Unsupported Shooting
 

After i tagged my gut shot deer, i decided i would try to improve my off hand shooting. Almost every day since January 4, i have practiced. It seems like i am more consistent now than i was when i started, but still am not real good at it. Today i shot 10 shots from 89 yard. Load is my hunting load; 300g XTP, 105g Blackhorn, black crush rib, W209 primer. Rifle is an Omega Dream Season. The sight is Williams FP with the largest available aperture.
















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Looking at that group i'd shoot closer, or keep practicing.

I'm not real good at it either

https://www.reveresriders.org/

or the Appleseed group are both organizations of skilled trainers as well as NRA instructors.

Get a good strap on there and learn to use it.

You can learn the basics of shooting off hand just as well with a pellet gun or even better an adult size 22 rifle.

I'd say its good shooting. Elk and deer vitals are a lot bigger than that piece of paper. Also have to factor in the trigger pull, its nothing like a double set hair trigger which will limit the accuracy IMO.

My secret to getting tighter groups than-that at 100 yards offhand, is limiting the blackpowder to 80gr with 300gr bullet and 90gr blackpowder with a bullet that 200 to 240gr.

I may think I'm just as steady-handed firing with something like 105gr, but I'm really not. I can duplicate everything using 80 - then 105, but I always get better target holes with 80gr of powder. My only explanation for that is in my forend hold and I've never used the secured strap-hold to this day.

I was taught it by a military instructor years ago and never applied it to my range or hunting rituals.

Ron I'd have to agree that those shots aren't very good. I'm not being critical just stating a fact. But keep practicing and you should easily cut that group size in half.
There are a couple tricks to improve your performance that I've learned from competitive shooting that should help.
Eliminate as much muscle tension as possible. Horizontal position: Shoulder your rifle with your eyes closed. You should be in line with your target. If not, adjust your foot position. Vertical position: Position your off hand on the forend closer or farther while resting your upper arm against your body.
Relax. Concentrate on your target. You will never hold your rifle dead solid. The trick is with practice to get the sights moving in ever tightening circles around the bull. With time this circle will become smaller and smaller.
And lastly don't snap the trigger when you're "on target" but rather squeeze the trigger applying more pressure only when you're on target. Let the shot surprise you.
This may all sound like basic instruction but its surprising how many do not do this.
But no matter how good you become it is always better, when possible, to use a support of some kind.
I don't have much of a problem shooting my caplocks or inlines off hand. But if I'm shooting a flinter, and my shots are over 50 yards, I will always use some kind of support, usually a tree, or go to a kneeling position.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Primos-reg-Gen-Trigger-Sticks/1615720.uts?productVariantId=3498453&WT.tsrc=PPC&W T.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03689369&rid= 20&gclid=CLuolbuA69ECFdW4wAodPtYGPg&gclsrc=aw.ds

Shooting off hand is very humbling for bench shooters accustom to shooting sub MOA.

You CAN improve however, with practice; just like anything else.

Keep at it..............................


I shot skeet until I got good enough to shoot straight (25 out of 25).

Then I shot straight shooting "low gun".

Then I shot straight with my 20 gauge "low gun".




Then I shot "5 Stand" and got 15 out of 25 = Humbling !!!

Practice, practice, practice............................just like anything else.

Great items. I got a monopod the first year they came out. They help but you really have to practice with them. I wish I would have waited for the tripod to come out. That's the one I'd get for sure.
And Ron, it would be ideal for your long range shooting you do in your neck of the woods. Or should I say prairie?