Hunting with RN Bullets

[S Mac]

Maybe is the key word there, I know some that will only shoot 1 or 2 off a bench to check the scope, good to go. And that at 50 yards.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
Back when I started recurve hunting again a kind bowyer said to me " a 3 inch circle is the goal. If you can keep those shafts within 3 inches you will never go wrong". He was right. That 3 inch circle has played out just fine over near 20 years.
Same with muzzle loaders and revolvers in ILLinois. Maybe one day they will trust us with center fire rifles.
Mike in Peru

 

[KHornet]

The question that comes to mind with the way this thread is going is: How many hunters can hit a 3 " circle, off hand at 100 yds? AND do it with any consistency? Know for sure I can't, and never have been able to do it. That said, I try never to take a shot on a deer offhand, preferring some sort of rest. 100 yds is no big deal, RESTED. but even then------for the majority of deer hunters 3" would be a problem.

 

[35 shooter]

The question that comes to mind with the way this thread is going is: How many hunters can hit a 3 " circle, off hand at 100 yds? AND do it with any consistency? Know for sure I can't, and never have been able to do it. That said, I try never to take a shot on a deer offhand, preferring some sort of rest. 100 yds is no big deal, RESTED. but even then------for the majority of deer hunters 3" would be a problem.

I agree 100% on some sort of rest when hunting and taking shots on game.
Also if more people would do a bit of offhand practice, that same majority of deer hunters would quickly realize their rifle sling is for much more than a convenient way to carry their rifle.

I keep mine adjusted so a quick flip will put the sling just outside of my offside elbow in case i have to take an otherwise unsupported shot. I've made many shots in the field over the years utilizing a sling when caught more or less in the open and couldn't get to a "better rest" that otherwise i would have had to pass on.

 

[KHornet]

Learned to use a hasty sling on an MI on Parris Island. All my hunting rifles have slings, and are adjusted to snap into a hasty sling. Improves potential greatly, really steadies you down in a sitting position.

 

[Bret4207]

Good point, I've always been one to "take a tree" for my shots. I didn't grow up in open country, it was all 2nd growth. We never had to look far for a rest. Up here I see guys with bipods mounted right to the rifle and they still can't keep 3 shots in beer can at 100.

I'm a lot more generous than many. My criteria was the standard 9" paper plate. Hang one at 100 and have people shoot at it from field positions. If you can't keep 5 shots in that plates center mass, or even hit it, at a given range then you need to either practice a lot more, get a rifle you aren't terrified of, move the target closer or all three! Must be others have heard the guy with the world class flinch say, "Yeah, it kicks a lot, but i only need one shot." (I'm guilty of that.) How in heck can they sight it if they pull shots 2"-4" out of center?!!! Give them a 257R or 7x57 and suddenly they turn into Deadeye Dick.

These days I'm experimenting with glasses, trying to find some setup that allows me to see the sights on my handguns. It's not going well! Rifles are better because most of mine are peep sighted and the front sight is out there enough so I can see it. Scopes are even getting a bit fuzzy though! I'm not the Lone Ranger on this and I'm sure there are lots of people banging away "at the big part" every year and making coyote supper. It's completely unethical IMO.

 

[KHornet]

Ditto Bret!

 

[RBHarter]

Scopes have become a challenge 9f a different sort for me . My vision correction negates the 1st 3x on the dominant side but the other side gains almost 1x .

Shotguns ruined me for the bench . I have hit fatally a running hog with a rifle that fits almost exactly like my Bioto O/U and BPS . I almost never shoot from a bench , I just don't do it well . Give me 3 points sitting and a sling wrap or a leaning place and I shoot pretty well . Funny how a guy can pass shoot woodys and honkers 40+ yds dead and sweep in on a down wind teal in a hurry but struggles with good bags and capable loads/rifles to shoot 2".....

 

[JWFilips]

These days I'm experimenting with glasses, trying to find some setup that allows me to see the sights on my handguns.

Bret I did the same. I was an Rev War re-enactor for 25 years I had a pair of round spectacles which had my far prescription on the top and the close up prescription on the bottom. I rotated the lenses 180 deg! Great for head down crouch position handgun shooting. If I could afford it I would get a modern pair of glasses with my prescription for progressives reversed (in the top) That would be ideal! It does work! (I turned my modern glasses over once and shot great)

 

[Lost Dog]

"Train for the mission." Those four words dominated my world since I as 17. In essence it means don't shoot a handgun off a bench and bags if you're a soldier, cop, hunter. You train for the mission and if it's benchrest shooting, so be it. Shoot off the bench. I trained for combat shooting. It paid off as I'm still here. Today I usually shoot my scope rifle off bipod on a bench or the ground. Handguns? Standing, kneeling, sitting, on the ground on my side, flat on my back on so forth. In my world a handgun is for close quarter combat. And I still train to win. Every time....
So now I'm going out to test a load with a new bullet I cast a few days ago. My weapon? A SAA in .357mag. And I'm gonna shot it standing with two hands and at various ranges at a 10"x10" iron plate. Same size of an opponent's center mass. Yeah. I still train for the mission.

