How many people REALLY shoot anymore

[CraigC]

The only rifle that I shoot at the range is a lever action with irons, which really precludes any bench shooting.

How do you figure that? I test my iron-sighted leverguns from the bench just like anything else.

 

[jmr40]

The traditional positions, prone, kneeling, and standing are only really relevant in shooting sports requiring them to be used. In military or hunting applications there are better options. The military has taught to use some sort of improvised rest, and to shoot from behind cover for quite some time now. Standing up in the open and firing at opponents doing the same hasn't been taught since before the Civil War.

Kneeling and prone aren't much better. There are a few places where prone is applicable, but the shooter should always use a bag or some other improvised rest which would be very similar to shooting off a bench. In many places grass or other cover would make such shooting impossible for a hunter or soldier. If kneeling is an option, then shooting sticks are a better option. Shooting sticks have been used for hundreds of years and should be considered as traditional as any other method.

I know there are those who are glued to a bench and never practice from any other positions. But there are a lot of options other than prone, kneeling and standing. Lots of better options at that.

 

[CraigC]

I shoot offhand when there is no time to brace against a tree or rock and use the kneeling position quite regularly in the field. It's quicker to assume and beats the hell out of carrying shooting sticks.

 

[theotherwaldo]

My current range allows traditional shooting positions. We have to be careful, though. Any shot that goes over the berm may cause an international incident, as it just might land in Mexico.

 

[Slamfire]

The traditional positions, prone, kneeling, and standing are only really relevant in shooting sports requiring them to be used. In military or hunting applications there are better options. The military has taught to use some sort of improvised rest, and to shoot from behind cover for quite some time now. Standing up in the open and firing at opponents doing the same hasn't been taught since before the Civil War.

Desert storm veterans will likely have a number of stories. I have seen lots of troops shooting standing, behind walls, or moving forward, or kneeling behind cover. The weapon is not always rested. A bud of mine kicked down doors and did some indoor shooting in the standing position but it was not exactly precision shooting. He said of one encounter " my chest plate stopped his bullet but I was the only one to leave the room!".


Bud is still shooting his AR15, with a sling prone, at 600 yard match and the 1000 yard matches he attended. He still has faith in the 223 claiming that anyone who intercepted a 5.56 he fired never ran off.


I think these troops are zeroing their rifles, and it is at 50 meters. I thought I had pictures of the squad practicing standing but I can't find them.

 

[Howard Roark]

I shoot and run NRA high power and smallbore silhouette matches at least once a month. I also shoot smallbore prone occasionally.

The USAMU high power rifle team members are regularly deployed to the sandbox to train soldiers marksmanship skills. Some competition skills translate to the field.

 

[gibble888]

I always enjoy shooting off a bench at my local range, trying to work out hand loads and seeing what any particular rifle will give me in terms of accuracy. But after that, I shoot a lot from off-hand. It's a terribly important skill to have. I hunt public land elk, un-guided, and the buggers just don't cooperate. They really like to make you work for your meat. Yet, I've harvested the last 8 years straight.

Bragging a bit now, but in 2011 I killed an elk with my little .308 from 325 yards off-hand... he was also facing me...heart shot, DRT. I thanked my USMC PMI, SSGT McFarland.

It's a shame. The crap that I see at the range... 'I just bought a .338 WIN super duper magnum elk slayer - oh that hurts when I shoot it, rifle.'

Still, there are some very dedicated marksmen out there who work the craft and shoot well. I would not disparage bench rest shooters, as they are scary good.

Nevertheless, hunters, in particular, must practice from 'strange' positions. I do, and it's paid off.

Holy crap!! You made up my mind im gonna practice lots more freehand...i thought 75 yds was good...good job

 

[Nwflycaster]

I regularly practice 4 position, in fact if I'm not working up a new load that's all I shoot. When I'm at the range I rarely have anyone but myself shooting positions, it's all from the bench. I have no problem with bench shooters, it's just not what I enjoy doing. I would never shake my head because someone only shoots from a bench, that may be all they're capable of doing, through injury or just lack of knowledge. I do sometimes see someone's target at 50 yards with holes sprayed everywhere and think to myself (I don't want to be hunting anywhere near this guy if he shoots from a rest like that) but that's about it.

I like it when people ask me question between my strings because they are interested in trying it. I will spend some time with them if they want and give them the basics. I've let more than one person use my equipment to give it a try. We have so few people that shoot our monthly xtc matches I do what I can to try to bring more people into the sport. The same goes with our winter 4 position smallbore league. I'm always trying to recruit juniors and adults that show interest.

 

[Gun Master]

Really Shoot Anymore ?

Wow! This all seems too structured for me . I'm mostly a plinker . Nothing wrong with target matches, etc. Just not my bag.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I certainly value both... bench for sighting in and testing equipment, but field positions for real-life experiences.

Shooting is fun, yes, but I like to go all-in with my interests. One time I decided to learn about economics. 3 years later I was teaching economics to 12th-graders. Then I developed an interest in paradox within communication. 3 years later, I was a marriage and family therapist. When I developed a keen interest in rifles, I decided I wanted to be a marksman. This has taken longer than the econ and therapy because I cannot use student loans for it. However, I want to know it all... the math/trigonometry, the theories, and the practical stuff. I want to be able to hit a pie plate at 300+ yards while standing. I'm not there yet, but it's coming along. Shooting from the bench is boring to me (beyond the reasons I mentioned).

