My shooting bench is about 15 steps out my back door, and I have several target stands out to 220 yds (200m). By cutting some trees and moving some dirt for berms, I could squeeze another 100 yds out of the same shooting lane.

But, y'all's talk about that 600-1000 yd shooting is getting me interested. To do it though, I'll have to make another shooting bench about 50 yds from the house and set up another shooting lane. If I do this, I only want to construct it one time.

So, do you folks have any suggestions for design of the lane? Elevation, range, or wind markers? Target sizes? Other considerations? I'll be shooting across a little valley, kind of from hillside to another hillside, so ground level wind flags will be 30-40 feet below the boolit's flight path. For sun direction, I'll be shooting from NW to SE into a treed hillside. Our predominate winds are out of the West, but the little valley often "funnels" the wind, so I have to expect crosswinds from about 45 to 120 degrees to the line of sight.

There's a rarely-travelled county road roughly parallel to the line of sight about 1/4 mile to the south that intersects with another dirt road 3/4 mile farther east. Due to the terrain and trees, I don't forsee any problems with that, but if youse guys have any comments about that, I'd like to hear them, too.

Except for wild-assed shots at distant coyotes, I've never tried this before. I'd sure like to hear what you have to say.

Grumble my only suggestion is using a very LARGE backstop..

At 600 it's not too tough to keep everything in an 18" circle (prone, iron sights, M14). Target frames we used were 6' square. But at 1000 yards the front sight was wider than the 6' frame - adjusted by regulating white are between sight sides and adjacent frames.

THE distinguishing factor at 1000, also highly influencing 600 yard scores is knowing how to read the wind. Lots of folks get all the rest down pat - but the wind sorts people out.

If I were you, depending on exacly where you are at, I would take a drive to Raton and shoot on the 1000 yarder at the Whittington Center. $15 a day and you can try you hand at the REAL long range till you are blue in the shoulder. Save yourself the time and labor Regards,
Wyo

I only shoot out to 500 meters which is about 550 yards. A little shy of 600 yards. That is in rifle silhouette. A large dirt impact area around your target would allow you or your spotter to see your bullet strikes. It helps if the dirt is dry. Your range direction won't work so well early in the morning but should be fine in the afternoon. And there is usually wind. The wind close to you will deflect the bullets more than the wind further away. So flags close to you are useful and of course one at the target. If you set it up, you will figure it out quickly enough. You will get to use those ballistic charts more!

Grumble, Shooting 600 and 1000 yds is a lot of fun.I suppose that you plan to use naked bollets. I would suggest that you use a prone position with a front and rear rest and a target scope. Called "F" Class. Work up an accurate load at 200yds. Then work back to 300 yds. Than to 600yds. By using support, you will be able to accuratly adjust for wind and elevation.You need to record your zeroes at each distance and windage used for the prevailing breeze.When you get real confident,go to iron sights. The only problem for long range shooting is that you need someone to pull and mark the target after each shot. I also strongly recommend that you go to a 600 or 1000 yard match to observe.
When I retired, I was hopeing to do a lot shooting on our range;but, all my buddies work.During the summer months,we practice at 600 yds. after working hours once a week.
Our club is planning to construct a 12-15 point 1000yd. range in the next two years.I had a D-8 come in two weeks ago and cleared 300 yards of woods.The pits will be the big costs. I also want to try that 200+ grain cast"HBC" bollet at 600in my 308. Good Luck. CULEX

Grumble:

G: y'all's talk about that 600-1000 yd shooting is getting me interested..

F: I'm glad you asked!

Here at our hill top range we have 1000 yards available and you can consider our stuff in comparison with your interests.

We shoot nothing but iron sighted rifles with lead bullets at this range. The 1000 yard target is a 4 X 4 piece of 1/4 inch thick steel plate, painted black with a 18 inch white center hung on one bolt so it will ring as loudly as possible when hit.

We never shoot from the bench here, finding the cross stick rest more interesting. When shooting at 1000 yards with rifles which M/V is around 1250 ft/sec it is easy to shoot, then move over to the spotting scope and see the bullet arrive on target (or miss). This allows a fellow to spot his own shots with no help from target pullers or even a spotter at all. I have also fired my small-bore 30'06 loaded with 311284 at 1800 ft/sec and still found no trouble getting over to the scope before the bullet arrived on target.

When hit the gong rings with a very satisfying sound - heard on the firing line 5 or 6 seconds after the shot is fired.

The bullet impacts are clearly visable in the black and semi-visable in the white. The target requires repainting now and then, depending upon how accurate your shooting is. Once set up the target never wears out, never requires new paper to be hung and believe me, the ring of that target when shooting in "condition" is really a wonderful thing.

G: Elevation, range, or wind markers?

F: Hang as many flags as seems reasonable.

One or two close to the firing point and a big wind-sock about 800 yards out where you can see it easily..

More detail is available if you'd like.

Good morning,
Forrest

Many thanks for the help and advice, guys. I really appreciate it.

I don't guess I'll be driving 14-16 hours to try or to watch a long range shoot at an organized event. It'll be me and my motorcycle racing back and forth to see if I can hit a target at that range.

I paced off the lane I intend to use for this, and it appears that about 800 yards will be all I can do. Any more, and I'll be getting too close to the top of the hill, and overshooting will be a possible problem. There's nothing on the other side of the hill, but if I can't see, it might not be a good idea to shoot. Still, almost a half mile is a pretty good ways to shoot.

I especially appreciate the advice on target size. That's going to involve more than I'd initially expected, to build something sturdy enough to hold that large a backdrop in the wind.

As I move this project along, I'll let y'all know how it's going.

Thanks again.

HEE! HEE! Grumble talking about riding his motorcycle back & forth conjures up images of Col. Jeff Cooper, and that silly three wheeler he used to ride! Heck, he may still be riding it, for all I know. >>>>>>>>>>Bug.

Grumble:

G: I paced off the lane I intend to use for this, and it appears that about 800 yards will be all I can do..

F: You will do well at 800 yards, or 880 if you can for the classic half-mile distance.

Shooting small arms at 1000 yards is fun, sure, but after doing so for some years I have come to realize that if a fellow restricts himself to shooting cast bullets the 1000 yard distance is just the boarder-line for such shooting: You're just about right at the limiting performance of any such rifle. Shooting at 1000 is done regular; very, very seldom will you see riflemen shooting at 1200 yards or further.

Thus, the 800 yard distance is favorable. Here, we have a 834 yard target which receives many more hits than the 1000 yard target and if it gets too easy we have a 2 X 2 diamond set alongside the big steel for tie-breakers and real challenging shooting..

Good morning,
Forrest