What’s happening to LRH?

[DJ Fergus]

There have been some fairly epic threads on the hide concerning wind.

Anyone who actually shoots past 500 yards with regularity knows just how critical the wind is.

The comparative lack of discussion here leads me to believe one of two things:

Either most here have the wind thing totally figured out...or few here shoot far enough for it to matter.

JMO

I totally agree. Never much mentioned here about wind. Experience in reading the wing and measuring your judgement call on it cannot be replaced by anything other than putting rounds down range in all sorts of wind conditions. I admit that I am no master of it but I do intentfully practice when the wind gets above 7mph or more.

 

[ndking1126]

Your post makes good sense, but is it not up to each of us to push ourselves to become these guys? I'm not saying take pot shots at game too far away, but practice till you can, tune that load and the rifle.
I am more of a steel shooter than hunter, but today I bang steel with 6 dashers that 6 yrs ago I needed a 7 saum to reach that far.

Yes! I like this thought process. My only thought though is most, if not all, of us have day jobs and a family that soak up the vast majority of our time. If we are talking big picture about pushing the long range envelope, that takes lots of time, research, money, and an extensive knowledge of many scientific fields. Because of how advanced our understanding of ballistics, metallurgy, and marksmanship have become, it's my opinion that 98, 99% of the people who shoot guns will never add any new knowledge. Our lot in life is to try to understand what the 2% are contributing, adding it to our playbook, and then helping others learn and progress as far as they can.

 

[oldpilot]

We do tend to reinvent the wheel a lot. I learned to shoot and hunt in the orchard on my Grandads ranch. He started me and my cousin out with two SRB 22 bolt rifles. We each got a box of 22 shorts, and you got two rounds for each bird brought in. After some instruction we got our ammo and went to work in the 14 acre orchard. Did I mention we we're just short of none? By the end of the next day we had no ammo, only sad faces. Gramps gave us each another box of shorts and evidently we learned because there are still about a dozen boxes on the shelf in the storeroom. I learned there are no dumb questions in life, you have to have patience to learn or teach, and the experience of other when taken seriously can prevent walking a difficult and painful path. No, I didn't become a cowboy. I learned a lot from a wise old man, I just didn't realize it at the time. Don't fly through your own bullets!

 

[djfriesen]

The main issue I see, especially as it relates to other hobby-centric forums, is LRH seems to lack catalogued information. Other forums have dedicated stickies with tons of solid, vetted info, and the moderator support to redirect inquiries to that info. I feel LRH lacks some of that.

When I started homebrewing, I learned more by reading the member-created and moderated wiki posted at homebrewtalk.com than I could have in 50 individual threads asking questions. Maybe that approach isn't feasible here, based on the huge variety of people, equipment, and components, but it seems like you could put together some sort of beginner's guide to (insert topic here) that could at least be a resource to people.

 

[jrock]

I'm newer to the site and found it while trying to discover more information about reloading, shooting, components, and how it applies to hunting . I have no idea what topics the OP is referencing. I guess that proves I'm newer.

I really like the benchrest world for their attention to detail and finding the last ounce of precision. However, when it comes to hunting and picking and using a gun for that sport, that world doesn't have much advice. That is why I like this site. I can get in depth shooting information and application for hunting and down range energy. I do appreciate the few people on the form who have patronized my posts and IM questions as I do not have local mentors. I have now read most of the valuable information and seldom post or few more than a few threads. Its practical application time for me.

 

[slas]

I've been on here a few years and this site has more information on Long Range Hunting than any other in my opinion...but.....it's much more than that for many of us out here that may not have a 1000 yard range, or even a 3-400 yard range or have $3-$4000 to plop down on a beautiful custom rifle, or can get away each year to CO or MT for Elk hunts. Many of us are just your average working Joe's with that off the shelf Tikka or Savage, that not only live vicariously through many of you, but we depend on you and your combined experience and expertise to help us...and one day maybe guide us to that magical place we all hope to be one day (hunting the game of our choice, with the rifle of our choice, at the distance of our choice). But for now we need to work through the learning curve on things that relate to all shooting and hunting, not just long range. Reloading advise, powders, bullets, seating depths. Scopes, advice, tracking, drops, reticles. And rifles....bedding, barrels, actions, triggers...the list goes on and on. Can't a site be about Long Range Shooting along with general hunting, gun stuff and all the other wonderful material and advice that goes along with it here?

I guess what I'm babbling on about is to say that for so many of us, this site is about so much more than just Long Range Shooting....and I'm very thankful for that.

 

[Buck100]

I doubt I will comfort you here, but forums evolve. Maybe what was once a certain age group of like minded people at some point needs to take on new members, and liking the outcome may become tougher. It is still a premier hunting site though.
I was in a conversation with the owner of Snipers Hide yrs ago, he made the statement that you cannot buy your way into what he called his game. I begged to differ, capable gun smiths are all over this country building accurate rifles. The tools available to learn are at your fingertips today. Whether at the reloading bench, apps for dopes, and the optics today.
What may have taken you years to learn or accomplish, people are doing the same in a fraction of the time and can be vocal about it, lol
With growth comes diversity, fact of life.

