Off Hand Shooting
 

Once you sighted in your muzzleoader at 100 yards in a sled....how good do you shoot off hand?

Looking for averages in a hunting environment. Shooting off hand or using just a pair of shooting sticks (or branch from tree).

50 Yards
75 yards
100 yards



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Something I never tried doing at 100 yds. I realize your question is hypothetical but I know I am plenty good enough at 50 and probably 75 to easily kill a deer. But for one thing, I would never shoot at an animal at 100 yds without some sort of rest. To me it is just unethical and there is a good chance of wounding the animal. At 100 yds, you should have ample time to find some sort of rest. Even if its our knee or sitting, or whatever. But if you are realistic about this, the rifle doesn't know how far away the target is. So if you do your part, you should not have any trouble hitting what you're aiming at.

Can't hit for squat at 100yds w/o a rest.

+1

Shooting off hand with a rifle is not my thing. In 2008 i shot a deer looking at me at about 80 yards. Tried a sitting position but the grass was too tall to see the deer, so i did it off hand. The 240 grain .430 XTP bullet hit that deer to the left of its chest. It traveled the full length of the body cavity without tearing up the heart, lungs or diaphragm. It did not even tear up the entrails. The bullet exited the inside of one ham in two pieces.

Waited about 20 minutes, went after that deer and jumped it twice. The deer ran for a total of 350-400 yards and needed a finishing shot.

Never again: i'll pass on an off hand shot if it's much over 40 yards.

I can shoot well at paper but I shoot even better at live animals. My first kill was a turkey at 150 yards, iron sites in the seated position (knees as rest). I killed a buck last season in the same position at 130 yards scoped. The pressure actually helps me.

With a long (32" +) heavy barreled gun like a Hawken. Pretty good. With an inline? Crappy. Too light.

I have been shooting a lot of off hand. And it has helped in my accuracy. But to be very honest.. I just stink at off hand. Still if its a deer moving, for some reason I get into a zone and tend to make the shot. But if there is any thing I can do to NOT have to shoot off hand, I do it. I have shooting sticks, or I have a alder walking stick that I use also.

Thanks for the replies guys. So it seems that 50 yards off hand no problem. But 75 to 100 we need sticks or a rest.

Thats good. Because I shoot 50 yards very well off hand. But 75 to 100 my groups get larger. It looks like I am in the average range then.

I haven't really tried shooting groups offhand. But I've done pretty good in the field taking deer offhand. I use a sling wrapped around my arm to help steady, this helps a lot. Offhand I've taken deer at 90, 94, 104 and 108 yards and 2 of those were neck shots. 1 shot was a bit far back in the liver- that one convinced me to not shoot at a moving deer. Without the sling though, I would not shoot that far...

I spend more time, on the sticks, shoulder against a tree, sitting on a 5 ga. bucket elbow on knee, and offhand, than I do at the bench. Bench practice does have it's place, but hunting situations need to be practiced more, for me anyway. I'm not very good offhand, have got lucky a couple times, but found in most cases I can get in the sling, or on the sticks in plenty of time.

First off were allowed to Hunt with a Scope on our MLers during our ML Season, so I noramlly just use the Scope for My Shots. I do however have High Base See Thru Scope Mounts so I can use my Open sights if needed in a Pinch. If it's really Snowing and My Scope is full of Snow I'll use My Open Sights but normally only out to say 50 yards.
I also never would tale a shot off hand at 100yds with Open Sights, I Always use a rest, Period. The only time I wont use a rest with Open Sights is if the shot is 50yds or under and it's because My Scope is either full of Snow or Fogged over.
I would be lost without the use of being able to use a Scope. Years back when we could'nt use a Scope during our ML Season and I had to use Open Sights again I only would take a Off Hand Shot out to 50yds+- any thing further I made sure I had a good solid rest or I would'nt take the shot.

I just recently cleared some brush extending my range out to 100yds, but have been shooting at 80.
A few things: moving out from 50yds I found that 75gr of 777 is a better load for my T/C Hawken shooting PRB.
I've also been pracicing w/ both eyes open; although this makes target aquisition seem easier, aiming this way brings eye fatigue quickly for me.
Once I dialed in the 75gr off a rest, a 40lb bag of wood pellets incidentally, most of my shots have been offhand both seated & standing. I'm finding that though I'm easily within a pie plate, bulls-eyes are not forthcoming.
I'll say this about offhand though it has already been touched on, the heft of the rifle has alot to do with accuracy at longer ranges.
I will admit, at 100 yds through iron sights the target seems a bit abstract to me. This is one reason I really enjoy archery as shots are 30 yds and under, at least for me, and you KNOW what you are looking at without a doubt as far as shot placement.

to be honost...about 50-60yrds max offhand when hunting.

When i was a boy my gramps and uncle .. both x -marines taught me to site in on a bench and you hunt using what ever is availabe trees knee whatever. However We played with 22 and cans out too hundred yards all the trime . I practice off hand shots at 100 yards . I have shot well over that with scoped center fire rifles . My muzzloader is maX 150 yards.With real practice though you would be amazed at what you can do. I taught my kids and wife the same way . We practice with pellet rifles and 22 during the week and a couple times a month wehit the range through the summer. This all builds skill , muscle memory, and confidence . But then again my family have always been committed gun nuts. Might be more than the average person would commit to.

When I'm in the"zone" that being, shooting at a deer. Distance really doesn't come to mind and I have made some nice shots off hand at deer. Now when it comes to paper bulls, I think we all try to hold and aim too long. I tried something this past weekend where I had the hammer back, held high, dropped onto the bull and squeezed the trigger. No waiting no wobbling. Just drop on the bull and shoot.

I think the longer you hold the more you wobble.:confused2:

That being said. Closer is better and a rest always best.

HA

To be honest i never shoot off hand. I either use a knee or a tree.

HA! I like it!

Out West the best practice for shooting offhand is going out hunting Jack Rabbits. Offer running shots from 20 feet to 200+ yards. Often travel out to about 125-150 yards and then stop and sit up. Offer a target about the same size as the lungs on a deer.

A Offhand shot out to 150yds with a Scope is even Iffy, one that far with Open Sights is just asking for Trouble. I dont care how good of a shot you are, at 150yds with open sights too much can go wrong. If you cant find a Rest or sit on your Butt and use your legs for a Solid Rest you should Pass on the Shot, even if you think Your Joe Sniper.
I Hunt with a ML ONLY, because I know I have Only 1 Shot and I'll take My Best and Only Shot that way. Like I said above I'll shoot Offhand out to 50-70 yds Offhand but anything further Im using a Solid Rest or I'll Pass on the Shot. Now again this is with a ML, I have shot further off hand Playing around with a Rifle and Cans and stuff, but there Not Real Animals. Real Animals Deserve to be taken in a Fast Clean Way with a 100% Confident Im gonna take this Animal and Hit them where Im aiming shot.
I've seen too many Deer shot with iffy shots and ones that should have Not been taken that were never recovered, it makes me Sick! And the Spray and Pray Shotgunners do it all the time. I just Hate seeing a Wounded Deer go by Me with a Broken Leg (And Yes I finish them off) or to find a Gut Shot Deer laying Dead Devowered By Coyotes that some Hunter Shot that made a Bad Shot.
If you have a rest USE IT, if the Shot is IFFY, PASS. I have Respect for the Animals I Hunt and I hope all of you do too.
(BP)