Now that you own a brand-new rangefinder, it’s time to improve your sight. Whether you are targeting a clay pigeon or a beer can, isn’t it immensely satisfying when you hit the bullseye? With a rangefinder around, you now have more chances of hitting the target than just relying on your eye and shooting skills. Those who are ready to move on from being an amateur to pro should practice their rifle sight with a rangefinder. This helps prepare for tournaments where you meet veteran shooters from different parts of your country. Wondering how to use your rangefinder to im prove your rifle sight? Here are four things you can do
1. Plinking
Plinking is an age-old American technique to improve your rifle shooting aim. It’s as simple as lining a few beer bottles on a fence post and using your rangefinder to lock their targets. A rangefinder, while plinking, helps you figure out the estimated distance without measuring it manually. Apart from sighting targets, one of the reasons why people invest in a high-quality rangefinder is they want an approximate idea of the distance from their targets. This allows them to set up their shot accordingly. Start by lining up a few beer bottles on a fence post and make a mark from where you plan to
take aim. Measure the distance manually. This is to double-check whether your rangefinder provides an accurate estimate or not. Once you measure the distance, return to your shooting spot and put your eye on the rangefinder. What distance does it show? It will provide either an accurate figure or something close to the figure you just measured. Aim and pull the trigger. Plinking helps you learn how to avoid misplaced shots because you have the rangefinder to estimate the distance from your target. Try to hit the beer bottle without the rangefinder, and you may need to hold your breath longer than you expect to hit the bullseye. That’s the difference a rangefinder can make.
2. Sighting-in
Sighting-in is a popular technique to improve your sight while using a rangefinder. Almost any veteran who uses a rangefinder will tell you to keep this technique in mind while aiming your target. It makes you more experienced when it comes to hunting. While plinking involves doublechecking the distance of your target using your rangefinder, sighting-in means you need to set up targets before they even arrive at your preferred spot. Suppose you want to kill a mature buck. You wait for it on your stand. The buck is still far away from your range. But it’s not moving in your direction. You can use a decoy to make it come to your spot where you can take aim and shoot it. How will you understand the range where you want to employ the decoy without getting down from your stand? This is where your rangefinder will come to your rescue. Most rangefinders come with a super-duper measuring range that allows you to keep an eye on your moving target and create a decoy if necessary. Many veteran hunters use rangefinders to create landmarks from their stands so that they can lure mature bucks to come near that spot. And once they do, there’s no going back for them.
3. Long-range
Want to practice long-range distance shooting with your rifle? You must use a rangefinder that can cover a distance of at least 600 yards or more. Again, you can use the rangefinder to measure the distance before taking aim. Imagine aiming at a target that is beyond 600 yards. Would you be able to see that target without a rangefinder? Probably not. Most importantly. you also need to consider other conditions like wind direction and wind speed before shooting. You may end up with a misplaced shot if you don’t consider the direction of the wind. Ideally, you should judge the wind movement and shift your aim slightly off the target so that the wind carries the bullet and hits the bullseye. This requires a lot of practice, but you can improve your sight with the rangefinder. Keep checking the wind direction before taking aim. Then use the rangefinder to figure out the distance before setting your target. Now keep practicing until you hit the target consistently. Long range shooting is an art says Samuel Ambrosino of Rangefinder Yard. “Its something that must be practiced over and over to hit targets at extreme ranges”
4. Military training
Military training is another excellent way to improve your rifle sight with your rangefinder. What if you find yourself in a life and death situation, and it becomes vital to know the distance of your target? High-end rangefinders come with advanced features like night-vision, binocular capabilities, and custom ballistic information. Laser rangefinder binoculars have all these benefits in one single unit. Considering weather conditions The above methods work successfully when you practice in dry weather. But if you really want to notch up your skills, you should practice shooting in various weather conditions. Suppose you never needed a rangefinder to shoot a target 100 yards away. But you did it on a bright, sunny day. Would you be able to hit the target consistently when there are clouds around, and it’s pouring heavily? You may as well want to pack your bag and leave for the day. Don’t. Instead, take out your rangefinder and use its in-built features to continue with your target shooting session. If you want to become a complete shooter, you shouldn’t just practice when it’s sunny. Anyone can hit the target when there is enough light. But it takes skill and patience to hit the same target when it’s raining. Some rangefinders come with automatic rain mode so that they can provide an accurate distance, irrespective of the weather condition. The device can distinguish the target and rain and provide an accurate estimate to know the reading before taking aim. Now that you know the various techniques to improve your rifle sight with a rangefinder start practicing right away. Practice makes you perfect. And make sure you practice in different weather conditions to become a veteran shooter soon.