Off Hand Shots

[Shot]

Last weekend at CR my off hand practice shooting came in really handy. I notice a lot of hunters practicing at the range with bipods or just stablizing the rifle with something. I was wondering how many of you guys also practice off hand shooting?

 

[Hoghunter]

I do after I sight in but try not to use when hunting. But its nice to know I can.
Good Hunting Hoghunter

 

[Rancho Loco]

Right here.
Milk Jugs full of water at 100 yds.
Good and positive reinforcement for hits...

SPLAAAT!!!

I can do three out of five pretty consistantly, and it gives me a pretty good idea of what I can do, and can't do. (shrug)

 

[bighorn67]

I think off hand shooting is an important skill to have. I am fairly comfortable doing it from a kneeling position with my elbow propped on my knee. It is the fastest way to get the crosshairs in the killzone and take the shot. I know this isn't the same as taking a standing shot, but its still faster than putting down the bipod.

Dave

 

[SDHNTR]

I practice them a lot and find that I actually use them quite frequently when pig hunting. Ranges can be short and shot opportunities are fast. Practicing is important. What I do is hold the gun at parade rest then snap to my shoulder and try to shoot the target the first time the crosshairs hit it. I also shoot a lot with a .22 and this is great practice. Hey bighorn67, I use the kneeling shot a lot too. Try this small adjustment in your form for a much more solid platform to aim from. Instead of resting the point of your elbow on top of your knee (like most people do), rest your tricep (or just behind the elbow) on your knee. This will put the point of your elbow out in front of your knee. Since your tricep is a larger, and more stable surface than your elbow, you will find that this is much more stable. It takes practice to remember to set up this way for a shot, but it is surely more accurate. Remember the best shot is with a rest, then prone, then sitting, then kneeling, and lastly off hand. You can never practice too much.

 

[Speckmisser]

I definitely practice some offhand, mostly standing and sitting. I can usually get into a sitting position as fast as I can kneel... and with my knees, well, kneeling is pretty unsteady for me.

I don't worry so much about cutting the X ring from the offhand position, but if I can't put it in the 8" kill zone, then I'm shooting too far or not shooting enough.

 

[traxman]

Every time I go to the range I practice offhand shooting. If I'm not shooting my main rifle, I bring along the .22 and shoot at least 50 rounds through it offhand. (Usually more like 200 rounds though.) When the summer comes, I shoot the rifle at the range, so I practice offhand and other positions almost exclusively.

Except for sighting in, I do not think practice from the bench helps me much. (Although it does help to isolate other factors, i.e. breathing, trigger control, etc.)

Just my

Later,

traxman

 

[wmidbrook]

I practice offhand a bit but not as much as sitting. I try to shoot at least 500 - 1,000 .22 rounds/year offhand and a 1,000+ .22 rounds from a sitting position and a handful of each with high power. Practicing pays off. I've gone from hitting a pie plate consistantly @ 50 yds offhand about 5 yrs ago to about 100 yds offhand. And I nailed a coyote on the run last year offhand at about 70 yds.

Another thing that has helped offhand rifle shooting in a big way is all the archery practice I started last year. I think offhand rifle practice and standing archery practice compliment each other.

 

[DILPRXO]

I practice offhand as well. I also try and practice from the various shooting positions..sitting, prone etc. One thing that really seems to help and I don't do it near as often as I should is "dry firing".Put a small "post it" note up on the wall..make triple sure the gun is UNLOADED(snap caps inserted) and practice sholdering the gun while the assuming the various stances.The trick to "dry firing" is to do each repetition as slowly and perfectly as possible. That way you build into your muscle memory that information.In the field, the excitement of the shot will get you up to speed but the muslces will remember what they been taught and respond that way quickly.

 

[Levergun]

Once I get my rifle dialed in at the yardage I want, then i start practicing off hand.

 

[Bob in TX]

I practice them each time I go to the range. I use red, 9" pie plates. I start out sitting, then kneeling, and then standing. I do all my "bag" work first.

I agree with you, I see very few shooters practicing this way.

Bob

 

[Live2hunt]

The majority of game animals I've taken have been with the off hand shooting. That's just because the majority of the animals I've shot were less than 60 yards.



L2H

 

[MrRee]

Ever hunt Partridge or woodcock???
If you can't "off-hand" shoot, they will be GONE by the tiime you get your self ready to shoot.

Other than sitting on a limb, (then no sport to it at all), shooting at partridge or woodcock will sure teach you a way to hunt that will test your shooting skills !!

Hunting them as a kid is what I would credit for my shooting skills. They make trap shooting easy!!

Unless they now have trap shooting where you only get one up in a burst of thunder every 15--20 minutes.

shooting doubles? Thats when two went up at the same time in diffrent directions, confuses you so bad you don't get a shot at either one!!

That is "off hand" shooting to me.

 

[QALHNTR]

Qualifying for my M1 Garand years ago taught me the importance of off hand shooting. You can easily and quickly (with practice) assume a very solid stance. The bench is only used for checking zero. My shooting mat helps the old-man bones out a lot.