Have you ever wondered what the best all around rifle is? Not surprisingly, it depends on who you ask. For some people its an AR or AK rifle variant. What surprises me, however, is how often that question has been answered with the British Enfield. The classic Enfield variant is the No. 1 Mk. III Short Magazine Lee Enfield, or SMLE—hence the moniker I have used with my internet … [Read more...]
We started off this long range shooting series with an introduction to some important terminology. Now we're ready to apply those terms. Let's start with an introduction on a key external ballistics concept that directly relates to long range shooting: bullet trajectory. From the moment it leaves the muzzle, a bullet starts to follow a descending parabolic trajectory. Which … [Read more...]
In External Ballistics - Elevation Part 1, I introduced the concept of error derived from shooting at an angle, and gave you a few practical examples. In this article we will examine the real reason for point of impact shift. In many texts around the web, you'll find one common incorrect explanation of this phenomenon: a simplistic approach derived from the formula used to … [Read more...]
Learning how to become a better long range shooter? Here's the next installment in the external ballistics theory mini series: elevation. When I talked about the vertical component of the trajectory, in Bullet Trajectory Part 1, I touched on firing elevation angle. I mentioned that when there is a firing elevation or depression angle, that is, when you're firing with the barrel … [Read more...]
In both Bullet Trajectory Part 1 and Part 2, I mentioned how light can act as a variable that affects point of impact. Light doesn't directly affect bullet trajectory, but it changes the way you see the target through the telescopic sight. Essentially, you perceive the target in a different way, e.g., larger or smaller, and/or in a different place, depending on the sun's … [Read more...]
I have been practicing long range shooting for about ten years. When I bought my first scoped rifle, initially, for deer and wild boar hunting, I began to research and study material about rifle marksmanship, ballistics, and handloading. My intent was to be able to deliver the most accurate and effective shots possible at typical hunting distances (up to ~300yds). I soon … [Read more...]
