To investigate the dynamic mechanical properties of sandstone in deep strata under impact loads, an improved Hopkinson pressure bar experimental system was established. The traditional Hopkinson pressure bar’s transmission rod was replaced with a long rod specimen made of gray sandstone to better simulate deep geological conditions. Point spalling treatment was applied to the specimen, and strain gauges were meticulously affixed at critical measurement points.Dynamic compression experiments were meticulously conducted on the gray sandstone long rod specimen at various loading rates (9.57, 14.78, 19.32 and 27.60 m/s). Utilizing high-speed digital image correlation (DIC) technology, the evolution of displacement and strain fields on the surface of the specimen throughout each test was closely monitored. This advanced technique enabled a detailed exploration of how the gray sandstone responded to near-field impact loading, particularly focusing on its tensile failure characteristics.Employing the Lagrangian inverse analysis method, displacement-time curves for different mass points derived from the DIC analysis of displacement fields were extracted. These curves provided critical data to compute the stress-strain behavior of the gray sandstone material under dynamic loading conditions. The study reveals several key findings: the gray sandstone long rod specimen predominantly exhibits tensile failure, with distinct patterns of fragmentation near the loading end and layer cracking away from it. Moreover, the dynamic compressive strength factor of the gray sandstone long rod specimen shows a notable increase with higher strain rates, indicating a significant strain rate effect. Correspondingly, both stress and strain peaks observe an upward trend at various measurement points with increasing loading rates. Remarkably, under identical loading rates, stress-strain curves of the gray sandstone long rod specimen exhibit a unique phenomenon where curves from measurement points closer to the loading end envelop those from points farther away. This observation underscores the complex nature of dynamic loading responses in geological materials. Overall, this comprehensive investigation provides essential theoretical insights and methodological references for understanding the dynamic behavior of sandstone within deep geological formations under impact loads. The findings offer valuable contributions to engineering practices concerned with the stability and resilience of underground structures subjected to dynamic loading conditions.