Shooting freehand

[Dalua]

Practice on inanimate targets is very useful for developing and maintaining skill.

On the range we can, without risk of wounding anything, teach oureselves to shoot with less support and at longer ranges than we would normally shoot in the field: with the result that when we shoot under actual field conditions we have not only the confidence but also the actual skill to do the job properly.

Many of us might quite reasonably choose to avoid an unsupported shot at a deer: but if you can hit the target on the range off-hand at 100yds then a quick shot, for example at a wounded beast re-stalked to 100yds or less, should be a done deal. And one never knows when that might be the difference between a lost animal and one in the bag.

 

[mchughcb]

Are those few on here though mate .If so ,don’t be modest and let’s see a vid or two .Im the first to praise anyone for first class feats .
If however they arnt then we are back to dreamers and liars ,another human trait nobody wants to own up to .
I hold my hands up to not being good offhand beyond 50 .I don’t practice for it but off sticks I’m good to 300 .Quad sticks that is .If a chap turned up o6n invite with no sticks and no intention to borrow ,I’m afraid we wouldn’t be stalking that day and that would I guess be the same for 99% of lads on here .

Practice all the time . However I'm not as tikka 308 who can shoot 4" groups at 100m easily offhand but is too busy to film it. I make up for that using 30-06 and upwards.

 

[foxdropper]

Nice vid mate but only half kill shots .Not sure what that shows really other than offhand is iffy even with practice .

 

[reiver]

Nice vid mate but only half kill shots .Not sure what that shows really other than offhand is iffy even with practice .

I would not worry to much if I was you.
Just shoot how you want to and stop preaching to everyone else . In few weeks you will have been on here 30 days and can then start to sell your stuff in the classifieds .

 

[foxdropper]

Sorry mate ,thought was an open forum for discussion .Not preaching to anyone ,just trying to understand this offhand thing .

 

[Dave881]

Always good to practice.

22rf is your friend here. Consider also:-

• Gather up your sling in the hand supporting the fore-end as having that swinging around under the rifle doesn't help
• Consider mounting above the target, coming down onto it and squeezing the trigger as the cross hairs come onto the target (needs care with safety)
• Don't forget safety - how do you operate the decocker/safety in the aim/safe place (looked like an R8 to me)
• As an added wrinkle make up a drill round and load in a manner you cannot tell which of the 4 it is - great for discovering flinch but obv not for a stalk!
• Have fun!

Hi, thanks for the tips, I will give them a try next time I practice, really appreciate the advice. It not a blaser I am afraid, it's a sauer 202 but I will take it as a compliment that I am cycling a turnbolt smoothly enough for it to look like a straight pull.

With consistent practice I can shoot foxes out to 300 m with night vision off sticks .Same daylight with deer in the engine room .Anybody advocating shooting offhand beyond 50 m,follow ups withstanding,is an idiot and really shouldn’t have a firearms .
Ive read on here more than I’ve written and the theme in the main is welfare so why would anyone jeopardise that to boost an ego .
Ive shot deer offhand under 50 m ,it’s not hard and I think anyone who can’t do that first time without years of practice should maybe hand in their firearm .

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate that you have taken the time but I don't see it as helpful making comments about other people's suitability to use firearms. In your post you say you are confident shooting at 300 yards with sticks, that's great but I am not comfortable with taking shots at that range from sticks but would also never judge you for doing it, it's down to you to decide what you are comfortable with doing just like it is for every other person who picks up a rifle and goes out to hunt. My post was never about shooting deer but to highlight how difficult some things are and how practice with anything is vital, I feel I have put my neck on the line by showing a video of me failing to make those shots to highlight the point.

This is another one of those threads, where people judge what they think people should, or shouldn't do, by their own ability

I regularly shoot driven boar offhand, and occasionally deer when stalking, but a 100m + would be a long way for me, especially on the boar, which are generally running.

However, that doesn't mean others, don't possess the skill/ability to do it consistently.

Thanks for replying, this was never intended to become a thread like that, do you have any tips for shooting freehand?

Sorry mate ,thought was an open forum for discussion .Not preaching to anyone ,just trying to understand this offhand thing .

This is an open forum and always happy to have an open discussion, the offhand thing is about possessing as many skills as possible should they ever be needed, not going out to take chancy or dangerous shots that could easily cause injury, as an example, say you are following up a wound deer in woodland and you find it but don't have time to faff about with sticks, taking a freehand shot will end the animals suffering. Would you rather take that shot having practiced or chance getting it right?

Dave

 

[Dalua]

Here's my attempt from this afternoon. Two shots of a bag on the bench to check zero, then five off-hand. 100yds on a 25m pistol target.
The result speaks for itself - a good deal more practice needed.

 

[25 Sharps]

First shot was a dead deer/fox. Next time: set up at 50 and shoot quicker (not as quick as you can) but quicker than you were - then move out to 100 and shoot again with that speed and I reckon you’ll see improvement in the 2 follow up shots. In my experience offhand needs to be more instinctive - I would personally prefer open sights over a scope offhand too, if that’s how I was doing most of my shooting.

Again, just my opinion

As this is simulated stalking........ I don’t think the deer will afford you that opportunity

 

[User00047]

Here's my attempt from this afternoon. Two shots of a bag on the bench to check zero, then five off-hand. 100yds on a 25m pistol target.
The result speaks for itself - a good deal more practice needed.

