A while back there was a thread in the ----- forum that created some debate as to whether the following was possible:
to hit man size targets and smaller, out to 300 yards, from the shoulder in a second or less.
I wrote,
IMO, the crux of the 300-yard challenge hinges on:
1. size of target
2. contrast of target with background (ie can you see it)
3. start position vs. shoot position
I haven't tried this exact exercise. If the target is a clearly visible IPSC plate and the start position is a "high" low-ready-- my gut reaction is that this is possible, or at least close to possible - maybe some percentage of the time, for a good practical rifle shooter, if he gets some orientation and practice. A 30x18" IPSC plate @ 300 yards is the same apparent size as a 2.5" tall by 1.5" wide rectangle @ 25 yards, which makes it easier to visualize the problem.
and further noted:
... that a 2'x6' target is approx 3.5 times larger than what most consider a "human silhouette" (e.g. an IPSC target or E). The original claim was also "from the shoulder in a second or less."
Well, I got around to having three accomplished shooters test this. The testers were myself, RayDog (instructor and talented practical shooter), and a contracter (former Army SF).
To me a "man sized target" means an IPSC target-- certainly no larger. We set an armor steel IPSC plate at 310 yards (lased after the fact). The target started the day painted white with a 10" red dot painted in the middle, but had already absorbed 30-40 hits by this time. It was late in the day and there were no target locations in full sunlight left.
Using my 12" SBR with Aimpoint M2 and HALO attached, we shot offhand from a "Low Ready" that was about 30 degrees below horizontal. Not SUL, not a really low "low ready", but looking over the rifle at the target with the rifle down approx 30*. Starting at this position, the "RO" would buzz the timer and the shooter would engage the target with one shot only.
We each tried this drill 20-40 times. Two of us scored ONE hit under 1 second. Mine was 0.94, and RayDog's was 0.86. We each had a "few" hits in the 1.1 - 1.3 second range.
That makes a success rate of about 2%, after a lot of practice.
This is pretty consistent with my initial gut reaction of whether or not it is possible.