 

[Rick]

But Dog, what if your not "training" or "on a mission" but instead working up loads and testing guns? What do you do when you want to know what the load is doing and not what your doing?

My "mission" for a lot of years was long range handgun competition and before heading to a match every one of the handguns spent time on the bench, I knew what each gun/load was capable of before I competed.

.

 

[Lost Dog]

Well I just came back in from my range. Fired 20 rounds at my plate. Freshly painted and ready. All 20 went into the 3" black circle in the middle from 15yds out to 30yds. Simple legs at shoulder width and facing the plate straight on with a two hand grip. I blew most of the paint off the center and that was my mission to see how well the new bullet shot. Five more were shot at a coke can from 20yds. After 4 hits outta 5 as it walked down range so to speak, I was happy with the load.

If I feel the need for über control I'll get into a sitting position and draw up my legs and clamp my hands and pistol. For me, that's better than leaning into a bench trying to keep my head level and hold my pistol on top of a bag. But if I want to shoot for group I'll hunker down in the dirt and go for the X. Just don't feel comfortable with a pistol on the bench is all.

 

[Brad]

I used to be very uncomfortable with handguns from the bench. Lots of time shooting a revolver from the bench and listening to advice from Rick made me much better at it.

I am all for supported positions in the field. I like shootng sitting.

I am a firm believed that each person needs to sight in their own firearm for all purposes. I also always sight my rifles in from field positions. Too often I have found a benched rifle shoots to a different point of impact fired offhand or sitting.

 

[Lost Dog]

Yes indeed. A benched rifle will shoot to a different point of impact than when supported in one's hands alone. Always sighted my long guns in a sitting position or at the bench with both elbows on the bench and the weapon solely supported in my hands. My .45-70's lever gun is zeroed at 80yds with open sights. That is roughly the max range in my woods where I have to fend off substantially large wild hogs. I have to shoot on the move at times and thus my mission is hogs in the trees and brush. I gotta be quick AND accurate. So I train for that with my stubby Marlin Guide Gun just for that reason. Remember the opening of the old series "The Rifleman" when Chuck Conners is walking and shooting? I train for that but with the weapon shouldered. True, I retired from being a lawman long ago, but I still "patrol " my own woods.

 

[James W. Miner]

The question that comes to mind with the way this thread is going is: How many hunters can hit a 3 " circle, off hand at 100 yds? AND do it with any consistency? Know for sure I can't, and never have been able to do it. That said, I try never to take a shot on a deer offhand, preferring some sort of rest. 100 yds is no big deal, RESTED. but even then------for the majority of deer hunters 3" would be a problem.

Yes, very true. Only a few years since I could hold 6" at 100 off hand and have done 3/4" with the .44. I used to take 5 little water bottles off the rail with 5 shots. Age will ruin you FAST. Here is a 100 yard group off hand a few years ago, 44 mag SBH. Then my 6.5 swede at 100 off hand. GONE today. Now I need a rest.
Get anything you can to help when hunting. I thought nothing with a 120 yard off hand shot with a revolver but it is gone now. Tried scopes and they suck big time so went to red dots for deer and will never go back.

 

[9.3X62AL]

This whole "getting old" thing is one bodacious PITA.

 

[James W. Miner]

Yes it is my friend.
But I think of the memories and the wonderful people I have met and my life was full. It still is and that is what counts.
To know many of you, even at long distance is wonderful.
I just came from a pot luck at a neighbors with Carol and it was so great, some I have not seen in a long time.
Life is good and the Lord looks out for you. Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[KHornet]

Words o;f wisdom James!!!

 

[quicksylver]

Bret I did the same. I was an Rev War re-enactor for 25 years I had a pair of round spectacles which had my far prescription on the top and the close up prescription on the bottom. I rotated the lenses 180 deg! Great for head down crouch position handgun shooting. If I could afford it I would get a modern pair of glasses with my prescription for progressives reversed (in the top) That would be ideal! It does work! (I turned my modern glasses over once and shot great)

Jw...I got a pair like that.

The reason I bought this was I thought they would be good for installing ceiling moulding.
, lnterior trim etc.

Well they kind of worked, but I ended up ducking everytime I went under a tree branch,through a door and when a seagull went by.

I other words the sky dropped.

 

[Lost Dog]

Well perhaps I can't stop aging and all the issues it brings, but I refuse to grow up.

I grew up for about half an hour once. Was the most frightening thirty minutes of my life!