Practicing shooting and aiming with hunting rifles.

[Savage99]

Offhand or standing practicing for hunting.
I need to practice shooting the hunting rifles more offhand.

I go the range frequently and shoot my rifles checking that they are sighted in and that they shoot a group just from the bench.

While I used to compete I don't shoot offhand anymore with the rifles I hunt with.

I aimed one offhand after the usual bench session and I did not aim well.

I remembered a way I have used to aim and I must practice it. I can also do this dry firing.

 

[rcmodel]

Buy a cheap air rifle and practice in the garage or basement!!!

Invaluable off-hand skills when hunting season rolls around.

rc

 

[35 Whelen]

Any High Power or Small Bore competitions around you. I found those two disciplines profoundly increased my skill with a hunting rifle.

35W

 

[Malamute]

Both good comments.

A 22 is good fun and good practice, just generally goofing off, but I dont know if formal ranges allow general not paper target type shooting, like we did as kids or adults just out plinking.

As standing/offhand is the hardest, I try to do most practice that way. Feels especially good to hit the 600 yard plate offhand with a hunting rifle.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

You could also go to a metallic silhouette competition. I took my 30-30 hunting rifle with a 2.5x scope and we were shooting standing at metallic targets at 200 yards away that were about the size of a gallon milk jug. The first time I went I hit 10 of 20. The second time I hit 1 of 20. I enjoyed it. They also do 22 LR competitions with smaller and closer in metallic targets.

 

[Edcnh]

I hunt in mostly wooded areas so I practice with a 22 before hunting season. I use a method I found in a magazine. I put a target with a 3" bullseye at 25 yds. I will then practice by bringing the rifle to my shoulder and firing within two seconds. This is a great drill if you hunt heavily wooded areas. If ALL 25 shots are in the black I will move the target back to 30 yds the next time I do the drill. For my last couple of practice sessions I will put my target with an 8" bullseye at 100yds and use my hunting rifle. This has helped my off hand hunting shooting as I learned to shoot with both eyes open for these drills.

 

[jmr40]

Dry fire is your friend. I can sit at my desk and look into a wooded lot behind my house. There are very few days that go by that I don't get one of the rifles out of the safe and spend at least 10-15 minutes "shooting" at squirrels, birds, knot holes on tree trunks or something.

I also use small reactive targets at the range that I shoot with a 22.

 

[sage5907]

The best shooting position that you can learn for hunting is the sitting position. That's the one position that you can stay in for a long period of time without moving or being uncomfortable. It works better if you can have your back against a tree, fence post or bank, and I carry a small foam pad with a shoulder strap. This method is especially good for shooting over grass, weeds and brush. Learn to place your elbow against your knee to steady your aim and this works good out past 150 yards. For longer range shooting learn to use a shooting stick. This is the only method I use and I have taken dozens of animals this way. If you take this advise seriously you won't have very many animals get away.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

If you are intending to shoot a rifle primarily in a standing position, don't trust your bench zero for more than getting close. POI can shift when you make large changes to how the rifle is held.

 

[Sunray]

Off hand, at 100 yards, at a 9" pie plate, until you can hit it every time. With your hunting ammo. And use a sling.
Everything else is good(not to mention fun), but nothing is as good as practice with the rifle and ammo you plan on using.
Getting some upper body exercise would be an idea too. Standing on your hind legs holding an 8 plus pound rifle up uses muscles you use for nothing else.

 

[Ankeny]

I don't recall ever shooting a big game animal standing without support. I haven't practiced "off hand" in years. OTOH, I shoot a lot sitting with sticks. Different hunting conditions out here.

 

[Malamute]

I don't recall ever shooting a big game animal standing without support. I haven't practiced "off hand" in years. OTOH, I shoot a lot sitting with sticks. Different hunting conditions out here.

The point about practicing offhand is its the hardest to do, so takes the most practice to achieve fair results. I've shot several animals offhand. It isnt the first choice, but sometimes its what you get, after getting a handle on offhand, anything else with a rest or sitting feels like cheating.

If one never practices offhand, then its probably best they never try to shoot game offhand.

I watched a friend muff what would have been an easy offhand shot by trying to find a rest, taking too much time, the deer got spooky, and he ended up making a poor shot. It would have been a simple offhand shot if he had any practice and confidence. He never practiced offhand, since he always sat down or had a rest or used his bipod. When it mattered, he couldnt do it.