View attachment 151764

I can’t see the pic?

 

[foxdropper]

Hi, thanks for the tips, I will give them a try next time I practice, really appreciate the advice. It not a blaser I am afraid, it's a sauer 202 but I will take it as a compliment that I am cycling a turnbolt smoothly enough for it to look like a straight pull.




Thanks for the reply, I appreciate that you have taken the time but I don't see it as helpful making comments about other people's suitability to use firearms. In your post you say you are confident shooting at 300 yards with sticks, that's great but I am not comfortable with taking shots at that range from sticks but would also never judge you for doing it, it's down to you to decide what you are comfortable with doing just like it is for every other person who picks up a rifle and goes out to hunt. My post was never about shooting deer but to highlight how difficult some things are and how practice with anything is vital, I feel I have put my neck on the line by showing a video of me failing to make those shots to highlight the point.



Thanks for replying, this was never intended to become a thread like that, do you have any tips for shooting freehand?


This is an open forum and always happy to have an open discussion, the offhand thing is about possessing as many skills as possible should they ever be needed, not going out to take chancy or dangerous shots that could easily cause injury, as an example, say you are following up a wound deer in woodland and you find it but don't have time to faff about with sticks, taking a freehand shot will end the animals suffering. Would you rather take that shot having practiced or chance getting it right?

Dave

Good post mate .My statements were never aimed at you but at those who were almost advocating the offhand shot as an acceptable stalking scenario shot or just plain trying to wind up .Im going to try a few free hands and post results .
100mm at 100 yds

 

[Dalua]

I can’t see the pic?

Sadly, I'm just as bad at technology as I am at shooting; but practice makes perfect - please try again. Not really worth looking at, though!

 

[User00047]

Sadly, I'm just as bad at technology as I am at shooting; but practice makes perfect - please try again. Not really worth looking at, though!

I can see it now. Not too bad at all if you haven’t practiced. What setup were you using?

 

[Dalua]

.308 SAKO AII, S&B 4x36, reticle A8

It's not that I've never practised - just not recently and not enough!

 

[Lateral]

Thanks for replying, this was never intended to become a thread like that, do you have any tips for shooting freehand?

Dave

Dave,

It's not your fault, it's a regular occurrence, there's always a self opinionated person, who knows better. Sometimes it's me

I'm no expert, I just do as much driven boar shooting as I can, so live practise, but also go to the Holland, & Holland shooting cinema when I can. Clay pigeon shooting is good practise, especially running rabbit.

General tips, Use a rifle that fits you, shoulders easily, and if you shoulder it with your eyes shut, the sight/reticle is in the right eye position, when you open your eyes. Shoot both eyes open.

A scope that can be set to low mag, to give you the widest field of view, non fussy reticle. These are ideals.

As others have said, Practise ! Watch all of the "Wild Boar Fever" videos

 

[1894]

Shooting should be fun and offhand practice is generally that. At some point if you stalk enough it'll save the day

 

[Deermanagement]

Thanks for replying, this was never intended to become a thread like that, do you have any tips for shooting freehand?
Dave

Definitely hesitated to contribute to this one but Dave..... it is a good post. As already said, if an animal gets back up especially whilst approaching, even worse if you are up to your knees in bramble, it's generally a case of chuck the sticks (you can generally ascertain if they are a non-option) and shoot off-hand.

If you've done some work, it'll help.

Do a bit of research on technique, running target, even standing target, and you'll pick up some basics on stance and ways to use the skeleton to support your rifle rather than using muscles to provide support. I'm sure some will be picturing typical target shooter stance and thinking that's no way to hold a rifle and I agree, especially if you need to shoot a moving target with the requirement to rotate but you'll learn something.

I do a bit of dry firing, I know it sounds daft but I have a deer silhouette stuck on the wall above the fire place, well, my attempt at drawing a deer, maybe a camel but when viewed in a large mirror across the room some 20 ft away, with the scope set a 3x, it's very much the size of a Sika/fallow at 100 yds. I practice dry firing unsupported every now and then. It teaches you how to support the rifle for the steadiest aim, how to lock your arms/shoulders, how to get the best out of your stance.

I'm sure there are many stalkers who have never shot off-hand whilst there are others who may have spent their youth, stalking rabbits , squirrels and the such, with an air rifle, most likely freehand. Those would have learned an awful lot about creating the most steady freehand shooting position through many years of trial and error. Hell, I shouldn't be here really after the number of tins of lead pellets I went through

Been quite a while since I've taken any shots off-hand other than close up deer whilst the Mrs was holding my sticks but I know the practice is better than F'.... all.

It would be a good to see others attempts at free shooting and in this way, we may all get to learn something by examining the most successful attempts.

 

[Deermanagement]

My "camel" ....... well maybe a sheep

 

[Woodsmoke]

It would be a good to see others attempts at free shooting

My efforts earlier today. CZ452, .22 Winchester subs, Walther 6*42 scope with Mildot at 80 yards.

 

[Primate]

My efforts earlier today. CZ452, .22 Winchester subs, Walther 6*42 scope with Mildot at 80 yards.

View attachment 151785

Not bad you sirry iriot

 

[User00047]

Wha

My efforts earlier today. CZ452, .22 Winchester subs, Walther 6*42 scope with Mildot at 80 yards.

View attachment 151785

80yds? What happened to 100yds?