Learning Long Range Shooting with Bobby Hart
Learning Long Range Shooting with Bobby Hart
By Keith Denoncourt
Bobby Hart is truly an amazing man. When Brody and I first met him at the Edmonton Sportsman’s Show there was an instantaneous connection. Bobby’s passion for sharing his knowledge is unparalleled. He truly loves seeing how his advice, and equipment, can change the dimension in which you interact with the outdoors. His knowledge and passion for long range precision shooting has opened my eyes to some incredible new hunting opportunities.
Bobby Hart is a very humble man. He prides himself in just being an ordinary person who can help you achieve a higher shooting standard. His wealth of knowledge, legacy, experience, personal equipment, and passion for people, sets Bobby Hart in class all his own. Bobby Hart is Internationally known for his firearm excellence. It is a true privilege to be invited down to Pennsylvania to attend his Long Distance Shooting School.
Spanning an active independent hunting lifestyle of over 45 years, and with being just a casual shooter, my average harvesting shot with my rifles have historically been less than 50 yards. Only when I was younger, in the open fields of central Alberta, did I ever shoot gophers and coyotes out past that range. The areas now where I normally hunt have very close quarter encounters. It is the Boreal Forest areas around my house. Whether I have been hunting Moose, Deer, or Bear, I have always have been able to call them in very close, or wait very close to their travel corridors and wait until they cross. Furthermore, tracking a wounded animal is tough. With our dense Boreal Forest, I never wanted to risk a long range shot for fear of wounding an animal. Now, thanks to Bobby Hart’s Long Distance Shooting School, my understanding of what I can humanely, and respectfully, accomplish has changed.
The foundation of safety was a core course criteria.
Meeting Bobby Hart in Edmonton at the Sportsman show was truly inspirational. He is truly a humble man. He absolutely loves sharing his, and his families legacy, when discussing Firearms, and the applications in which they are designed. When he invited Brody Teale, and myself, down to his home in Pennsylvania, there was absolutely no hesitation. Both Brody, and myself, being very new at long distance shooting, became very excited on the opportunity to learn more about long range precision shooting, and the equipment that make it all possible.
Arriving in Pennsylvania was beyond my imagination. Just the legacy behind his shop made me stop and pause. Over three generation of Harts have worked at the exact same location. Developing precision tools and equipment to meet a need in the firearm industry was the basis of their company. The quality of their craftsmanship lead to Bobby winning several key long distant shooting championships. The business grew as a direct correlation with the quality of equipment. Multiple key National and International companies, celebrities, and government organizations, use Bobby Harts store as the foundation of long range firearm excellence.
The Long Distance Shooting course started with the foundation of safety. That was nice to have someone sincerely and truly care about us as people. We were asked how we are doing, what are our intentions are, and how we will be using the knowledge that we gain from the attending the school. It should be noted that we would be immediately removed, and permanently banned, should any sub par answer, or dangerous behavior occur or even be jokingly implied.
Going through his personal shop, and being introduced to some of the equipment, set the stage for what was about to happen. Bobby made it clear that he does not try to sell us a new gun, or any new equipment, but rather show us what is available, and then if we choose to upgrade our own personal firearm in any way, he would only sell us only what we needed. This processed was reinforced when we toured the working area of the shop. Each Firearm was individually crafted. There was no mass production or rushing of process. Quality and perfection was the only acceptable standard. The theory portion of the Long Distant Shooting course came next. Now that we knew what equipment we were using, we went through the how to use the equipment, in theory, before we drove out to the range. Step by step, we were introduced to several variables. We were taught how to read and adjust for each one. This is where this weekend course is nice, bit it clearly demonstrated how it is only through consistent continual perfect practice can these variables be accounted for with any certainty. As I am still very new, I highly recommend that if you have any questions regarding ballistics, trajectory’s, impacts, velocities, or equipment that you contact Bobby Hart personally (1-800-368-3656).
I would be lying if I said I did not thoroughly enjoy the practical portion of his Long Distance Shooting School. Using his customized firearms was humbling. I felt honored that Bobby was trusting us with this personal equipment. The customized barrels, muzzle breaks, carbon fibre stocks, range finders, spotting scopes, and ballistically articulated locking turret scopes, was a true pleasure to use. Especially the ones that came with suppressors, and were locked in to place with Bobby Harts customized tripod. It made hitting the bullseye out to 700 yards very possible, even for myself as an average shooter. His shooting house was cool and comfortable. It allowed us to do systems readiness checks very consistently. This allowed us to work on our own skill development at our own pace.
