How to get better?

[Erni]

Ok, so I started getting to the range more and had a thought: Now what? I have been shooting for 3 decades but not really training.

How do I get better at shooting rifles? What training regimen? How to track if I am improving?
The range has 25, 50, 100, 200. What to do for AR? What to do for "precision" rifle?

I know we have some 3 gun and PRS gurus here. Can any of you recomend a regimen for the following:
+AR 20/30 rounds per session
+Bolt gun 10/20 rounds per session

Also any pointers to understanding density altitude and any other things that will help with bolt guns? I zeroed my rifle, now how do I get from holes on paper to sub 1moa at 200 yards first shot everytime?
I understand there is no shortcuts, but I don't think I even know where this trail starts.

[Irving]

If you don't want to join some matches, look up some popular drills and go from there.

[Wulf202]

Tibosaurusrex has a YouTube series about understanding the long gun that is pretty good. It's quite in depth and will take many evenings to get thru.

It's no replacement for hands on but the book knowledge has to come from somewhere

[Hoser]

Ok, so I started getting to the range more and had a thought: Now what? I have been shooting for 3 decades but not really training.

How do I get better at shooting rifles? What training regimen? How to track if I am improving?
The range has 25, 50, 100, 200. What to do for AR? What to do for "precision" rifle?

I know we have some 3 gun and PRS gurus here. Can any of you recomend a regimen for the following:
+AR 20/30 rounds per session
+Bolt gun 10/20 rounds per session

Also any pointers to understanding density altitude and any other things that will help with bolt guns? I zeroed my rifle, now how do I get from holes on paper to sub 1moa at 200 yards first shot everytime?
I understand there is no shortcuts, but I don't think I even know where this trail starts.

First make sure you, your rifle and ammo are capable of 1 MOA accuracy.

After that its just trigger time with good ammo. Most likely you wont get there with cheap bulk pack 55 fmj and for sure green tip wont get there.

Semi-Autos are difficult to shoot well with the really long lock time compared to a bolt gun. Follow through is everything.

For an accurate AR make sure it has a decent free floated barrel and a good trigger.

Inside 600 yards density altitude and stuff like that wont make too much difference.

For training just spend some time shooting groups or dots at 100-200 yards with your semi. Don't be in a hurry. Maybe 30-50 rounds. Wrap it up with the same accuracy drills with your bolt gun.

[ray1970]

This might sound silly but I find shooting at three to five hundred yards more productive for honing skills.

Why you ask?

At one hundred and even two hundred yards small errors in form sometimes aren?t easily noticed or recognized. Those little errors in technique become rather obvious as distance increases. Also, I find the longer the shot the more focused I am on doing everything right.

Take this advice with a grain of salt as I?ll be the first to admit I?m not the best shooter.

[Erni]

So this training is aimed at my every 2 weeks range trips with the limitation of 200yrds max. I would love to shoot longer range but doubt I will be able to have a weekend free for several more years. Irv, I love matches, but they are hardly the place to work technique or to improve. Matches are great at showing me where I suck, whats wrong with my gear, and highlight what I need to work on, but that's just me.

[Wolfshoon]

You should attend an Appleseed 2 day shooting clinic. They are inexpensive ($60) and the instruction is phenomenal, best $60 and 16 hours you'll spend, period. (And if you are a vet, even cheaper at $20) They are done for this year, but usually have 5-9 Colorado events a year at Boulder, Nunn or CRC. The people that poo poo it off as a .22LR event without "real manly guns" are those that could probably use the instruction the most. I am still amazed at how much I learned at an appleseed even with 20+ years shooting under my belt.

https://appleseedinfo.org/

[DenverGP]

You should attend an Appleseed 2 day shooting clinic.

An appleseed was the only rifle training I've ever had. Learned a lot, even though we never shot at real distance (only 25 meters at the reduced size targets). Had a lot of fun, and knew I learned some basics but wasn't sure if it would translate into actual distance shooting. Last month when I shot at the bailey 2-gun match, I did really well shooting at 300, 500, and 600 yards. My worst stage scores were from the standing position, which is easy to practice using my 22lr rifle at the 25 yard indoor range.

[Irving]

High lighting where you suck is a great first step because then you can select drills with greater focus.

[Hoser]

22s are one of the best training tools out there.