While practice is critical to shooting success so is the element of pressure, and the way you handle this will make or break the outcome. Five years ago I was a so-so shot, and at that time remember the first time I stretched it out to 200 yards! Last year I got my elk at 550 yards and felt comfortable going further if needed. A little over two years ago I got serious and purchased a nice 6.5x47 to learn long range shooting at a range a couple of hours away. Loads were optimized at my home 200yd range, and off I went. The range master spotted my shots and called corrections to gather dope every 100 yards out to 1100, and I made a first round hit on it! I knew I had this mastered. He invited me to participate in an upcoming match which involves 7-8 targets spaced from 450 - 1000+ yards around a 90degree arc, so you rotate in the prone to the targets which are also at various elevations that require bipod adjustments. And the wind funnels through this arc as well. I arrived to see an accomplished group of about 40 shooters of all descriptions. Well at the end of the 7 minute period I failed to finish, running out of time before engaging all of the targets! The combination of a poor strategy on the first outing, plus the pressure of competing under a time constraint did me in! After a bit more practice and competitions, now I really know my capability. And if there is much wind I still would not shoot at an elk past 500 yards, its just too unpredictable to get an accurate wind call past that range to me. So try a little friendly competition with a few elements of difficulty and time pressure to help you improve and find out what you can really feel confident doing. PS - I have also achieved a Fclass High Master certification, and while that means I can shoot decent it does not begin to encompass the types of conditions (WIND) as you will experience in the field.
