James;
I am glad that something has posted such a thoughtful essay on the merits of and moral questions involved in sniping after a collapse.
I am not a sniper, but I regularly compete in High Power shooting events and have learned a lot. The first thing I learned is my .308 is marginal at 1,000 yards.To get there I use very expensive Berger bullets and my groups are twice as big as the guys using 6mm or 6.5mm bullets. At a 1,000 yards some of the favorite cartridges are .243, .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×287, .287, .260 Remington, 6.5 Lapua, 7SAUM, et cetera. The 30-06 is still in use as well. I have never seen anyone with a .300 Win Magnum at these competitions. The barrel life and recoil put it right out of the game. Even the somewhat mild .308 is considered a heavy recoil rifle when shot prone for a 70 round match. In NRA High Power matches muzzle brakes are not allowed and neither are suppressors. Since lighter recoil equals long range accuracy the magnums are not very popular in this kind of shooting.
The most affordable and fast way to get in the long range shooting game is to just do it. Many new shooters like the Savage bolt actions, they are inexpensive, accurate and easy to work on. Combined with a SWFA SS scope a reliable, precision .308 can be had for less than $800. The .308 is still one of the best choices due to ammo availability, and a barrel life that exceeds 5,000 rounds. (I have heard of 300 Winchester Magnum barrels losing their accuracy after only 800 rounds.) Don’t expect to do well at a 1,000 yards with an 18″ barrel. Longer barrels give higher velocity.
Once you have your new rifle, bipod (I like the Harris 6″-9″ with notches FWIW), rear bag and a mat to lay on you are ready for your first 500 yard prone competition. Check with your local ranges to see if they have anything coming up. You may want to contact whoever is in charge and let them know you are a new shooter and you might need help “getting on paper.” They will be glad to help you get started. In my area the matches usually cost $15. From a hundred yard zero come up about 10 MOA and that should get you on paper at 500 yards. Expect to not do very well your first time, you are there just to have fun and learn a few things. If the shooters go somewhere to eat after the match is over that is when your true education begins. Ask questions and be humble. Make contacts, network, and be a good friend.
The High Power matches are on a known distance range so it allows the shooter to focus on reading wind and on sending a perfect shot. To learn to shoot on an unknown distance range will take a lot of time with this program and a lot of practice. This means hand loading ammunition, practice using your mil-dots, practice reading mirage and a million other things. I have learned a lot from Sniper’s Hide and their online tutorials. It is cheap and much more informative than any book I have ever read.
Shooting is a perishable skill. To be proficient in long range shooting means integrating it into your lifestyle. It is not enough to become a Rifleman, constant maintenance is needed to remain a Rifleman. Here are some more links that I think are of value to the long range shooter:
If you are new to handloading here is a good way to get your feet wet. You might be surprised how accurate this ammo is. The only thing I do differently for long range is weigh rather than measure my powder charges. Regards, – Nathan C.