Shooting the Mile: A Beginner’s Guide to Long-Range (Mile) Rifle Shooting
There’s something magnetic about the idea of sending a single, tiny projectile a full mile and watching it hit a target. Long-range “mile” shooting blends precision gear, ballistics science, wind reading, and patience. If you’re stepping into this world—whether to sharpen hunting skills, chase PRs at the range, or simply because it’s badass—this guide will give you a clear, practical roadmap to get started safely and confidently.
What “Shooting the Mile” Really Means
A mile is 1,760 yards. In the long-range community, “shooting the mile” usually refers to engaging a target at or near that distance. That’s a different league from typical 100–300 yard shooting: tiny changes in wind, temperature, or the shooter’s position have huge effects. Expect to learn ballistics, read wind across the entire mile, and trust your kit.
The Right Rifle & Caliber
You can’t shortcut physics. For long-range mile shots you want a platform built for precision and consistency.
Bolt-action or precision semi—bolt actions remain popular for their repeatable lockups; modern precision semi-autos are also used.
Barrel—24–30″ match-grade barrel, chambered and free-floated, with a quality crown.
Popular calibers—6.5 Creedmoor (excellent ballistic coefficient and less recoil), .308 Win (common but more limited at extreme ranges), .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua (workhorses for true mile shots). Choose based on recoil tolerance, availability, and the ranges you’ll realistically shoot.
Action & stock—rigid action and a stable, adjustable stock you can consistently shoulder.
Trigger—a crisp, light, predictable trigger in the 2–4 lb range helps consistency.
Optics & Magnification
A good optic is as important as the rifle. For mile-class shooting:
High magnification—look for scopes that cleanly deliver 25–35× or more with clear glass.
Reliable reticle—MRAD or MOA tactical reticles with hash marks for holdovers and wind calls.
Turrets—exposed or lockable turrets with consistent clicks; having a zero stop is handy.
Parallax & focus—critical to eliminate aiming error at long ranges.
Don’t skimp on glass — target acquisition and reading mirage depend on it.
Ammunition & Ballistics
For mile shots you need ammunition with a high ballistic coefficient, consistent muzzle velocity, and low extreme spread (ES).
Match bullets with high BC (long, sleek bullets) reduce wind drift and drop.
Factory vs handloads—many long-range shooters handload to maximize consistency and tune velocity; however premium factory match ammo can be excellent for getting started.
Ballistic calculator—use a ballistic solver (Kestrel, Strelok, JBM) to model drop and wind drift, factoring BC, zero, altitude, temperature, and humidity. Bring your computed solutions to the range and record real impacts.
Zeroing & Dope: Establishing Your Baseline
Zero carefully at a manageable distance (100–200 yards) to establish a repeatable baseline. From there:
Build your DOPE (Data On Previous Engagements) — record elevation/wind corrections for key distances (100, 200, 500, 800, 1000, 1400, 1760 yards).
Confirm at increasing distances—work your way out: validate your ballistic solution at 500, then 800, then 1,000, etc. Corrections can change with temperature, pressure, and ammo lot.
Maintain a logbook—date, ammo lot, temperature, pressure, humidity, elevation, wind calls, and impacts.
Wind: The Single Biggest Challenge
A mile’s worth of air can wreck your shot. Learning to read wind is the heart of long-range shooting.
Mirage—use mirage through good glass to estimate wind direction and speed near your line of fire.
Kestrel/wind meter—measure wind at your position; but remember, wind varies along the bullet’s path.
Observe the range—flags, dust, foliage, poppers—look for indicators between you and the target. Split the lane into zones and estimate wind for each.
Make conservative calls—overcompensating is often preferable to under-correcting, and always expect variability.
Practice with simple drills: pick a fixed correction for a known wind, shoot, check results, and refine.
Shooting Position & Stability
Your hold, body position, and support must be rock steady.
Bipod + rear bag—a high-quality bipod and a filled rear bag (sack or mechanical rest) provide consistent elevation and very repeatable recoil behavior.
Body alignment—get comfortable behind the gun. Your cheek weld and eye relief must be identical every shot.
Trigger discipline—smooth, relaxed pull; avoid flinching. Use a ballistic timed pause if needed to settle crosswinds.
Range Estimate & Target Acquisition
At extreme distances you need to know exactly how far the target is.
Laser rangefinders—get one that can read out to and beyond a mile, and read multiple returns to ensure you’re ranging the target and not a foreground object.
Spotting—use a spotter or spotting scope to see impacts. A shooter/spotter team dramatically increases success at these ranges.
Drills to Build Skill (Practice Plan)
100–300 yard fundamentals — trigger control and follow-through.
Wind practice at 500–800 yards — learn mirage and flags.
Elevation validation — confirm ballistic solver at 1,000 yards.
Incremental distance work — slowly extend to 1,200, 1,400, 1,600, then 1,760 yards.
Shoot/Spot/Correct — one shooter and one spotter: shoot, spot impacts, adjust, repeat. Aim for consistent small groups before pushing distance.
Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Ignoring environment—temperature and pressure matter. Record them.
Rushing wind calls—patience beats ego. Wait for a good window or a steady read.
Inconsistent setup—small differences in cheek weld or bag fill make large differences downrange.
Overconfidence in the calculator—always confirm with real impacts and keep updating your DOPE.
Safety & Range Etiquette
Follow all range rules—many long-range ranges have specific lane and target protocols.
Confirm target area is clear; bullets that travel a mile still need a proper backstop.
Use proper hearing and eye protection.
Communicate with others; range safety is non-negotiable.
Gear Checklist
Precision rifle and match ammo (or handloads)
High-magnification scope with reticle you know
Bipod + rear bag / rest
Laser rangefinder, Kestrel or wind meter
Spotting scope and tripod
Shooting logbook and pen
Hearing & eye protection, sun/hat, comfortable shooting mat
Final Thoughts
Shooting the mile is as much mental engineering as it is marksmanship. It rewards meticulous setup, patient observation, and steady practice. Start with a solid, repeatable platform, build reliable DOPE, learn to read wind, and expand distance gradually. Most of all—enjoy the process. Every successful long-range shot is the payoff for careful preparation.
