Long-range shooting is a skill that many shooters will never pursue, and that’s a shame. Before you dismiss it as a niche skill that’s only applicable to snipers, consider an analogy — let’s say your friend buys a brand-new Lamborghini that’s capable of 220 miles per hour, but never once exceeds 65 mph. You'd probably scoff at him and tell him he wasted his money. How many of us own rifles that are capable of accurate hits at 500 yards or more, but almost never shoot beyond 100 yards? Worse still, many guns are relegated to 30-yard indoor ranges. If you've got hardware that’s capable of a modicum of precision — you almost certainly do, whether it’s a bolt-action hunting rifle or even a 16-inch AR-15 — I'd encourage you to take it out to stretch its legs. You'll learn more about your rifle, the ammunition you're feeding it, the optic that’s mounted on it, and most importantly, your own capabilities as a shooter. With this goal in mind, I linked up with the experienced instructors at Apex Training Solutions for a four-day, in-depth course on the basics of long-range shooting.
About Apex Training Solutions
Apex Training Solutions is based out of Saint Augustine, Florida, but the class I attended was hosted in Arizona by local firearm instructor Core Dynamics. Apex CEO and founder Damian Knight is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who started his career in the Recapture Tactics Team, a SWAT team that’s part of the U.S. Department of Defense PRP program for nuclear security; later in his career, he served as a Scout Sniper team member and Combat Marksmanship Coach. After leaving active duty, he served as a Defensive Designated Marksman Firearms Instructor for the Department of State in support of the Diplomatic Security Mission at the United States Embassy in Kabul.
Knight designed the curriculum for this course along with Apex’s co-founder and Long Range Instructor Francis Santore, who is an active-duty Scout Sniper instructor for the Marine Corps' Urban and Aerial Sniper courses. Santore wasn't able to attend this class due to operational commitments, so Knight was assisted by Austin and Anthony, two other Scout Snipers.
Although long-range shooting is one of Apex Training Solutions' specialties, the
