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20×102mm Vulcan
How to use a 22LR for Long-Range Training
Using 22LR as a Surrogate for Effective Long-Range Training
Sub-caliber training rifles are nothing new to the long range and precision crowd. Most serious competitors have used .223-caliber training rifles for years. But now, with highly accurate .22LR rifles such as the CZ455 and builds based on the Vudoo Gunworks Remington Model 700 pattern rimfire action, shooters can mimic a competition or duty rifle in a caliber that’s much more palatable to the wallet.
The trick is turning .22LR’s ballistic drawbacks into training advantages. Chief among this list is range considerations. Instead of looking at .22LR’s short range as a handicap, with the right drills, it’s amazing how well the round can simulate a centerfire experience. It’s also a good way to get some long-range training in on a non-centerfire rated range.
SET A BASELINE
First things first, you have to set a performance baseline — otherwise you’ll never know what’s attainable with your platform once your training progresses. Start with ammunition selection. .22s can be very ammunition sensitive, so trying out a few loads until you find one that your gun likes is important. Once that’s out of the way, it’s time to focus on basic rifle marksmanship fundamentals. While it’s in vogue to look down on shooting groups on paper from the prone, this uninterrupted time alone with your rifle lets you blueprint your shot process and learn to “command detonate” the gun, when the sight picture is at its best.
At whatever distance your range can provide, use a target that can provide feedback of the accuracy capability of your system. The four components of the accuracy equation are; weapon, optic, ammo, and the shooter. Optic selection is important for shooting .22s, especially at close range. Many casual shooters poke fun at how ridiculous a 4.5-27 or 7-35 optic is on a rifle that lives its life inside a few hundred yards. The point they’re missing, though, is that it isn’t about the level of magnification the scope provides, it’s about its ability to dial out parallax. This becomes harder at closer ranges and has a serious effect on accuracy.
Isolating the weapon, optic, and ammo from the shooter component is best achieved firing from the prone position using a bipod and rear bag. Once you’ve gotten down into a fundamentally sound, prone position, fire a minimum of five, five-round groups. The more groups you shoot the better the data set will be, but 5×5 will give you an honest assessment of the accuracy capability of your system. The slow velocity of the .22 means the projectile will take longer to leave the barrel and force you to perfect the follow through of your shot, otherwise you’ll start seeing your groups open up very quickly.
TURN UP THE HEAT
Once the baseline is established, add “hot, nasty, badass speed.” The first exercise continues shooting five-round groups, but start setting a par time for each shot. The idea is to train up to firing a fundamentally sound shot as quickly as you can clear crosshairs on the target.
More at ...
How To Use a 22LR for Long-Range Training
Using 22LR as a Surrogate for Effective Long-Range Training
Sub-caliber training rifles are nothing new to the long range and precision crowd. Most serious competitors have used .223-caliber training rifles for years. But now, with highly accurate .22LR rifles such as the CZ455 and builds based on the Vudoo Gunworks Remington Model 700 pattern rimfire action, shooters can mimic a competition or duty rifle in a caliber that’s much more palatable to the wallet.
The trick is turning .22LR’s ballistic drawbacks into training advantages. Chief among this list is range considerations. Instead of looking at .22LR’s short range as a handicap, with the right drills, it’s amazing how well the round can simulate a centerfire experience. It’s also a good way to get some long-range training in on a non-centerfire rated range.
SET A BASELINE
First things first, you have to set a performance baseline — otherwise you’ll never know what’s attainable with your platform once your training progresses. Start with ammunition selection. .22s can be very ammunition sensitive, so trying out a few loads until you find one that your gun likes is important. Once that’s out of the way, it’s time to focus on basic rifle marksmanship fundamentals. While it’s in vogue to look down on shooting groups on paper from the prone, this uninterrupted time alone with your rifle lets you blueprint your shot process and learn to “command detonate” the gun, when the sight picture is at its best.
At whatever distance your range can provide, use a target that can provide feedback of the accuracy capability of your system. The four components of the accuracy equation are; weapon, optic, ammo, and the shooter. Optic selection is important for shooting .22s, especially at close range. Many casual shooters poke fun at how ridiculous a 4.5-27 or 7-35 optic is on a rifle that lives its life inside a few hundred yards. The point they’re missing, though, is that it isn’t about the level of magnification the scope provides, it’s about its ability to dial out parallax. This becomes harder at closer ranges and has a serious effect on accuracy.
Isolating the weapon, optic, and ammo from the shooter component is best achieved firing from the prone position using a bipod and rear bag. Once you’ve gotten down into a fundamentally sound, prone position, fire a minimum of five, five-round groups. The more groups you shoot the better the data set will be, but 5×5 will give you an honest assessment of the accuracy capability of your system. The slow velocity of the .22 means the projectile will take longer to leave the barrel and force you to perfect the follow through of your shot, otherwise you’ll start seeing your groups open up very quickly.
TURN UP THE HEAT
Once the baseline is established, add “hot, nasty, badass speed.” The first exercise continues shooting five-round groups, but start setting a par time for each shot. The idea is to train up to firing a fundamentally sound shot as quickly as you can clear crosshairs on the target.
More at ...
How To Use a 22LR for Long-Range Training