The next day we resumed at the real world scenario live fire course. This course has a wide variety of life sized steel targets of various animals. They are placed in real world situations ranging out to 600 yards. Bobby Hart coached us in wide variety of shooting stances, styles and situations. We even were using his 360 degree elevated shooting blind to actively engage three long distant targets. Consistent evaluation and critiquing was ready available. It allowed each of us to learn and grow at own pace. Focusing on our own development, while working within our personal comfort zone, was the key to a weekend of amazing personal successes.
I truly have no words to describe how meeting Bobby Hart has affected me. He is so humble, so caring and passionate, that his work extends far beyond the shooting sport. He has instantly become a friend and mentor. Should you wish to contact Bobby directly (1-800-368-3656) and asked him for any advice, he will be very glad to help you out.
I also want to give a huge shout out to Debbie, Gary, Marla, Brody, and little Brody. Your support and teamwork made this journey a life changing experience. Thank you for your support !
Thank you everyone for respecting wildlife by practicing your shooting crafts, and for supporting a non profit conservation group !
- Keith
Bobby Hart’s Long Range Shooting store in Pennsylvania USA. The legacy behind this shop is amazing. Three generations of Harts have owned and worked from this exact location.
The Hart legacy behind the tools, equipment, and passion in this store is Internationally famous for its commitment to excellence and customer service.
Every Firearm is individually crafted and designed to meet the owners expectations. Bobby clearly states that not everyone needs a new Firearm. Sometimes they just need their personal firearm to be individualized inspected and upgraded only as required. Bobby Hart takes pride in the sincerity of his sales team.
The accuracy of any good shot is the foundation in which it is created. Here is Keith Denoncourt working with, and becoming oriented, with the customized Bobby Hart tripod. The carbon fibre materials makes this tripod in a class all of its own. It is very light and easy to move and orient, then it locks in to place with a slight squeeze of the wrist. The range in which it can move freely does not limit secondary shot placement if required. The quality behind the manufacturing allows substantial increase in the accuracy of the shot placement.
Bobby Hart and his Team stress Safety. Right from the start we were all individually vetted for Range and Active Shooting capabilities. Here Bobby holds one of his past clients rifles. The client left a bore sight device inside the barrel during a live fire.. The picture is the result of client negligence.
Prior to going out to the range, Bobby tightens, cleans and inspect each Firearm. Maintaining the Firearm is essential for creating repetitively accurate shot placements.
Cleaning the barrel thoroughly, and inspecting it daily, will help ensure that the barrel is free from debris and safe to live fire. This is part of the fundamental principles of Firearm Safety. These need to be adhered to at all times. The acronym that we use in ACT-PROVE. Assume the Firearm is loaded, Control the muzzle at all times. Keep your finger off the Trigger. Point it in a safe direction. Remove all of the cartridges, Observe and Verify that the barrel is unobstructed and then Examine the bore.
The Long Range Shooting School is a short drive from the store. Here Bobby Hart coaches us in how to engage our targets in a wide variety of positions and real life scenarios. His range has real world shooting opportunities out to 700 yards.
Bobby Hart has a very quiet, confident, and comfortable coaching style. He sets you up for success, and offer pointers on an individual basis. All of his firearms have limited recoil, and it was truly a pleasure to fire the ones with the added suppressors.
This is proof that with the proper tools, the proper process, and the right advice from the right coach, that even a moderate shooter can successfully engage targets at long range. This is Keith Denoncourt making the 700 yard club at the Bobby Hart’s Long Range Shooting School in Pennsylvania.
An added bonus is that Bobby Hart custom builds these amazing 360 degree enclosed, and elevated shooting blinds. They are quiet and comfortable and offers 360 degree shooting opportunities. It provided us with real life scenario shooting opportunities at his Long Distance Shooting range.
Here is Brody Teale using a customized .30 Hart Rifle. Brody was successfully engaging targets out to 600 yards on the Bobby Hart Long distant shooting course. The cool and quiet environment that the shooting blind provides allows for very comfortable target engagement.
Brody and myself thoroughly enjoyed just going down to Pennsylvania to see Bobby Hart. He is that nice of a person the even if we did not fire a Firearm we still would have had an outstanding time. The fact that we were treated very well at his home, and that we both came home with a new found approach to long distant shooting, is just the icing on the cake.
Marla, little Brody , Debbie, Bobby, Keith, Brody and Gary all want to encourage you to stay safe in the outdoors, get properly trained, and to reach out to us if you have any questions !!
Special thank you to Bobby Hart and Debbie for inviting us in their home and for treating us like family.
Your wisdom, knowledge and principles will be carried forward !
