I've done so much offhand shooting in the past, basically a plinker and "dump hunter" when we used to shoot rats and get forty or 50 in an outing. You get pretty good really fast and there's no time for meticulous holds. The rats were fast! As that game and my plinking, which included bouncing empty BB tubes across the gravel yard with my Daisy pump gun, I look at the target and as soon as the sights cross the center of the target or object, make a quick squeeze that doesn't disturb the rifle. It's a plinker's world. We like to shoot at small metal animal silhouettes and the plink and target fall are the reward. I don't do that often these days, since the grandkids aren't kids anymore, at least the ones around here aren't.
Shooting offhand
- Thread starter CopperFouling
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Riomouse911
Member
Not much snow falls here, so I did summer biathlon for a while. I was a good runner, decent shooter, but it just lost luster and sort of died out here where I live.Exactly. I did biathlon in school and that was the method we were taught. I was a decent shot and a slow skier
Fun stuff! It really makes one marvel at the Olympian’s stamina and skill, those men and women skiers/marksmen are truly amazing!!
Stay safe.
DocRock
member
The fitness required to get your heart rate down so that you can make a decent shot is remarkable. In either VT or NH, they do a thing called the 'primitive biathlon' every Winter: snowshoes and muzzle loaders. Sounds fun.
DustyGmt
Member
I went tromping through a poorly lit basement to run electrical wires and set off 3 mouse traps. Good day for rodents apparently.
Hondo 60
Member
When fired the priming compound is burned.
Just stay safe & DO NOT aim at anything you don't wish to destroy.
With no compression (no bullet shoved in the end of the case) any burnable is negligent.
This is the way I've dry fired my 22s.
Just my 2¢ worth of course YMMV
Hopefully not barefoot or in just socks.
Man that summer biathlon must have been tough on both you and the skis!!!Not much snow falls here, so I did summer biathlon for a while. I was a good runner, decent shooter, but it just lost luster and sort of died out here where I live.
Fun stuff! It really makes one marvel at the Olympian’s stamina and skill, those men and women skiers/marksmen are truly amazing!!
Stay safe.
I used to hunt woodchucks and crows with my buddy. He was a 50-foot bullseye target shooter years before, but I was always a plinker/small game hunter. We took turns at shooting varmints, but if we didn't shoot when we took our turn, we'd keep the turn until shooting at one. Well, he was so deliberate, the game often didn't wait for him. No problem for him because he didn't lose his turn, but it kinda got to me sometimes. I rarely missed taking the opportune shot because I was a plinker and varmint hunter from the beginning. I rarely took the time to breathe because I'd raise the rifle and shoot within a few seconds. Anyway, we both shot well, but he lost a lot of opportunities by not shooting. Sometimes I'd miss by shooting a bit too quick, but usually hit. We don't control the quarry and it doesn't wait for even the fastest of shots, but I always hate to lose an opportunity, even if it means less than an absolutely perfect shot, as long as it should be a quick-kill shot.
Sebastian the Ibis
Member
A shotgun is probably a better tool for this job, especially given your familiarity with them. I understand the desire to be proficient with multiple platforms, but you only have so many opportunities to practice. But shooting is fun so get out and practice!!
follow-through is important with offhand shooting. i follow biathlon on youtube and remember the best biathlete in the world miss his final shot in a race. i could see his rifle moving rearward before the trigger was pulled. he missed the shot and did not win the race, if i recall correctly.
i know follow-through is mightily important when i quail hunt. i hit nothin but tail feathers if i don't have a good consistent follow-through.
luck,
murf
i know follow-through is mightily important when i quail hunt. i hit nothin but tail feathers if i don't have a good consistent follow-through.
luck,
murf
bsparker
Member
Agree with this, finding target quickly and firing. Not a lot of time holding the rifle up. I’ve found even with larger rifles, if I try holding on target for longer than say 10 seconds (3-4 breathes) I almost need to reset. Shots won’t be any better than if I found my target took a controlling breath and shot. (I’m certainly no pro or the best shot though, not sure if others have had the same experience)
A target I’ve wanted to try with my .22 is something Caldwell did a few months back with a golf ball challenge. Set up 5 or so golf balls and see if you can hit them with 5 shots. Seems like a strong challenge and the golf ball has to be close to the size of a squirrel head.
