Long-range shooting is an exact science, and the longer the range, the more exact the science.

Since the advent of the telescopic sight, optics have played a huge part in long-range shooting. They allow a marksman to better see a target and place bullets more precisely at distance.

The microchip has advanced the art to new heights. Laser rangefinders compute the exact distance in milliseconds, and palm-sized weather centers help establish atmospheric pressure, altitude, and wind speed. Ballistic computers in PDAs and even watches store tables and help shooters quickly compute drops and drifts. Gathering this information and entering it into a firing solution takes precious time, so innovators have always sought to speed up the process.

The simple LCD screen displays the particular load, battery condition, the range, and whether or not the rifle is level.

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing is a company well known for innovation, producing some of the first and best big-bore rifles capable of extreme long-range accuracy. Barrett's rifles were not tools searching for a job. Rather, they were purpose-built to satisfy specific needs.

Solving real-world problems is a hallmark of Barrett products. While new equipment and cartridges have made it possible to hit targets at extreme distances, it generally takes either several spotter shots or a few minutes of computing to come up with adjustments that put rounds on target. As with most targets of opportunity, neither spotter rounds nor precious minutes can be expended before taking a critical shot. The new Barrett Optical Ranging System (BORS) promises to provide a much faster way to arrive at a firing solution that allows a marksman to connect on his first shot.

I recently had the opportunity to examine and test a BORS unit, and here's what I learned about this unique little problem solver.

The BORS constantly monitors air temperature, barometric pressure, and angle of inclination. All the shooter has to do is enter the range, dope for wind, and squeeze the trigger. The unit replaces the top half of the rear ring and attaches directly to the "host" scope. An oversized knob replaces the scope's elevation turret and makes the elevation adjustments, but the scope retains its original windage and parallax adjustment knobs. A small LCD display sits just above the ocular lens, and when the elevation knob is turned, a corresponding range appears on the LCD screen. The shooter simply dials up the correct range, holds dead on, and squeezes the trigger.