Bi-pod, shooting sticks or off hand
 

How do you prefer to sight in and hunt? Bi-pod, shooting sticks or off hand. And if you sight in on a bench and sled, how do you rest your gun in a hunting situation?

Normally I sight in on a bench, and then practice from shooting sticks and trees. Although in my one blind, I have a window exactly to the height of my shooting sticks. So I use both the window ledge and the sticks and that is really an accurate way to shoot.

The reason I also practice from leaning on trees is.. when I walk around, that is normally how I will end up shooting. There really is not all that much difference I find from shooting with sticks and trees as a bench. Do you find a large degree of difference?

I sight in on a bench and use Stoney Point Bi-pod shooting sticks for hunting.

Sight in off a bench, hunting I'm in my climber and have a padded rest to shoot off...

I very seldom shoot any rifle off hand, was taught as a youngster to take a rest...

if you are sighting in free hand, its a big waste of time and money. you should definitely sight in with the sturdiest things available to you...a bench or sled...
shooting at a live target free hand isnt a good idea, but i have done it before successfully.
sticks, or a tree as mentioned, are a good way to go if ya dont have a table (if you will)
main thing, imo, is that when shooting, whether from a bench, sticks or free hand, is that you dont let anything touch the barrel of the "gun" as to not mess with the moa. if yer barrel is resting on sand bags at the range, it isnt gonna shoot the same when something IS NOT touching the barrel in the field.

Sight in on a bench. My hunting styles vary considerably so I either shoot off my primos trigger stick, using my padded rest on my climber or off-hand if the situation dictates.

Always zero rifle off bench and sand bags. hunting and practice situations i carry shooting sticks.

Sight in off a bench with bags and I always have my Stoney Point Tri pod with me in the woods, I use them for a walking stick while moving around and if I am hunting from my climber I prop them up against a tree while I'm hunting. I have a shooting rail on my climber.

I've been using a monopod rest when hunting from my ground blind, but am going to find/create something more stable for next year. The monopod works fine (except when wind catches the barrel) but I want something that offers more flexibility and stability in use. I might even build a collapsible shelf to go just inside the main opening of the blind and keep the monopod as backup or for the occasional side window opportunity.

Sighting in, always off a rest. I do most of my practice shooting from field positions (sitting, kneeling, offhand). In hunting situations I find the best rest possible or use shooting sticks. I prefer to shoot game <100 yds from the kneeling position if possible. I can get into that position fast and I can shoot well from it. Sitting is steadier but slower to get into. Prone is by far the best but here in the east there is very little areas where that would be a viable position.

The main reason I asked was because out here in Montana a tree is not always close by depending on what I am hunting. Bi-pod folded up on gun gives it an off balance feel if need for a quick off hand shot. Shooting sticks seem faster than dropping and extending the Bi-pod. Plus you can still use a tree easily if one is available.

I hunt open country a lot also and to be honest most of my shots are taken laying down with a rifle on top of my day pack used as a rest. it's the most stable, but not always a option.

I sight in using a bench and take most of my shots off hand because most of them are 50 yards or less. However if there is a tree to use as a rest or I can shoot prone I do so. If I was out in Montana I would have a bi-pod and carry some shooting sticks.

I sight-in/zero on a permanent bench using sand bags. I am thinking about getting a Caldwell Rock Deluxe to replace the fore-end sand bags.

In the field I use the gunrest on my climber and stands when ever possible. I have also used tree trunks and limbs to help steady the shot. Sometimes I shoot off-handed when the situation calls for it.

This is what i use in the field.

I always sight in using a bench with bags for stability. When hunting I often shoot offhand, I feel comfortable shooting offhand out to 100 yards or so. If it is farther than 100 I use something for stability.

For the past 2 years I've been using bags of wood pellets as a rest on a table-ultimately, I'm on one knee; really should build a shooting bench... lately I've been practicing more offhand shooting w/ the GPR as it just seems suited to it; it is one thing at 25yds & something different at 50!

Jiminy Christmas, I recall watching Roger Raglin shoot from many positions, including offhand, using the bi-pod mounted to his rifle. He made it seem such a handy thing to have but I never went that way.

I sight in off a bench. Most all 99% of my shots are taken from a rest weather it be a tree, my knees or a brace off my treestand, I want a good solid rest when I take the shot so I know Im going to be on where Im aiming.
Now if Im sneaking and peaking through the woods and spy a deer and cant get a rest I will shoot offhand out to say 60yds, but I will try and get a solid rest befor I do any off hand shots. If the wind is blowing and I cant get a solid rest I pass on the shot. It's a personal thing and I like seeing a dead solid lung or heart shot on all the deer I shoot.
(BP)

I appreciate everyone's input. Has definitely given me some things to think about. I have a sled to sight in on. Considering a good set of shooting sticks. I have a Harris Bi-pod on my 7mm but have always had time to set up since my shots have been out to 300 yards.

I free float my forearm so it will shoot the same in most situations the I make a shooting rail for my stands, when hunting on the ground in close cover I shoot off hand don;t have time to fool with any kind of sticks, when hunting in the open fields where a shot may be well over 100 yds I take a tripod.

i sight the gun in from a bench and hunt without sticks or bipod. About half my hunting is done from stands. Some stands have good gun rests, most do not. Usually its possible to throw my right leg over my left knee and get a decent supported position that way-i'm a lefty.


On the ground, if no rest is available, i plunk my rear on the ground and assume a good sitting position. My longest muzzleloader shot was made from sitting position: A hog at just over 225 yards.

I sight in from the bench and shoot off hand, sitting or prone in the field. If my shot was over 200 yards, I would seek some type of aid, but I don't anticipate having that long of a shot and not sure I'd take it if I did. I simply have not had a need for shooting sticks and the like at this point. Perhaps when I'm older and my hands are shakier, I will.

Id say this is what do also but if Im using my Accura instead of the Elite I can use the sticks on the sling like MD uses.