I saw the ground out there in Bunkerville. Anyone can tell from the photos recently taken that long range shooting skills as well as hunting skills would have been of the utmost importance if someone wanted to effectively defend the Bundy Ranch if it came to that. AR’s in 556, .223 would have been only moderately effective in that Nevada topography. Calibers from 6mm to 7.62 would be useful but .300 Win to 50BMG would have been most useful. Besides the Fed Gov has superior fire power that can only be countered by fighting from a farther distance and by being well camouflaged and very mobile. I may be wrong my experience is very slim.
Still I think what was most effective is what did happen, having thousands show up engaged in peaceful protest and civil disobedience if need be. God bless everyone that showed up and all those who couldn’t but spread the word.
Fifties are a very popular varmint gun in my area. One of my neighbors has taken coyotes at a mile away with his. Watching him shoot is like watching a machine. He rarely misses anything under 1000 yards. Another neighbor still calls coyotes and takes them with his .222 at 6 or 7 hundred yards. Long range shooting is the norm around here.