I just spent a couple of days this past week at the FTW Ranch in the Texas hill country, home to what I believe is the best shooting/hunting/prep school in the country - SAAM (Sportsman's All-Weather, All-Terrain, Marksmanship)

They will train you correctly in long-range precision shooting/accuracy, in multiple applications - as well as preparation for safari hunting/shooting, including multiple dangerous game scenarios too. Classroom time, along with help/advice on loads is included. As well as ballistics card for your particular ammo/caliber.

Customers can pick/choose what they want to train for, I however participated in both. I was seriously impressed with the level of expertise by their instructors (all of which are ex-military professionals). I learned more in 1 hour on the precision / long-range course than I had in the past 20 years of working with firearms. In only minutes, literally minutes, I was consistently hitting the target at 400 - 500 yards, every time!!! Which for me, that was a real feat! The scenarios are life like - shooting at different distances, uphill/down hill, multiple targets at different distances, etc, etc. Its real life training one can realistically expect in the field.

I then moved to the Safari Prep courses, and not only was I seriously impressed - but it was a whole lot of fun. I shot both a bolt action rifle, and a double. Scenarios ranged from static DG targets, to moving buffalo, and then to both charging elephant/buffalo targets. They even have a very realistic blind hunting scenario for lion/leopard shooting as well. A plains game course, and aquatic scenarios for hippo/croc are also available. You name it, they likely have a scenario for it at SAAM.

There's nobody that couldn't benefit from SAAM, nobody! I don't care how much experience you have, or think you have, this place will make you better! As not only a hunter myself, but a big game guide for 23 years - I know all of us need improvement and this place can provide that for you.

Nothing has been left out at the FTW Ranch / SAAM shooting school, including awesome accommodations and great food!!! If you are interested in info, please contact Tim Fallon at timfallon@ftwoutfitters.com

And no, I am not getting paid by FTW/SAAM. I just thought this was really a spectacular place, and that a lot of my fellow AR members could benefit from their expertise! I plan to go back and take my girlfriend with me next time.

Aaron,

Maybe I'm mistaken but I didn't note a ballistic turret on any of those rifles. Did I miss something? It would seem that many folks now feel you cannot make a hit beyond point blank range without turrets.

Mark

Good stuff and I suppose one can teach an old dog new tricks!

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Aaron,

Maybe I'm mistaken but I didn't note a ballistic turret on any of those rifles. Did I miss something? It would seem that many folks now feel you cannot make a hit beyond point blank range without turrets.

Mark

Mark, I realize you asked Aaron the question, but I can answer it.

SAAM teaches you to use all the tools and skills you can learn to make your shot. Just because you don't have turrets, doesn't mean you are without means to measure elevation and windage in a scope. Using the reticle, using the elevation adjustments provided, are just two techniques the instructors will show you.

For any hunter, serious or casual, SAAM is good stuff!

I think Mark's comment was said in jest.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeE:

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Aaron,

Maybe I'm mistaken but I didn't note a ballistic turret on any of those rifles. Did I miss something? It would seem that many folks now feel you cannot make a hit beyond point blank range without turrets.

Mark

Mark, I realize you asked Aaron the question, but I can answer it.

SAAM teaches you to use all the tools and skills you can learn to make your shot. Just because you don't have turrets, doesn't mean you are without means to measure elevation and windage in a scope. Using the reticle, using the elevation adjustments provided, are just two techniques the instructors will show you.

For any hunter, serious or casual, SAAM is good stuff!

Mark - Interesting question / comment, and Mike has addressed it pretty well.

In the pic in question, I am using a Trijicon 2.5 - 10 x 56mm scope (one of my favorites). Now look, hopefully I use the correct terminology as I am not a gun/gear expert - but inside this particular scope I have mil-dots. We zeroed the rifle at 250 yards, and then the instructor "Dog" - taught me to use the mil-dots based on the ballistic card I was given for my .300 Win Mag / Hornady Superformance ammo.

Honestly, I would simply hold mil high, left/right based on what yardage we were at and the wind, and let it fly. 95% of the time I hit the target out to 530+ yards. Frankly I was on the extreme crash course experience, as we also had a lot of filming to do - and only 2 days to get all of it done. If I were really trying to set up a long range rifle, I would return with the new Ruger Magnum Hunter in .300 Win Mag, and use the Trijicon 5 - 20 x 50mm scope with turrets.

Regardless of that, I actually feel very confident now with this particular gun out to 500 yards - but I still prefer under 300 yards if possible. In fact, I am taking this gun with me next week to Alaska on a brown bear hunt!

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
I think Mark's comment was said in jest.

Yes, I believe it was. I simply answered it anyway, just for good measure!

Wish I would have thought of that.

Good stuff.

Looking forward to heading there this summer.

Wouldn't mind going there or to Gunsite, but quite frankly, after I get my hunting trips lined up for the year and then look at their schedules, its always "booked" or "no room"

I am not going to skip a hunting trip opportunity to go to a prep class. I only get so much vacation time and so far all of it goes to being in the field... (yes, I am not married...)

I would really like to do the 2 day one sometime.

But the same for me. It seems every time that I say oh yeah I want to go do that, it is booked up. Which is great for them. I am sure it is good training.

Yes, I am married and still have kids too so something is always going on.