With its realistic controls, elevation, atmospheric conditions, and scenery this simulation is as close as you can get to practicing in the field all in the comfort of your home and all without wasting a single round of ammunition!

Here are some of the subjects you will learn and practice in the simulator:

• MilDot ranging and use
• effects of elevation
• effects of windage and how to adjust for it
• minute of angle/milliradian applications
• how to use a range card
• how to engage moving targets
• exterior ballistics
• and more…

The Long Range Shooting Simulator depicts a variety of sample backgrounds in ranging, wind estimation, and mil dot use with simulated ranges out to 1000 yards. There are also options for .223, .264 .308, .338, 300 Win Mag, and .50cal caliber weapons with their associated ballistic behaviors.

Keep in mind that this is not a sales pitch. I do not get any compensation for recommending this to my readers. It’s really an excellent product that can give you a solid foundation in long-range shooting and has found favor in many law enforcement and military circles. It’s also recommended by the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA).

As of this writing, the Long Range Shooting Simulator costs $44. You may think it’s a bit steep, but if you consider the cost of ammunition, gasoline to the shooting range, cost of admittance to the shooting range (or even finding a 1000 yard range), as well as practicing with rifles in the caliber of your choice, this program is quite inexpensive.

As a final note, I realize that a computer simulation is no substitute for actual time in the field however, it’s an excellent training tool for keeping your range estimation, hold-off, and moving target engagement skills sharp when you cannot make it out to the range.

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1. The Ultimate Survival Firearm

22 CB Cap long (left), 22 CB Cap short (right)

Well short of using a suppressor (silencer) which may not be legal in your area, there is a super quiet round available for your rifle that you may not be aware of. It’s called the 22 CB Cap (short for “conical ball cap”).

While not as powerful or accurate over long range as the 22LR round, it is still powerful enough to take small game such as rabbit or squirrel and provides the added advantage of being no louder than a pellet gun (and perhaps even less so). The reason for its silence is due to its minute propellant charge (in many cases it’s just the primer with no gunpowder) which results in a low muzzle velocity of around 700 ft/s (subsonic).

The advantages of this kind of round in a serious survival situation (urban or wilderness) are obvious. With a report no louder than a pellet gun, the .22 CB Cap round gives you the benefit of being able to easily take smaller game — even in a congested urban area — without anyone the wiser (Pigeon anyone? yummy…). It also allows for target practice without bothering the pesky neighbors.

One of the main disadvantages of the .22 CB Cap is that it won’t cycle most semi-automatic firearms. Since the round doesn’t provide enough power to cycle the bolt, each round must be fed manually, one at a time. Despite this major disadvantage I still highly recommend adding a box or two of .22 CB Cap to your store (and some for your second tier kit while your at it) when silence is of primary importance.

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• It’s super reliable: Whether you’re in an environment that is sandy, cold, hot, dry, or humid the 10/22 can take the stress and keep on shooting. I’ve shot Ruger 10/22s that haven’t been cleaned for over a decade with regular use and it still fires not only reliably but accurately as well.
• They are cheap: For under $250 you can get yourself a brand-new rifle and for under $200 you can get a great used one.
• The ammo is dirt cheap: From a price perspective, the cost of 22LR ammunition is almost negligible. Even in the current high-demand environment you can get a box of 550 rounds for around $13! No other ammo can compare.
• The ammo is light: My bug-out bag contains a box of 550 rounds of 22LR ammunition which is a considerable amount of ammunition and a negligible amount of weight. All very important when mobility is key.
• They are relatively quiet: When shooting the 22 LR it sounds more like a glorified BB gun then a rifle. This can be a huge advantage if you need a meal and don’t want to attract attention (I also love the crossbow for this reason…more on that in another post). If you want even less sound then be sure to purchase subsonic rounds (these are a bit more expensive).
• They’re very accurate: If you’re shooting within 100 yards, the 22L rifle is extremely accurate. Perfect for small game.
• They’re easy to store and maintain: Most 22 LR rifles (like the Ruger 10/22) are very easy to maintain and when broken down they can fit into a bug-out bag without a problem.

Let me reiterate that I do not recommend the 10/22 or any 22 LR rifle as a home defense weapon. For that purpose, there are far better options available like a shotgun, pistol, or larger-caliber semi-auto carbine like an AR-15 or AK.

But with that said, I wouldn’t trade my 10/22 for any other firearm when caught out in the wilds. So what are you waiting for? Go out and get yourself one!

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1. Hunting Under the Radar? Try the .22 CB Cap Round
2. Long Range Shooting in the Comfort of Your Home
3. How to Put Together the Ultimate Survival Kit