Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting Paperback – January 31, 2016

I am a "old salt" entering the competitive target shooting game after an almost 30 year lay-off from formal shooting. Never was a sniper, but shot USMC Expert all 10 years I was required to qualify/requalify - including just prior to my duty in Desert Storm. This was a great book as both a refresher, bringing back all of the old axioms we were told back when I was much younger, as well as introducing me to the new discipline of Long Range (LR) shooting, which for me was anything beyond 600 yards and iron sights. Quick and clearly written read with enough photos & definitions that anyone can follow and not feel completely lost when they get out to the range for the first time. No bad advice, or self-promotion here. Only good hard info that anyone will find useful.The "truth teller" for me in this book was the author's admission that though right handed and left eye dominate, he was able to shoot very proficiently using a right handed shooting position. On this point I have extensive experience, since that was exactly my situation (strongly left-eye dominant, but excellent eyesight in both eyes) when I went into the USMC (that and not having used anything but bolt-action rifles during my youth). Since, by direction of The Commandant, all marines will do as ordered, all 200+ of us on the range that week were taught to shoot as "right handers." The "sight picture" and shooting fundamentals taught (which are the same as the author covers) served me well as I shot my M-16, and qualified USMC Expert, cross-eyed for over a decade. Great book! Buy it!

This is a great read, easy to understand for both new and experienced shooters, and has tons of great info and little tips and tricks that may help struggling shooters get into the long range sport.

Lots of excellent info for the beginner shooter, written clearly and engagingly. There are some issues matching up text with images in the ebook and a number of typos but overall a solid read, very informative and practical.

Ryan has done an excellent job going into just enough detail for folks (like me) getting into long range shooting. This book is an easy read and will give you a great overview of all the things you need to take into account when making 1,000-yard shots. It's written with both practical and technical points of view (which I appreciate). Ryan is not on a soap-box trying to sell you on his particular style of shooting, rather, he'll explain various approaches and opinions so that you can make a better informed decision when it's time for YOU to decide upon something. This book is not all you need to take your rifle to the range and start adjusting for 1,000-yard shots (that's not the point of this book). I would say that this book should be a required primer before you start reading books with more scientific density (like Applied Ballistics for Long Range Shooting - more advanced). This book will give you the overall understanding of what you'll be learning about more in depth and help you to 'speak the language' of the other books. There are a lot of terms and concepts which novices have never heard of and this book will help you with all of that lingo and get your brain warmed up to learn the more in-depth concepts and apply them to your shooting. Read this book before you go spend thousands on equipment (I didn't, but I got lucky because I followed the advice of other long-distance shooters before I purchased my shooting package … you might not be so lucky). For example, spend at least as much on your scope as you do your rifle … and if you're not willing to do that, then long-distance shooting is not the sport/hobby for you (you will be disappointed when you keep missing your long range shots). Etc. etc. I really like Ryan's writing style which is mixed with just the right (minimal) amount of humor and a lot of common sense from his perspective as a former military sniper. As a fellow attorney, and fellow author, I really appreciate the fine work Ryan has poured into this book and I have bookmarked many pages to refer to later when calculating shots and keeping the basic fundamentals in mind. After reading this book, I feel like making a note at the front of my DOPE book which reads something like: "Dear Rifle & Glass, I acknowledge that the least consistent and least accurate component of my shooting package is me, the shooter, and I must remember and apply the basic fundamentals of shooting, and must interfere with you as little as possible in order to minimize my negative influences, bad habits, and over-controlling tendencies, on your inherent consistency and accuracy; please accept my apologies in advance." "PS - I also promise to not blame the first bad shot of the day on your cold-bore, but rather, on a cold-shooter."

Keep in your range bag or read on the toilet. Skims some topics but goes into depth explaining some concepts. Goes over a lot of basics. Recommend for anyone getting into the game.

This is the second best book I have ever read. I would give it 6 stars if possible. I have bought more copies of this book than any other and give it as a gift for anyone joining the military or pursuing long range shooting. The author has a great ability to simplify very complex issues in a way that makes the data usable. If you want to improve your accuracy and extend the reach of even off the shelf systems and commercial ammo, this book will make a huge impact (pun intended). If you reload and have serious custom equipment, this will help even more.

As a complete beginner to shooting a rifle, this book answered so many questions and explained so many things that I feel like an expert now (far from it obviously!). This book moves at a very nice pace, is easy to read, and doesn't get you bogged down in a bunch of details that you probably don't need to be concerned with when just starting out. MOA vs MRAD... FFP vs SFP... Instructions on sighting in your scope... And all kinds of tips and tricks on actually shooting (focus on the reticle, steady pressure on the trigger!). Can't wait to get out to the range and start applying my new found knowledge.

I looked at a few different books but chose this one: it’s a great intro to shooting and teaches the basics very well. It covers what rifle to choose, optics, and ammo.From beginners to intermediates I highly recommend this. The writer was a former sniper, so it’s also neat to read about his experiences.