.22 LR Training For Long-Range Shooting

Published on May 12th, 2025

I cut my hunting teeth chasing waterfowl and upland game. I knew nothing. My parents, grandparents, and uncles didn’t hunt. I learned from the school of hard knocks.

Big game hunting was on my radar, but I couldn’t wrap my brain around how I would make it happen. I dreamed of epic adventures in the mountains. Thoughts of crosshairs on tan hide inspired me, but at the time, it seemed like an unattainable goal.

Then, I met a very selfless man. After working for him during the summer going into my senior year of high school, he invited me to join him on an elk hunt. He even gave me a bonus to purchase a rifle/scope combo.

I was at the range two weeks later with a lightweight 7mm Rem. Mag. The problem was the gun’s weight, lack of muzzle brake, and ultra-thin, plastic recoil pad. After three shots, I didn’t want to shoot anymore. The rifle rocked my 130-pound frame. Even my heaviest goose loads didn’t cause this kind of shoulder abuse. The bottom line, and I’m not too proud to admit it, is that I got target panic. A video my buddy took showed me jabbing the trigger, flinching, and closing my eyes every time I shot.

A Must-Do Remedy

I was ashamed to admit my high-power rifle shortcomings to my mentor, so I did my best to hide them. My best wasn’t good enough. After watching me shoot at a 100-yard target three times, Bill (my mentor) swapped my 7mm Rem. Mag. for a .22 LR with a 3x9 variable scope.

Before we did anything, Bill cleared the bolt-action .22 LR and had me settle the crosshairs on a 50-yard target and squeeze the trigger. I did this 15 or 20 times. He reminded me to stay in my scope, breathe, and squeeze.

The more I dry-fired the bolt action, the more comfortable I got. With no bang and zero recoil, I could stay in the scope, settle the crosshairs, and squeeze until I heard the click.

Next, Bill had me clear the chamber and settle the crosshairs on the target. Then he had me close my eyes and dry fire the rifle several times. With no round in the chamber, I was able to relax. I wasn’t worried about recoil, a bang, or anything. I simply let my crosshairs hover on the bullseye, closed my eyes, and felt the trigger. It’s an excellent shooting exercise.

Bill wanted me to feel the rifle go bang without worrying about where the bullet would impact the target. I didn’t flinch one bit. The recoil was zero. When I opened my eyes and looked through the scope, I saw a bullet hole an inch low and an inch right of the bullseye.

Keep Shooting

Shooting is supposed to be fun. It’s hard to have fun when you’re getting the tar kicked out of you. It’s also hard to have fun when you’re shooting a high-caliber rifle that doesn’t produce much recoil, but the thought of a bigger bullet and a bigger boom fills the shooter with anxiety.

One of the best ways to make shooting fun and work on proper shooting mechanics is to use a .22 LR. Bill had me shoot a box of 50 rounds. The more I shot, the more fun I had. With five rounds remaining in the box, I found myself trying to put my next shot inside the hole of the previous shot. My shooting confidence was coming back. I was no longer thinking about what it would feel like when the trigger broke. I was focusing on aiming while letting my finger fall into the trigger.

The following day, Bill had me go through another box of 50. This time, the target was a homemade, 4-inch-diameter steel circle connected to a bar with a small chain. I lit that target up. I focused on settling my crosshairs, making an accurate shot, cycling another round, reacquiring the target, and sending another round.

When the day ended, Bill handed me my 7mm Rem. Mag., I was brimming with shooting confidence. I was also thrilled to see a new recoil pad that Bill had custom-made for the rifle.

After only two days, my muscle memory allowed me to squeeze the trigger. I noticed the recoil, but not enough to matter. Plus, the sight of a round bullet hole in the middle of the bullseye at 200 yards helped me ignore it.

There Is No Substitute

I like to shoot. I’m not one for sighting in my big-game rifle before the season and not shooting it again until I have an animal in my scope. Perfect practice makes perfect. I shoot a lot. However, to cut down on cost — 7mm PRC and 6.8 Western ammo are pricy — I shoot a lot of .22 LR ammo.

How I shoot my .22 LR is the same way I shoot my Browning X-Bolt 2 rifles. Nothing changes. The only difference is the bullet’s speed, weight, and energy. Practicing often with a .22 LR creates repeatable muscle memory. If you want to be as accurate as possible this season, spend lots of time on the range behind a .22 LR.

Shooting a .22 LR in preparation for improving long-range shooting isn’t just for those with target panic or those having trouble making the transition to a high-caliber rifle. .22 LR training is excellent long-range training for all shooters, regardless of age or ability.

The Nuts and Bolts

If you skimmed over this article looking for pictures and bullet points, here’s the down and dirty about why .22 LR training is pivotal for those looking to be long-range shooters.

Low Cost - .22 LR ammo is significantly cheaper than centerfire rifle ammo.
Minimal Recoil - Reduced recoil makes focusing on trigger control, breathing, sight alignment, and follow-through easier.
Ballistic Similarity at Scaled Ranges - A .22 LR at 100 yards has similar wind drift and drop as a .308 Win. or 6.5 Creedmoor at 600 to 800 yards.
Allowed - At some ranges, high-caliber rifles are taboo. Shooting more often means using a .22 LR regularly.

BONUS – Three Browning .22 LRs You Can Count On

Browning T-Bolt

Available in four offerings, the Browning T-Bolt is rapid-cycling rimfire with a straight-pull bolt action. The T-Bolt Target SR model makes a great long-range training partner with a 38-1/4-inch overall length and 20-inch heavy bull barrel with ½" -28 TPI suppressor threads (suppressor not included). The trigger is adjustable, and the 10-round magazine means more plinking and less reloading. All Browning T-Bolt models are available in .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR. The T-Bolt Target SR features an elegant walnut stock with a straight comb, wide fore-end, and fine checkering.

Browning SA-22

A timeless classic, Browning's SA-22 is available in four models: A workhorse Grade I, Grade II with octagon barrel, and the fancy Grade VI is available with a Grayed or Blued receiver. Ideal for plinking, practice, varmint, and small-game hunting, this semi-automatic .22 LR is lightweight and carries easily. The SA-22 uses a tubular magazine that loads through the buttstock and ejects fired brass out the bottom of the receiver to increase shooting enjoyment for right- and left-hand shooters. Perhaps the SA-22’s most interesting feature is that you can take the gun down into two parts — the buttstock and receiver, and the forearm and 19-3/8-inch barrel — for easy storage.

Browning BL-22

Available in six models, Browning’s BL-22 is a classic lever-action built on quality, reliability, and accuracy. The BL-22, Grade I features a rapid 33-degree lever throw to make cycling quick and easy. Spent brass kicks high out of the top of the receiver, and the tubular magazine holds any combination of .22 short, long, and long rifle ammunition. The trigger travels with the lever to better prevent finger pinching, and the grooved receiver is ready for optics.

Final Thoughts

I go through more than 1,000 rounds of .22 LR yearly. Nothing has helped me be more accurate at long-range shooting than my time behind this legendary caliber. Don’t think you’re above it. Don’t think it won’t help you. It will. Long-range shooting is about proper form, control, and relaxation in the moments leading up to and through the trigger break. Shooting a .22 LR will boost your long-range accuracy.