6 Shooting Drills to Sharpen Your Long-Range Shooting

Why Drills Matter for Long-Range Accuracy

The following six exercises are designed to help you get the most out of your Christensen Arms rifle, whether you’re preparing for a hunt or refining your skills at the range. Success at extended distances requires more than quality equipment, it requires deliberate practice. Structured long-range shooting drills break fundamental skills into repeatable exercises, helping you improve trigger control, stability, and consistency.

1. Dry-Fire Practice

Dry-fire training removes the variables of recoil and muzzle blast, allowing focus on the basics. Focus on smooth, straight-back trigger pull.

• Maintain consistent cheek weld and sight picture.
• Use a small aiming point to track reticle movement.
• Reset the bolt and repeat deliberately.

Recommended Gear: A Christensen Arms Mesa FFT or Ridgeline FFT paired with a quality optic makes dry-fire practice for accuracy especially effective. Snap caps can protect the rifle during repeated dry-fires.

Goal: Complete 50 perfect repetitions per session to build muscle memory and improve long-range accuracy.

2. Breathing + Trigger Control

Small mistakes amplify at distance, making breathing and trigger discipline essential. Inhale deeply, exhale about 70%, then pause.

• Break the shot during this natural pause—avoid holding your breath too long.
• Reset after each shot with a calm, repeatable rhythm.

Recommended Gear: A lightweight Christensen Arms MPR (Modern Precision Rifle) is ideal for practicing breathing and trigger control because its adjustable stock and ergonomic design help maintain proper posture.

3. MOA Grouping Drill

Understanding your rifle’s accuracy potential is key to refining long-range shooting drills.

• Begin with five-shot groups at 100 yards.
• Track group size in MOA (Minute of Angle).
• Once you can consistently hold 1 MOA at 100, extend to longer distances.

Recommended Gear: Pair your rifle with match-grade ammunition and a solid bipod for stability. The Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT is built to deliver sub-MOA accuracy straight out of the box.

Goal: Achieve consistent groups and track improvements in your MOA grouping over time.

4. Positional Shooting

Not every long-range shot comes from a bench. Practicing multiple positions improves adaptability.

• Prone: Maintain a straight spine and square shoulder placement.
• Kneeling: Use a knee or pack for added support.
• Seated: Crossed-leg or supported seated for mid-range stability.

Recommended Gear: The Christensen Arms MPR Rimfire is ideal for positional shooting practice, allowing you to simulate full-rifle handling without burning through centerfire ammo.

Goal: Build confidence and consistency in various field positions, preparing you for real hunting scenarios.

5. Range & Wind Reading for Shooters

Wind and distance are the biggest variables in long-range shooting.

• Estimate distance to target without electronics.
• Observe mirage, vegetation, or dust to gauge wind speed and direction.
• Apply corrections, shoot, and confirm impact to refine your judgment.

Recommended Gear: A high-quality optic with a wind-hold reticle, mounted on a Christensen Arms rifle chambered in flat-shooting cartridges like 6.5 Creedmoor, makes wind reading for shooters more effective.

Goal: Improve your ability to make first-round hits in varying conditions.

6. Follow-Through & Recovery

Consistency doesn’t end when the trigger breaks.

• Maintain sight picture for 2–3 seconds after firing.
• Avoid lifting your head or breaking position too soon.
• Reset your natural point of aim and breathing for the next shot.

Recommended Gear: Lightweight carbon-fiber barrels on Christensen Arms rifles reduce recoil and make it easier to maintain proper rifle follow-through.

Goal: Develop shot-to-shot consistency and improve recovery for follow-up shots.

Build Consistency with Long-Range Shooting Drills

These six long-range shooting drills are designed to improve fundamentals and build confidence behind your rifle. By combining deliberate practice with a Christensen Arms precision rifle, you can trust both your skills and your equipment when it matters most.

Take your training further with a Christensen Arms precision rifle built for long-range performance. Explore the full lineup at Christensen Arms.