How To Choose Your Long Range Rifle

By Author: Evolved Ballistics LLC
Total Articles: 19
Comment this article

There are many different factors to consider before making your choice on which rifle to purchase. If you are starting out and are deciding for the first time it is advisable to contact a professional that will be able to impart valuable knowledge and help you decide which rifle is best for your unique needs.

Hunting
The first thing to remember is that going hunting means walking, jogging, standing and sometimes even running. These may be easily achieved under normal circumstances however when carrying a rifle, ammunition, extra clothing, food, and knives etc it is a different story. Keeping the weight down as much a possible is the object with choosing a hunting rifle. A lightweight rifle option will still give optimal performance for long range shooting.

Precision
Many people enjoy competitive shooting events, in this instance, it would be a good choice to have a heavier barrel and a lightweight chassis. This would be the best combination to be able to make the precision shots and run between obstacles without carrying too much weight. This mix of light and heavy components gives the shooter the ...
... best of both speed and accuracy.

Calibre
Depending on what the rifle will be used for and what the target is this is one of the most important decisions in choosing a long range rifle. There are different and appropriate ammunitions and calibres for hunting, target practice or competitions. The most popular and readily available cartridges are the .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

Barrels
For precision shooting a shorter heavy barrel is suitable because it will not ‘whip’ that is vibrate as much as a long thin barrel. The steadier the barrel when shooting the more accurate the shot will be. The thicker the barrel the more heat resistant it is and therefore adds to the lifespan of the barrel. Fluting a barrel is to decrease the weight of the long range rifle it will slightly compromise the precision but the fluting if down with reservation can still provide a more precise shot than a thinner longer barrel that is more likely to ‘whip’.

Free floating barrels
A free-floating barrel is the best for precision rifles because there is nothing to interfere with the vibrations when a cartridge is discharged. Most gun companies will sell the rifle with the correct twist ratio and barrel length to ensure the bullet is correctly stabilized in flight. The key to precision shooting is consistency use the same ammunition, the same suppressor etc everything needs to be consistent to know what to expect each time you squeeze the trigger.

Scopes
Choosing the correct scope is twofold, the shooters needs are considered and the quality of the scope. Do not make a mistake and choose a cheap scope for a $5000 rifle the quality of the scope needs to match that of the rifle to continue to receive peak performance from the long range rifle.

Triggers
There are two types of triggers to purchase it is suggested that a quality trigger is fitted. The single trigger is a simple mechanism, as the trigger is pulled the hammer gets released. The second type is the two stage which gives more control as the trigger pulls back it will hit resistance which is the trigger wall, continue to pull back and the wall is broken and the hammer releases. Triggers can be adjusted which can be viewed as a safety precaution, adjusting to make it harder to pull back is a reminder to the shooter in a stressful situation that they have their finger on the trigger.

Stocks
Stocks are available in different materials, many hunting rifles have wooden stocks and precision rifles have carbon fibre stocks. It's a personal choice whether you choose to go with a stock or the option of an aluminium chassis.

It is not an easy process or a quick process choosing a long range shooting rifle there are more features to consider and these that have been mentioned are the basic ones to start off the journey of purchasing a rifle.

About Us

Evolved Ballistics are a company that are teaching and training people to be the best shooters and hunters that they can be. It is their mission to be able to help others achieve success in long range shooting. Choosing to shoot with Proof Rifles and learning how to harness the potential for accuracy and precision.

At Evolved Ballistics it is not only about the Proof Research Rifles it's about helping others reach their full potential by training them on how to use the rifles correctly and teach first shot accuracy. The team are experienced professionals in their field and offer their expertise and knowledge during their courses, which are comprehensive and affordable. Visit