USA – -(Ammoland.com)- THE HUNT: PART I
This week, the guys are in New Mexico.
Aaron was lucky enough to draw a premium, once-in-a-lifetime Big Horn Sheep tag through Cabela’s T.A.G.S. Aaron and Mike meet up with G.T. Nunn with Frontier Outfitting.
They’ll start with a couple of days of scouting, then try to finish with a big ram for the season opener.
Shooting Tip: Doping The Wind
One of the most important skills for long range shooting is the ability to determine wind speed and direction — where you’re standing and downrange. In this segment, Aaron shows us three techniques that allow us to bracket the wind and use these measurements to determine exactly how to compensate for wind.
The first thing to think about is cartridge selection. As an example, Aaron compares the Winchester .308 and the 7mm Remington Magnum to illustrate the effects of wind on trajectory. With a .308 at 1000 yards in a 10 MPH wind, we have about 9 MOA — which equates to about 90 inches. The Remington, on the other hand, has about 4.5 MOA (45 inches) of deflection under the same conditions. That means that, if you’re shooting the .308 Winchester, you have to be twice as good at doping the wind as you would with the 7mm Remington.
Once you have determined the wind’s effect on the cartridge you’ve chosen, you can take a wind speed reading and begin to determine the proper amount of compensation that will be required to put you on target.
- The first technique that Aaron shows is how to measure crosswind using a simple wind meter. Of course, this only measures the wind where the spotter is, not downrange.
- The second technique is to analyze the mirage near your target in a spotting scope. By looking at the atmospheric distortion caused by differences in air and ground temperature, we can determine wind speed and direction downrange.
- The third technique is to compare the data from the wind meter and the mirage observations with what we can see the vegetation doing. Grass, trees, seeds in the air, or spider webs can give you a good idea of wind speed and direction.
The Hunt: Part II
In the first two days of the hunt, Aaron estimates that they’ve seen 35 rams. While looking for one particular ram, they see a couple good-sized rams across the valley. With rain threatening, the guys decide to hunker down for a while.
After the weather moves through, they lose sight of the big rams they were watching. Things are looking grim for opening day.
True Ballistic Profile
Variables in B.C. and muzzle velocity can throw off your ballistic profile, making it difficult to shoot accurately at long range. It’s important to build a true ballistic profile by determining the accurate B.C. and muzzle velocity. This can be done by using trajectory validation. This will allow a precise calculation of ballistic trajectory that matches field shooting results. This is a critical first step required for long-range ballistic compensation.
The Hunt: Part III
Again, the weather is fluctuating drastically. During a fortunate break, the guys spot two good-sized rams together at 683 yards. Aaron takes his shot — it’s right on. One and done!
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About Long Range Pursuit
Our mission is to show our viewers the passion we have for the pursuit of everything Long Range! As we chase trophy game all over the country and the world, we apply long range techniques in the field and bring them to your home as you watch!
From hunting tips to shooting techniques to cutting edge equipment, we seek to share with and educate our fans so they can pursue their own Long Range passions in the field! At times, we offer a “behind the scenes” view of Gunwerks’ Long Range Rifle Manufacturing facility, so our fans can get a sneak peak at the hours, precision, and methodical construction involved in top quality Long Range Rifle systems. We also instruct our fans on how to optimize their own rifles to the max capabilities and accuracy of that rifle.
Our mission is to show our viewers the passion we have for the pursuit of everything Long Range! As we chase trophy game all over the country and the world, we apply long range techniques in the field and bring them to your home as you watch! From hunting tips to shooting techniques to cutting edge equipment, we seek to share with and educate our fans so they can pursue their own Long Range passions in the field!
At times, we offer a “behind the scenes” view of Gunwerks‘ Long Range Rifle Manufacturing facility, so our fans can get a sneak peak at the hours, precision, and methodical construction involved in top quality Long Range Rifle systems. We also instruct our fans on how to optimize their own rifles to the max capabilities and accuracy of that rifle.
Watch Long Range Pursuit on The Sportsman Channel, Sundays 12:30 pmEST, Tuesdays 4:30 pmEST, and Wednesdays 6:30 amEST; on WildTV, Tuesdays – 9:30 pmCST, Thursdays – 11:00 pmCST, Fridays – 8:30 amCST, and Saturdays – 4:00pmCST
Join us on our Long Range Pursuit! www.longrangepursuit.com