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How far away are the golf balls? It would be fun with my HB 10-22, one of my better offhand-shooting rifles. One day, I potted several small apples off a tree at about 25 yards...fun!
I would be a good challenge at 50 yards or so, especially if there were a time limit.
Hey! Ya know that sounds like it would be a fun interwebs challenge....
DustyGmt
Member
I would have to revisit the terms of that whole "if you dont take your shot, you dont lose your turn" deal. I'd think if you snooze you lose, at the risk of possibly taking hurried shots it seems more fair, I dont know.
Skylerbone
Member
Offhand is a tough skill to acquire even with constant practice. A sling, if correctly used, can be a great help. More often than not I prefer a position with support whether on a knee or nearby tree.
MutinousDoug
Member
A shot taken at an extreme angle up or down (such as at a squirrel in a tree or deer down in a canyon) is going to hit high compared to one taken horizontally.
Gravity acts on a bullet as the horizontal distance; not the line of sight distance.
See post #42 above.
Gravity acts on a bullet as the horizontal distance; not the line of sight distance.
See post #42 above.
Another thing that I do when offhand shooting is that I look at the center of the target or aiming point on game. The reticle is guided by peripheral vision to the point on the game, target center, or amount of lead on a moving target, then, a quick squeeze is initiated. If the shooter looks at the sights it's harder and slower to find the target center, especially on a moving target.
It really wasn't a competition, just fun, but sometimes the slowness in shooting got to me. He had the car and we didn't really compete, but sometimes it was a little frustrating. Nobody went hungry because we didn't bring home woodchucks.I would have to revisit the terms of that whole "if you dont take your shot, you dont lose your turn" deal. I'd think if you snooze you lose, at the risk of possibly taking hurried shots it seems more fair, I dont know.
jmorris
Member
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If you know what your rifle can do from the bench
that eliminates that part of the equation.
Practice can get pretty boring sometimes but that is what it takes to gain skills. I find steel/reactive targets capture my attention longer than paper often, as they are more fun and you know instantly hits or misses. My 10 plate rack is my go to for off hand distance shooting. The smallest plates are 2" diameter but it can be reset hitting the last 6" plate. The auto reset feature makes it so all I have to do is reload and shoot, eliminating countless trips up and down range.
that eliminates that part of the equation.
Practice can get pretty boring sometimes but that is what it takes to gain skills. I find steel/reactive targets capture my attention longer than paper often, as they are more fun and you know instantly hits or misses. My 10 plate rack is my go to for off hand distance shooting. The smallest plates are 2" diameter but it can be reset hitting the last 6" plate. The auto reset feature makes it so all I have to do is reload and shoot, eliminating countless trips up and down range.
Aletheia
Member
I find it a little sad that you feel you have to find a way to rationalize something that was really just being a nice guy, to someone who thinks it's really important that no one should get more of "whatever" than he does. It just didn't matter that much to you if he held the gun longer than you did, because you were friends. I understand that. Everyone should.
bsparker
Member
Random 8
Member
I also play a game at hunting camp called Birch Golf. In my case, a scoped Henry single shot is used with low vel .38 cast as it's cheap to shoot and more challenging to 75 yards (my max range) than a .22 on those targets. All shots are offhand, and targets are placed up to 75 yards depending on the skill of shooters present. Targets are birch splits or rounds up to 3" in diameter, sometimes of irregular shape. We usually shoot a par 4 on 3 targets (you do get one miss). After each hole, some steps are taken backwards to add difficulty, as well as the targets getting shaved as pieces split off. Very challenging from the 75 yard far tee!
DustyGmt
Member
I would have to assume from your post I'm the guy you think he had to "rationalize" himself to". I would have to say you're a lil bit out of order and a bit presumptuous. I know tone interpretation can fall pretty flat in text but I think it's pretty obvious that my post was intended as a joking, just razzin type of way. Nobody had to rationalize to anybody. Dont be so sensitive for crying out loud.
Aletheia
Member
Pretty defensive post that indicates a lot of sensitivity, for crying out loud. (Just joking a bit)
Well, I suppose I should assume that last post is "just razzin" too then? Your comments prompted Picher to post his explanation, so he must have missed the "razzin" part too.
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