First, let’s make sure we’re clear with this out of the gate. Breathing control in extreme long-range shooting is important. We’re not saying otherwise.
At the same time, maybe you’ve been at the range with a friend, seen him produce a sloppy group, and say “I wasn’t on it with my breathing control.”
It’s not quite that simple. Your TAC338 or M200 rifle is literally engineered to shoot where it’s pointing. It’s determining why it isn’t pointing where you want that the issue arises.
Let’s break this down a bit.
The Basics of Rifle Accuracy
There are numerous factors that influence rifle and cartridge accuracy. One of them is the harmonics of the barrel (more on that in a second).
Another is load data, which must be exceptionally consistent. Loads that are not measured to the grain and seated exactly the same every time will not fly the same.
On that latter point, bullets must exhibit extremely - extremely - consistent tolerances. Any aberration in the weight of a bullet’s core or the thickness of its jacket will impact accuracy, which will be magnified at great ranges.
This is why many long-distance shooters prefer OTM ammo, which has more consistent radial symmetry than FMJ, for long-range shooting. It’s also why specialty rounds expressly designed for extreme ranges, like .375 and .408 CT are made with solid-copper CNC-machined bullets.
All of this is to suggest, in a perfect world, with a perfect rifle and bullet, at 100 or even 1000 yards, assuming the rifle was zeroed properly, the bullet would more or less impact exactly the same spot, assuming you could cancel out minor atmospheric variables.
That is to say, a good rifle - like a TAC338 or an M200 Intervention, will shoot where you point it. Every time.
Sure, it’ll vary by a few MOA, but all in all, this is why good shooters can put strings of bullets through the same hole, and consistently, at that.
So why did breathing discipline become so hot of a topic?
The Importance of Breathing Discipline
It is not equipment error, but operator error, that makes breath control important while on the range.
The purpose of breath control is to eliminate (in practice, to minimize) the movement the shooter imparts on the rifle during the natural respiration cycle.
This is because when breathing, you will naturally shift the point of aim ever so slightly. Those minor movements will push your muzzle off its intended point of aim.
In that respect, breathing discipline actually is critical to accuracy in long-range shooting.
However, if you pause your breathing for a split second when you pull the trigger, or just before, you’ve accomplished your objective, provided the barrel is pointing where you want it to.
The issue here arises when people assign superstitious significance to breathing control, assuming vertically or horizontally distributed groups are a result of breathing discrepancies and not some other, more obvious factor.
Making matters worse, inexperienced shooters will sometimes hold their breath for too long before pulling the trigger and stare at the sights too long. This can result in performance issues that should be obvious.
Breathing control alone will not make a shooter more accurate. It’s as simple as this, and hardly more complicated. Before you pull the trigger, say a second or half a second, pause your breath and shoot. That’s all there is to it.
The United States Army Reserve actually published on this and did a much more thorough job of it than we could. You can see their publication in the previous link.
Barrel Tuning
One more note on long-range accuracy has to do with barrel harmonics. In some instances, a rifle’s barrel might not be tuned properly, resulting in what shooters call “whip.”
Barrel whip will result in slightly more open groups, especially at extreme ranges, because when a barrel “whips,” point of aim shifts at the last critical fractions of a millisecond before the bullet leaves the muzzle.
This, understandably, can produce obvious issues in accuracy.
Now, most rifles designed for long-range shooting are extensively tested and tuned, so you shouldn’t have a problem with models like the TAC338, M200 or AR-50A1. This is more of a thing for other rifle shooters and AR marksmen to consider, but it is worth a note anyway.
If you suspect your barrel of being a bit whippy, look into a muzzle device called a tuner, install one, and see if it helps you produce more consistent results.
Your TAC338 Is Waiting for You Here
Getting ready to pull the proverbial trigger on a new, extreme long-range rifle like a TAC338 or an AR-50? Take a look through our collection of precision rifles and if you have any questions about performance, specifications, or chambering, get in touch with us before buying. We would be happy to help.