter called low (Really??) so dialed in some more (again THE WRONG WAY!!!!). Well the R/O came over and figured out what I was doing and once I started dialing the right way I started getting hits (up until mistake #1 and recoil started showing up).

Perhaps some of you seasoned veterans could share some of your mistakes (and maybe Lowlight can sticky it) in hopes to save future newbies some embarrassment (and ammo).
 
#2
3. Always use the correct size drivers and never force a fastener. Stripped screws are bad news.

4. When your friend asks if he can borrow your front bag to bench his revolver, say no.
 
#4
Always dial your elevation back to zero after completing a stage and before going to the next stage in a match.

I didn't do this at Woody's last year and on the range estimation stage, I sent a 123gr Amax about a mil and a half over the 300 yard target. Instead of looking at my dial, I counted the clicks while looking through my scope.............dumbass.
 
#5
I have my elevation zero written down on a sticker inside my rear flip up scope cover, so I would have to try to ignore it when I get on the rifle (no zero stops...). There is nothing more terrifying than changing distances and not knowing where the scope is set...and having the target come up with a "miss" after firing your first shot.

I used to dial a starting windage, and then try to chase wind with the knob. I'd quickly forget how much wind I had on and start putting them all over the place. Now, unless the wind is stiff enough to put me off paper, I make a wind call every shot and hold off.
 
#6
thespecialist said:
Always dial your elevation back to zero after completing a stage and before going to the next stage in a match.

I didn't do this at Woody's last year and on the range estimation stage, I sent a 123gr Amax about a mil and a half over the 300 yard target. Instead of looking at my dial, I counted the clicks while looking through my scope.............dumbass.
Click to expand...

I am glad you brought this up, as at this time my scope is still dialed to 700 and I need to take it back to 100.
 
#8
spamassassin said:
rule 1. Bites me often enough to be shameful. Worse yet is screwing with it when you get to the venue.
Click to expand...

Rule #2 haunts me from time to time. And my reaction is always the same. "Shit, forgot about that! Gotta remember that next time". But it happens to others. That is what I like about this activity. People share their mistakes in real time at the range.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#9
Mine is similar to #1 in that I get a rifle shooting good, then I decide I "need" to change something. Then I start the whole process of sighting in all over and it seems like it takes me 5x as long as it did the first time!!
 
#11
29aholic said:
Well I finally got to shoot past 300yds yesterday and I thought I would share a couple of rookie mistakes I made.

1. Don't dick with your rig the night before a shoot and not check your zero. I had zeroed the rifle Thursday night and everything was GTG. Friday night in preparation for yesterday I decided I needed to check my rings for some unknown reason. Front clamp was alright, but the back clamp took a little over 1 turn. I had a chance yesterday to check my zero before going out to the long range, and thought to myself "Nahh, I am good". Wrong answer!! I was dialing for elevation (see mistake #2) and holding for wind (there was none). Well by the time I got to 700 my mysterious windage really reared its ugly head and I was holding completely off the left side of the target to get a hit. At first I thought my scoped had taken a crap, but the more I thought about it I realized "Dumbass you added windage when you tightened the rings!"

2. Know which way to turn your dial! I had my data and knew approximately how many MOA's I needed to get to 300. I dialed it in (the WRONG WAY) had sent the round. Spotter called low (Really??) so dialed in some more (again THE WRONG WAY!!!!). Well the R/O came over and figured out what I was doing and once I started dialing the right way I started getting hits (up until mistake #1 and recoil started showing up).

Perhaps some of you seasoned veterans could share some of your mistakes (and maybe Lowlight can sticky it) in hopes to save future newbies some embarrassment (and ammo).
Click to expand...
I wish I could fall under rookie but I think I just fall under dumbass and had the same experience last match I shot. 7in off at 100 it turned out and i spent the whole match holding wind in the opposite direction of everyone. Shot a good 2mils low on every target too. I think I hit 2 targets. My next match is this sat and I've double checked the zero twice already this week. Makes for a good waste of ammo when you jack with a scope before a match and don't recheck it.
 
#14
<------------ Is also a member of the "rookie" clan... Long story short when I was recently shooting for my club's 600 yard quals I "overthought" my detailed dope instruction notes and screwed myself all up when doping from 300 yards out to 600. All my moa/click calculations were correct, however when doping up from the current 300 yards 8 clicks of elevation to my needed 66 clicks for 600 yards, I made a note to "rotate the dial one complete revolution add 6 clicks" this was my mistake, what I did was I rotated one complete turn (15 MOA) stopping on the 8 click mark, then added 6 more clicks. What I was supposed to do was rotate the dial STOPPING zero, then add the additional 6 clicks. So long story short I was shooting way high (I was on paper, but about 6" high off the scoring rings). I was all puzzled as to what my dope mistake was at the range, after I got home I did some reverse click counting, and then was able to conclude my mistake. So note to self, keep it simple and count clicks ONLY !
 
#15
This seems like a good time to chime in with my "sage" rookie advice. Being a rookie means you will not likely place well in any of your early matches - so, if you finish in the bottom third - how can you define success and find something positive?