 

[feelinducky]

I think what you are seeing is an increase in people that want to try and shoot long range in general. Marketing of "Long Range" products such as optics, cartridges, bullets powder, rangefinders has sparked interest with many people. As the sport grows larger you are getting more and more new people who are looking for answers. More than likely they want to be a part of a group and to be a part they ask questions. Yes, many topics have been covered numerous times and people don't use the search button accordingly. However, there are no dumb questions. I don't hunt long range but I use the forum for advice on shooting and reloading. If I use the techniques that Long Range guys use I should be much more accurate and precise at shorter ranges.

 

[thwatson2]

My intro to this forum was based on cartridge info. I noticed a good amount of the info revolves around "what cartridge should I use". Then info is shared. Like most things, we start out at sighting in, then 100 yards or so and work out. Got to start somewhere. If all info jumped right to 1000 yard shots, this forum may suffer good knowledge. I shoot long range regularly (400 to 1000 yards), But hunt shorter distances, usually within 300 yards. I think the ski resort with all expert slopes would go bankrupt. You need the basics to get out there. Competed at Quigley this year, it took me a year to work my loads and sights. Got out there and none of the numbers worked, luckily through good listening and lots of shooting I was able to clean up my numbers and compete. Without folks like the ones here, I'd have no basis to adjust my setup. We learn from each other. Without the simple stuff and basic fundamentals, we have nothing.

 

[Mrhounddog]

The main issue I see, especially as it relates to other hobby-centric forums, is LRH seems to lack catalogued information. Other forums have dedicated stickies with tons of solid, vetted info, and the moderator support to redirect inquiries to that info. I feel LRH lacks some of that.

When I started homebrewing, I learned more by reading the member-created and moderated wiki posted at homebrewtalk.com than I could have in 50 individual threads asking questions. Maybe that approach isn't feasible here, based on the huge variety of people, equipment, and components, but it seems like you could put together some sort of beginner's guide to (insert topic here) that could at least be a resource to people.

This is a great observation. Critical to a forum is knowledge management, but it is one of the hardest things to accomplish.
What is even harder is teaching grown folks the difference between there, their, and they're, not to mention your and you're.

 

[Buck100]

Forums evolve but one thing that will not change with this one is the civility. This is the most civilized forum/blog that I have had the pleasure of participating in. I have been on blogs that were absolutely brutal where members were down right disrespectful of other members comments. You know the kind, the ones that want to impress everyone with their self proclaimed knowledge that will stop at nothing to try to embarrass any person making a comment that might contain a mistake no matter how small. While the forum may have moved into other areas I don't think there has been a time when I have not learned something new about reloading, rifle and ammo configurations, etc. I hope we can continue down that path without losing sight of the original long range topic.

 

[robert l]

First, I want to say that this is one of the best forums in the internet. It truly is a wealth of knowledge concerning all things long range shooting/hunting. I've been on here for quite awhile (~10 years) but recently I've noticed quite the change in the thread content and topics. Seems like the focus has been shifting more and more away from long range hunting/shooting to just simple general hunting and gun stuff...nothing really wrong with that but it seems to be driving the focus away from the prerogative of the site, and what drew me (and I'm sure others) here to begin with. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I want this site to remain the authority on long range hunting and continue to be the treasure trove that it is. Currently, however, I feel like we're really diluting the resource. Rant over.

You are so right i have said some thing about this in the past another member was saying about a 22 cal for long range hunting.Im sorry but i could not hold it back and i let the guy have it both barrels.

 

[robert l]

Forums evolve but one thing that will not change with this one is the civility. This is the most civilized forum/blog that I have had the pleasure of participating in. I have been on blogs that were absolutely brutal where members were down right disrespectful of other members comments. You know the kind, the ones that want to impress everyone with their self proclaimed knowledge that will stop at nothing to try to embarrass any person making a comment that might contain a mistake no matter how small. While the forum may have moved into other areas I don't think there has been a time when I have not learned something new about reloading, rifle and ammo configurations, etc. I hope we can continue down that path without losing sight of the original long range topic.

One thing I noticed ia that a lot or threads are opened on the wrong forum. Example someone asking about basic rifle start up and the post in on the Long Range Forum instead of the Basics and starting up forum. Someone asking about a powder performance also on the long range one instead of the reloading and vice versa.

I saw one about AR reloading also on the long range instead of the AR forum.

I also think that as we learn we should also share that knowledge with who ever needs it, pay it forward.

Just my $0.02

Maybe that one should be some thing that len should look at about making the different areas to post what you are looking for more prevalent at the top of the page. Just a thought from a old red neck. Been in the florida swamps to long.

 

[robert l]

I may be totally wrong........but I FEEL the introduction of black rifle fads, fad cartridges with percepted magical abilities have eaten into our sport.

As a whole, the LR community of new shooters are obsessed with high BC bullets in cartridges not really up to the task.

I am not going to pick on new cartridges, these are what make money for gun and cartridge companies.
But HYPE is driving our sport DOWN in my opinion.

I go to this site more than many others due to the wannabes at those sites that really don't know what LR entails.
I ask many how they 'train' for those long shots........many don't even dry fire their guns prior to setting up a training session.
Nor do they set up at home and dry fire with their mat and gear setup.
I can't imagine hunting LR without doing this every night the week prior, just as I do before a match.

Sorry for the long rant, but I am at the point that poor cartridge choice is ruling LR over proper use of cartridges capable of LR.

Cheers.

You hit the nail on the head with this problem.