Helping buddy with shooting skills

[sumpnz]

I was just at the rifle range with a friend who'll be going elk hunting this fall (he was the only lucky bastard in the group of 5 of us that put in). He's a horrendous shot, and I was trying to help him improve enough to be able to make an ethical, humane shot on the beast come October. I loaded up some pussy-cat rounds for my 6.5x55 rifle so he wouldn't beat his shoulder to death in practice.

The problem is, from sitting/prone I can put five rounds into 2" or less at 50 yards all day long, and easily within 4-5" at 100 yards (off the bench, obviously I'm better - 1-2" mostly). He was having difficulty hitting the paper plates at all at 50 yards (prone/sitting), and mostly seemed to be hitting low and right. Off the bench he was fine, but not from a field position.

How would you all recommend I go about helping him do better? I've tried to explain breathing, posture, squeezing a little before the cross-hair passes through the center of the paper plate. I'm no expert rifleman, and I'm about out of ideas for other tips to give him that might be helpful.

Thanks.

 

[Leanwolf]

Obviously he's not paying much attention to what you are telling him. I'll hazard a guess that your friend is flinching, no matter what "pussy cat" loads you cook up for him.

If it were I, I'd go back to basics with a .22 L.R. rifle and coach him with the fundamentals being primary.

If he can't even shoot with a .22L.R., well, then ...........

Make sure you or one of your hunting buddies is standing next to him when he caps at an elk, and when he wounds the elk, you put that elk down right now!!

Just my opinion.

L.W.

 

[sumpnz]

Make sure you or one of your hunting buddies is standing next to him when he caps at an elk, and when he wounds the elk, you put that elk down right now!!

Definatly. There'll be at least 1 and possibly 3 others that can do that if necessary.

I think he's also going to take a rifle class at the local outdoor range. I think a formal instructor would probably be more benficial than me anyways. He's also planning to get a decent rimfire rifle so he can shoot hundreds of rounds in practice at each outing without hurting his shoulder, or tiring himself out too quickly.

 

[gbran]

Sounds like you're on the right track, but at some point, he WILL need to practice and become at least somewhat proffiicent with the rifle and ammo he's going to use on the hunt.

When I hunt, I stay away from caffiene and sugar. I also take Kava-Kava, which is an herb that acts like a mild tranquelizer and helps with the nerves. You can get it at Wal-Mart. It works.

 

[Glock_10mm]

I wouldnt suggest kava kava on the hunt unless you've/your friend tried it before or you may end up with a loupy guy with a loaded weapon ...thats never good.

I'd say go back to .22's and work up.

I agree that if you are right beside with a follow up shot all should b good. Looks like he'll need more work (practice) than can be done in the next month.