It’s easier than you think. For years, I have had some of the greatest weapons and optics at my fingertips, but I was intimidated to switch from a 3x9 scope to an MOA scope. For whatever reason, I was stuck in the rut of “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” when in reality it might not have been broken, but it could have been significantly improved upon. This fear was all coming from someone who enjoys numbers and was at the time handloading sub-MOA ammunition, mind you. I first switched to a few weapons that had a laser-etched “yardage” turret. I was comfortable using my rangefinder and dialing the yardage presented, but I balked anytime I needed to have a rangefinder with a dope chart built into it. That evolution then switched to my comfort growing in understanding MOA and packing around a drop chart on my phone or rifle stock. That was great until I realized how much variation temperature and altitude can affect bullet flight.
My first experience was being thrown to the wolves, and I’m so glad it happened. We were headed to Colorado for a mule deer hunt, and I was setting up a brand new Springfield Waypoint topped with a Leupold scope. I knew in the area we were going that we were probably going to have to shoot a long-distance shot. I got all set up at the range with Garth and Austin alongside, and the first shot was dead nuts. Now it was time to stretch it out and face my fear. I shot the first time and was about two inches low. I got into the app, adjusted the calculation, and the rest was history. I took the best buck I’ve ever harvested that very next week.
Your meat and potatoes are in the app. Whether it be Vortex, SIG, Gunwerks/Revic, etc., the same basic principles apply. You will have to do some legwork. First and foremost, select a scope that has an easily accessible elevation turret. Second, you will need to find out what ammo your gun likes because all are different. Once you find your ammo that works well out of your gun, you are at the starting point. We can talk all day about each element in long-range shooting, but for now, my squirrel brain is going to try to stay on track with rangefinders.
Most of your top brands are fairly comparable, and all ultimately have their own way of using computed ballistics through an app. Getting started, you will have to have a few basic things figured out. This is where finding your bullet first is very important. Some of the first questions you will have to input will be around the bullet/projectile. Information includes things such as your scope height, yardage you zeroed your rifle to, bullet speed, bullet weight, bullet diameter, and the Ballistic Coefficient (BC). Now, if you are unfamiliar with what these numbers are, don’t stress. A lot of factory ammo can be found preloaded, and/or all the information you will need is listed on your ammo box.
Now that you have your basic profile built, the rangefinder will sync with the app, but you’re not done. As with all things, long-range time practicing shooting will be your best friend. If you are fortunate enough to have a range with some yardage or you live in a place where you can stretch your guns legs, start by verifying your zero. If your zero is off, the rest of the process will be off. Once you shoot in your zero, back it up to a few hundred yards. Everyone has their own opinion, but before I start shooting random yardages, I like to pick a longer number that has some adjustment, such as 300 or 400 yards. This is where you will prove your drop chart. Most of these apps are really efficient in proving or truing. In the correcting period, you would select the yardage you shot from and then input your observed variance, i.e. three inches high. Once you have done that, the adjusted velocity of your rifle will be calibrated and your rifle’s true ballistic curve will be calculated.
This is where the fun begins. Living out west, we have a lot of established shooting areas as well as shooting ranges, so I know it won’t be the same. However, do what you can to get your practice in. When I shoot, I love to get my bearings and make sure my zero is true. I then select a placed target or even a rock at a random distance. When your rangefinder is synced, it will read out your adjustment and you let ‘er rip.
Mind you, I am no expert, but I’m trying. Just last year, I left from a Utah muzzleloader hunt to a Colorado antelope hunt. One of the blessings of having a preloaded app is that you can save multiple weapons, and one of the curses is forgetting to switch between rifles. I ultimately ended up missing the best buck of my life and a dandy for the state of Colorado. With all things, the best thing you can do is try. Try it, practice with it, get into the field, expand your range, and you will heighten your success.
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