When it comes to defending self, family, community, and country from tyranny, those who only shoot off the bench won't be very useful.

 

[Trent]

From the monthly rifle competition I run.

We shoot 5 positions; standing, sitting, kneeling, prone, and benchrest, at ranges from 50 to 300 yards.

 

[SwissArmyDad]

I don't know if i REALLY shoot, but spent some time at the range on sunday. Mine's a nice indoor range so other than standing, i'm usually pretty static, but i do always go through the motions of strongside, weakside, both hands(no teacupping ...) etc.

I shoot to have fun and stay proficient with my guns, generally.

 

[Mike1234567]

I never REALLY shoot. I just bang off a buncha' rounds in a dirt mound while trying to hit a MOA target.

 

[back40]

If kneeling is an option, then shooting sticks are a better option.

i shot my 7 pointer this year from a kneeling position with a lever gun and open sights. i can honestly say that i've never seen anyone carrying shooting sticks while hunting the thick woods that are common to new england. i personally wouldn't carry them simply because it's just one other thing to add weight while climbing ridges. honestly, i don't think the circumstances surrounding shooting my buck this year would have allowed for using shooting sticks.

 

[Gun Master]

I never REALLY shoot. I just bang off a buncha' rounds in a dirt mound while trying to hit a MOA target.

I'm with you bro ! If I knelt down to shoot, I'd never get up unassisted . They can do what they like, but some of these guys look (excuse me - nobody in particular) too old or out of shape to be doing these stressful positions. To each his/her own.

 

[Mike1234567]

For self defense, if I can hit a 12 inch circle with all 18 rounds with a pistol at 30 yards and shooting 2 rounds per second then I feel okay about it, especially with my shaky hands these days. Taking my time with a decent rifle is a different story. I need some type of support to group worth a darn.

 

[P5 Guy]

Not allowed to shoot in positions at the range I belong to. All centerfire rifle is shot from a bench.

 

[Billy Shears]

The traditional positions, prone, kneeling, and standing are only really relevant in shooting sports requiring them to be used. In military or hunting applications there are better options. The military has taught to use some sort of improvised rest, and to shoot from behind cover for quite some time now. Standing up in the open and firing at opponents doing the same hasn't been taught since before the Civil War.

Really? Because my military experience was different. When I went through basic training, one of our drill sergeants told us "you better learn to shoot from the prone unsupported, 'cause in combat you ain't gonna be carrying a couple of sandbags."

Both in the army and in law enforcement, I have been in any number of situations where, if I had had to shoot at someone, I might have had to fire without support, even when making use of cover and concealment. I am not much of a hunter, but I can easily envision a situation where you might see your target, and not have enough time to look for a convenient log or tree stump, or whatever, and might just have to take your shot from standing, kneeling, sitting or prone, depending. Certainly I don't see how it can hurt you to develop those skills.

 

[tahunua001]

whenever I go to my local range I shoot benched off sandbags.

when I shoot at home or private plinking grounds I shoot standing free hand, prone or kneeling.

in the navy I was taught standing kneeling and prone. I was not allowed to use sandbags during my M16 qualifications.

 

[barnbwt]

Most ranges 'round here don't allow anything but supported seated bench shooting. Too much liability for some goober to lose his balance and throw a shot past the berm. But even I thought it was funny as heck when I was shooting seated (but not rested) and the RO told me "no freestyling"

I'd have banged my head against the bench if it wouldn't have ruined the laugh I had going. Luckily a new range has opened that hasn't been sued out of business yet (the other place is just pretending they haven't been sued out of existence yet; no FMJ, no >.30cal bullets, no rapid fire, no unseated unrested positions) which allows, for the time being, anything but being an inconsiderate idiot. I'm taking advantage since I know this situation won't last long

TCB

 

[Trent]

After reading this for the last couple of days, I can't believe there are so many ranges that ONLY allow rifle shooting off of a bench!

Litigation heavy society is ruining our damn heritage.

 

[Warp]

After reading this for the last couple of days, I can't believe there are so many ranges that ONLY allow rifle shooting off of a bench!

Litigation heavy society is ruining our damn heritage.

That plus being open to the public/making rules directed towards the lowest common denominator.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I shoot offhand -- standing unsupported. I won the 1960 Oklahoma State Collegiate championship with my standing score.

I like to take an 11-bull 50-foot NRA target and shoot five rounds, working the bolt from the shoulder, reload and shoot another 5 rounds into the bull, and then go on to the next target. I consider "nothing outside the 8-ring" to be my standard.

I have found if you can shoot standing, you can shoot well from any other position.

 

[tahunua001]

no 30 cal and up? the indoor range at camp allen allows anything up to 50 bMG and my local indoor range allows any 30 cal with a velocity lower than 3400 FPS...

my range normally doesn't allow 3 position outside of competitions but if it's slow I've been told the ROs have been known to let you go forward of the dividers and practice 3pos if you are the only one on the line... you people and your scaredycat gunranges disgust me... ok... just the ranges...

 

[Gun Master]

I'm outta here !