I've gotten to be a pretty reliable shooter at 100 yards with my .22lr but I'm really struggling at 150 yards. The problem is that with my scope I can't see every hole I put in the paper. Yesterday, for instance, I shot a group of five and from my scope it looked like only one of them hit. Then after I took the 300 yard round trip I saw that I done fairly well, but I couldn't see it from where I was shooting. So I can barely see what I'm doing at 150, I probably wont be able to see anything at 200 yards and beyond. So do I need to get a spotting scope? I'm hesitant, though, because it seems like getting a spotting scope that can see .22 holes in paper at 200 or 250 yards is not cheap! Any other ideas on how I can get real-time feedback on my shots at 150, 200, and beyond?
You don't need a super fancy spotter for Rimfire at 200 yards. I have a Celestron Optima and an Atibal that works fine and both were right around $200 (the Atibal was on a significant sale). And they worked well for scoring KD on steel out to 500 yards as well. I am sure others will chime in as well.
Having shot Rimfire iron sights at 200 yards, I will also say you don't need to see your holes. You do need to verify your come-ups and have confidence in your zero, but then it is just NPOA, the six steps, and target feedback from there. And you proved that with your walk! That's just part of the KD/RKD experience :)
Hey DJ Liber-T - I think you've already received the good advice. You don't get the benefit of instant feedback when shooting at those distances. There are exceptions if you employ electronic targets or a target camera or a range with target pits and scorers, but generally, you will get your feedback when you head downrange and check the holes. This is where having a good hold (knowing for instance you and your rifle shoot 3 MOA at 200 yards) and calling your shot really come into play. A serious practice session might have you taking your shots and plotting your calls and then heading downrange for a comparison.
This also highlights the advantage of doing a fair bit of marksmanship practice at 25 M, where you can see the holes with a scope and, if not, it's a short walk. For many shooters, the spotting scope is to help record scores received from "the pits", and to help read the wind.
Best real-time feedback is electronic targets . . . if you can afford it.
If you use electronic muffs you can heat hits on steel at 200. Mello Yellow has nice steel targets available on ebay but I can't remember his ebay mame.
Shoot steel targets the size of your intended groups.
The only thing that is bad about steel shooting to me is that it trains the shooter to wait for target feedback prior to sending the next shot once the recoil cycle is complete and sights are realigned.
Quote from: Just 2B Difficult on October 31, 2020, 09:05:01 PM
Shoot steel targets the size of your intended groups.
The only thing that is bad about steel shooting to me is that it trains the shooter to wait for target feedback prior to sending the next shot once the recoil cycle is complete and sights are realigned.
Good point. It would be just as much of a "time killer" as peeking at your last shot on a rapid-fire stage.
I have a Konus 80mm spotting scope that can pick up .223 holes at 200 yards on a good day, but mirage or lighting can screw that up; I find that .22LR holes are even harder to see. Why are you trying to push a .22LR past 100 yards, though? I can see the value in demonstrating comeups, but for practicing fundamentals, 100 yards is reasonable for a decent rifle and ammo, and it lets you start seeing how wind affects point of impact vs. your call.
E-targets as mentioned previously are great for instant feedback, but the more affordable ones (like the ShotMarkers we use at our club, or the Silver Mountain targets) require a bullet that is supersonic at impact, and you won't get that with .22LR at 100 yards. A remote camera at the target line is probably your only real option.
Because 200 yard KD Rimfire events are super fun, that's why :F
Yes, you get a lot of value out of 100 yards, but stretching your skills, wind reading, and equipment to 200 is a hoot. It is also a test of mental acuity and concentration in terms of properly dialing-in come-ups, making the right holds, keeping count, etc. Shooters are so proud when it all comes together and they earn that new rocker.
Steel is also fun at 200 with rimfire, but frustrating since you may not get any target feedback (harder to see the splash on a miss - clean steel stinks to see after a string) and honestly a little harder to score with rimfire than paper.
QuoteWhy are you trying to push a .22LR past 100 yards, though?
I got into shooting recently because I was looking for an activity I can practice by myself (thanks Covid) and I thought precision rifle looked fun. PRS and NRL both have .22 divisions and in the case of NRL 22 they even have a division where there is a price cap on the rifle and scope you bring - so it's very nice for new shooters that don't want to drop 3 or 4 grand on a custom rifle. I just signed up for my first shoot in a few weeks, and there I will be shooting at targets from 25 yards up to 200 yards. So I definitely need to get my long game sorted out.
I'll post the link to the Accurate Shooter story on the tactical rimfire event they have a chart comparing .308 dope and 22 LR dope at reduced distances. 200m is pretty easy on the half scale target once you have your come ups.
Here is the link to the story.
https://www.accurateshooter.com/shooting-skills/rimfire-tactical-precision-match/
It looks like a fun match. Like AS it is not a gear race. There are some very challenging targets.
This is another interesting challenge and more targets.
https://www.accurateshooter.com/shooting-skills/test-skills-in-rimfire-sniper-matches/
Warning Accurate Shooter is a very deep rabbit hole of shooting info.