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Long-range shooting has never been more accessible, yet it’s never been easier to get lost in noise. In my conversation with former sniper and instructor Ryan Cleckner, we cut through mystique and marketing to focus on what truly moves rounds onto steel and animals humanely. Ryan’s new book, "Advanced Long Range Shooting", extends his beginner-friendly approach into “advanced” territory without drowning readers in jargon. He shares why he delayed the sequel for nearly a decade, how fatherhood shaped his writing choices, and why he leads with safety, clarity, and a short test that tells readers whether they’re ready to proceed. Instead of rehashing basics, he sets expectations: if you skipped the fundamentals, go learn them (with the prequel book, "Long Range Shooting Handbook"), then come back for the “next step.”

We dig into ammunition first because ammo multiplies or nullifies everything else. Ryan discusses load development and explains standard deviation, extreme spread, and what those numbers actually mean. He argues many shooters obsess over powder kernels while ignoring the reality that a one-minute rifle and solid fundamentals outperform paper-perfect handloads in shaky field positions.

From there we step into external ballistics and the software era. Ryan favors tools that model what bullets actually do, not what a glossy BC claims. Hornady 4DOF and Applied Ballistics use Doppler-derived libraries, so their predictions track reality with minimal truing. That shift makes old-school BC-based apps feel like guesswork. He also opens the “funky bullet behavior” drawer: aerodynamic jump, spindrift, density altitude, and gravity’s role in trajectory. These factors sound intimidating, but his method is to define terms, show practical impact, and give you just enough math to trust the correction and move on. It’s not about becoming a ballistician; it’s about getting first-round hits sooner.

Application is where theory turns into decisions under time and wind. Ryan teaches quick wind methods, “gun numbers,” and moving target holds that simplify your process. He revisits a mantra he once preached—“focus on the reticle”—and shows when to do the opposite, crediting peers who changed his mind. The goal is flexible thinking: most of the time a crisp reticle focus is king; sometimes softening that focus helps you break a better shot on unstable props. He also spotlights a practical threshold: if your time of flight stays under a second, 100-yard group size rules outcomes more than SD. Past that, velocity spreads matter more, but only once your fundamentals and wind calls are honest.

We close on data and discipline. Affordable chronographs like the Garmin Xero make velocity recording painless, so there’s no excuse to fly blind on temperature swings, ammo lots, or barrel heat. But the range is for shooting, not gaming menus; collect data passively and review it later. Ryan’s broader message echoes across his other ventures—Gun University, FFL Safe, Rocket FFL: be honest, keep incentives clean, and help shooters avoid traps. Gear evolves—he moved from .308 loyalty to 6.5 Creedmoor and 300 PRC as realities changed—but principles endure. Choose cartridges for availability and purpose, trust Doppler-backed tools, and train in the wind until your hits tell the story. Simplicity isn’t cutting corners; it’s the shortest path to better shots.

He is also the author of "There is Only One You," This illustrated children's book about firearm safety.

Check out RyanCleckner.com to learn more about Ryan, order his books, and follow his incredible journeys!

SonofaBlitch.com