I grade myself in 3 areas:

1) Mental - did I dial the right dope? Did I shoot at the right target? Did I have my gear squared away and ready to go? Etc.
2) Shot Execution - did my shots break cleanly? Did I get my NPA and exhale every time? Was my positional steady enough to make the hit? Etc.
3) Wind - did I read the wind correctly and adjust accordingly? Etc.

Some days, I may stink to hell on 2 out of 3 or 1 out of 3 - but if I walk away with a good grade on one of them, well, that's success to build on. The days I get all 3 100% are they days I'll finish in the top 5 or even win one.

For our local paper matches, I'm pretty much 100% on 1&2, but #3 is where I need the most help. A couple of month ago, I was 100% on 1 and 3, but jerked one head shot at 600 yards and got a miss - lost the match by less than the 10 points that shot was worth.
 
#16
Road_Clam said:
<------------ Is also a member of the "rookie" clan... Long story short when I was recently shooting for my club's 600 yard quals I "overthought" my detailed dope instruction notes and screwed myself all up when doping from 300 yards out to 600. All my moa/click calculations were correct, however when doping up from the current 300 yards 8 clicks of elevation to my needed 66 clicks for 600 yards, I made a note to "rotate the dial one complete revolution add 6 clicks" this was my mistake, what I did was I rotated one complete turn (15 MOA) stopping on the 8 click mark, then added 6 more clicks. What I was supposed to do was rotate the dial STOPPING zero, then add the additional 6 clicks. So long story short I was shooting way high (I was on paper, but about 6" high off the scoring rings). I was all puzzled as to what my dope mistake was at the range, after I got home I did some reverse click counting, and then was able to conclude my mistake. So note to self, keep it simple and count clicks ONLY !
Click to expand...


Let me give you some unsolicited advice - you are doing it wrong. Never count clicks - learn to use the turrets correctly. If your dope at 600 is 16.5 MOA and your dial is 15 MOA per rotation - you should be able to see on the hash marks below the dial that what rotation you are on and now to add 1.5 MOA past your 15 MOA.

On my old scopes that had to go to a second turn to get to longer distances, I used a red felt tip to mark the hash marks that gets exposed when you are off zero. Dial on 15/0 and see no red? You are at zero. 15/0 and see red? You are in your second turn.
 
#17
After shooting at distance, always return your scope to Zero / Zero. I had some "fun" on a cold bore shot at 100 yards after I forgot this little tidbit and left my 1,000 yard dope on the gun from the week before.
 
#22
djskit said:
This seems like a good time to chime in with my "sage" rookie advice. Being a rookie means you will not likely place well in any of your early matches - so, if you finish in the bottom third - how can you define success and find something positive?

I grade myself in 3 areas:

1) Mental - did I dial the right dope? Did I shoot at the right target? Did I have my gear squared away and ready to go? Etc.
2) Shot Execution - did my shots break cleanly? Did I get my NPA and exhale every time? Was my positional steady enough to make the hit? Etc.
3) Wind - did I read the wind correctly and adjust accordingly? Etc.

Some days, I may stink to hell on 2 out of 3 or 1 out of 3 - but if I walk away with a good grade on one of them, well, that's success to build on. The days I get all 3 100% are they days I'll finish in the top 5 or even win one.
Click to expand...

This is great advise from a long time and very experienced shooter folks. This game is very much a mental one. Now if only vonbalkenbush would do this, maybe he would stop sucking tenga eggs like it is his job and do much better.
 
#23
djskit said:
This seems like a good time to chime in with my "sage" rookie advice. Being a rookie means you will not likely place well in any of your early matches - so, if you finish in the bottom third - how can you define success and find something positive?

I grade myself in 3 areas:

1) Mental - did I dial the right dope? Did I shoot at the right target? Did I have my gear squared away and ready to go? Etc.
2) Shot Execution - did my shots break cleanly? Did I get my NPA and exhale every time? Was my positional steady enough to make the hit? Etc.
3) Wind - did I read the wind correctly and adjust accordingly? Etc.

Some days, I may stink to hell on 2 out of 3 or 1 out of 3 - but if I walk away with a good grade on one of them, well, that's success to build on. The days I get all 3 100% are they days I'll finish in the top 5 or even win one.

For our local paper matches, I'm pretty much 100% on 1&2, but #3 is where I need the most help. A couple of month ago, I was 100% on 1 and 3, but jerked one head shot at 600 yards and got a miss - lost the match by less than the 10 points that shot was worth.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this post. I have 100's of rounds in bench rest but most of that was 200 (occasionally 300) and under. This is my first venture into long range shooting but I figured what have I got to loose but some occasional face. Unfortunately finding a place to do it is hard. The range I went to last weekend is a members only with the occasional public days. I live far enough away I really cant justify the cost to join. I am going to keep at it though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Mistake with ladder test
Replies
2
Views
176
Barzor
B
W
AXSR POI shift with caliber change.
Replies
19
Views
665
carbonbased
carbonbased
M
Chasing accuracy with proof barrel.
Replies
38
Views
1K
Hennig
Hennig
N
Rifle Scopes Internal Scope Operation
Replies
0
Views
140
nick338
N
ubet
Scale drift issues
Replies
1
Views
124
RegionRat
R
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts