Basic Sniper
Course Description:
Most people getting into precision shooting start by figuring out which rifle and scope to buy. That's where we start too, and over the next three days we teach you to hit targets accurately with them out to 300 meters.
Basic Sniper is a three-day course in the fundamentals of precision shooting with a scoped rifle. After the theory and the selection of rifle and accessories, we move on to the theory of medium- and long-range shooting, working with the reticle, turret adjustments and parallax. You will zero your rifle, build your own ballistic charts for it and practice the basic positions, from standing, kneeling and sitting to prone, as well as shooting from support. You will learn to estimate range using the reticle, and at the end you will test everything in a final competition.
You don't need your own rifle or a firearms license. Just add a complete package to your booking and a precision rifle, such as a Tikka T3X TAC A1 with a Vortex PST II Viper scope, together with a bean bag, ammunition and eye and ear protection, will be ready for you on site. We never have more than 8 students per instructor, so everyone gets real attention and we check every student's position behind the rifle.
Over 500 students have completed this course.
Choose a date in the calendar below.
Who Is This Course For:
For shooters who are new to precision shooting, for hunters who want to be sure their scoped rifle hits exactly where it's aimed, and for those who already own a scoped rifle and want to understand it better and build the right habits. The course has no prerequisites. It is required for all follow-up sniper courses: Long Range, Precision, Military and Urban Sniper.
What You Will Learn:
After three days you know which rifle, scope and accessories to choose and how to set the rifle up. You understand the theory of medium- and long-range shooting, you can work with the reticle, dial corrections on the turrets and adjust parallax. You can zero your rifle yourself and build ballistic charts for it. You shoot standing, kneeling, sitting and prone, you can use support, and you can estimate the range to a target using the reticle.
Contents:
Basic theory, rifle selection and setup, suitable accessories, theory of medium- and long-range shooting, using the reticle, turret adjustments and parallax, zeroing the rifle, building ballistic charts, basic shooting positions such as standing, kneeling, sitting and prone, shooting from support, range estimation using the reticle, final competition.
Required Equipment:
Tactical or sports clothing suited for fieldwork in any weather (for example Gore-Tex gear or a combat uniform) and sturdy footwear, hearing protection, a shooting mat or tarp to lie on, and we also recommend a sniper scarf, a bean bag and possibly a folding stool. Writing materials (notebook and pencil), a calculator, a knife, paracord and duct tape.
Weapon:
Your own centerfire bolt-action or semi-automatic rifle in .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .338 Lapua Magnum or equivalent, with a quality scope with a tactical reticle, windage and elevation turrets and parallax adjustment, plus 100 rounds. If your rifle is not zeroed, we recommend bringing a few more rounds.
If you do not own a gun or would like to try a different one, we can provide a precision rifle, ammunition and other accessories for your chosen course date. Just click on the course date and you will see a full list of weapons available for that date. In the first section you will find complete packages, which always include a precision rifle, such as a Tikka T3X TAC A1 with a Vortex PST II Viper scope, a bean bag, eye and ear protection and the number of rounds needed for the course. If you bring your own factory ammunition, you can choose to rent the gun only. The full list of rental guns, along with the option to order ammunition, pouches or protective equipment separately, can be found in the sections below.
Firearms and the Law:
You do not need a firearms license, background check or criminal record extract to attend this course. Our instructor will hand you the weapon and you will train with it under his constant supervision. Czech law sets no fixed minimum age, but a minor participant must be reasonably mature, both mentally and physically. We do not recommend registering children under 15 for a course this intensive.
There is no restriction on the barrel length of semi-automatic rifles, and high-capacity magazines are allowed. Suppressors and weapon-mounted lasers and lights are legal in the Czech Republic.
If you hold a European Firearms Pass (EFP) with your firearm listed in it, you may temporarily bring it to the Czech Republic and use it for training. Under Czech law it is enough to prove the purpose of your visit, for example with your course booking or another document confirming the reason for your trip. An official invitation is not required by law. The EFP also covers carrying an amount of ammunition that matches the purpose of the trip, for example for a competition or training. Please note that transit countries or your airline may apply their own limits or requirements. If you plan to travel through several countries or by air, contact us and we will help you prepare any documents you may need, such as an invitation.
Timing:
Class starts at 9:00 am. Please arrive at the range no later than 8:30–8:45 am. The course usually ends around 6:00 pm, with a 30-minute lunch break during the day.
Venue:
We run our courses at various locations across the Czech Republic. You will find the exact venue for each date in the calendar, just click on the date. For multi-day courses that use more than one location, all venues are listed there.
Please check the venue carefully before booking. The same course often runs at different locations on different dates. Every now and then a student books a date expecting it to be at our home base, the Oleško shooting range, only to find out on the day that the course is taking place in Moravia, some 300 km away. To avoid this, always click on the date before booking and check where that particular date takes place.
Language:
Czech with English translation available.
Accommodation and Food:
Accommodation is not included in the course fee, each participant arranges and pays for it themselves. There is a 30-minute lunch break, so bring food that doesn't need cooking or ordering, such as an Adventure Menu type ration, an MRE or food from home, and enough to drink for the whole day.
Where to Go Next:
After Basic Sniper, most students continue with
Precision Sniper, which focuses on precision shooting from difficult positions, at angles and at small targets.
Long Range Sniper pushes the distance out to 1,000 meters.
Military Sniper teaches you the sniper's work in open terrain, where you select your own position, camouflage it, and observe and engage the target from there.
Urban Sniper takes the same into the city, into buildings and vehicles.
Have a Question?
You will find answers to the most common questions in our
Questions and Answers section. Didn't find what you were looking for? Write or call us using any of our
contacts, we will be happy to help.
Online Video Course:
On our YouTube channel you can watch the free
Basic Sniper video course, which has over 209,000 views. You will see our instructors at work and the techniques from the course, and after the course the video will serve as a handy cheat sheet for review. Please note that the video is in Czech.
Got everything you need? Choose a date below and don't forget to check where your chosen date takes place.
