Shooting Offhand at 100 Yards

Hi Bart B:

Yes I used the slings in all positions. I also did them as an experiment without in all positions and did just as well.

Instead of using my support hand holding the rifle, I grabbed the sling tightly at the forward loop making a fist and twisting counter clock wise,(right hand shooter), and pulled tight against my shoulder. This seated the rifle securely into the shoulder and downward to lesson the recoil and return to the target. My trigger hand was able to relax.

Try it. See how much stronger the force against your shoulder is compared to holding the stock, Note: Do not flare your elbow, keep it under the rifle.
 
I don't think slings were allowed in standing for both DCM/CMP or NRA sanctioned matches since the early 1900's. Club and some military events have allowed them for ages.
 
Being nearly 70, my offhand skills have diminished somewhat, especially when I have muscle spasms at the "wrong" time. Prior to having polymyalgia rheumatica, I'd shot 2" groups offhand at 100 yards and won lots of turkey shoots, running deer, and .22LR, 50 yard metal plate turkey shoots.

I consider myself a better game/plinking shot than a target shooter. I've shot running deer at 200 yards, standing woodchucks at over 200, and crows at 150+. Two years ago, I managed a left-handed shot on a flat-out running buck at 40 yards from a tree stand, placing the bullet between and slightly behind the shoulders as it ran directly away from me. That was one of my more memorable shots, since I'd never shot a rifle left-handed.
 
Seems like a lot of old guys here, today.
Me, included.
Congrats to us for still being here.
It doesn't seem all that long ago, that accuracy was everything.
 
The key to offhand shooting is muscle relaxation and bone support. Of course...you'll have to grip the rifle tighter in windy conditions.
 
minute of milk jug. If you can hit a milk jug at 100 yards with open sights, you're doing fine.

Or, that's how I do it.

When I'm doing biathlon, I just imagine really, really small milk jugs. Admittedly, i'm not very good at biathlon.
 
This is like two different threads. Some are hunting, some are target shooting. I guess I am in the hunting category. I do all right with some of the carbines I have, but am usually bundled up with a pack on, so I am kind of "Tightened up". On the other hand, I usually just crest a steep hill when I have to shoot and am breathing hard and balanced on a rock or log or something. Maybe I am "Snap" shooting more than off hand shooting. Never really thought about it.
 
I'm in both categories I suppose. I only hunt right now, and have only had to shoot offhand once, due to bad shot placement from the blind I was sitting in.

But I want to try out competition shooting when I get my Garand, so I'm going to need to work on offhand shooting for the matches. I've been practicing ideaman's one-hand hold with my Mosin (in preparation for getting my M1), and I have to say it is challenging! That long, heavy rifle is giving me a run for my money. But I'm practicing almost every night, while sitting on the couch watching The X-Files on Netflix with my wife :D. Thankfully, she doesn't think I'm crazy for it!
 
I saw a video of a guy trying to kill a coyote with an AR, high-cap magazine, and tracers. It was pitiful, with some rounds appearing to miss the running 'yote by more than five FEET!

Also, I didn't think that tracers were legal for hunting.
 
When I was in my teen years shooting everyday after school and at black powder rendezvous every weekend I could hold the ten ring with my .58 caplock, but nowadays I'm happy hitting inside the 9 consistently.

Boomer
 
A while back after I started reloading for my 7-08 I was doing almost all bench shooting, I then decided to start off hand shooting at 100 yds at the paper, did ok. Got some 1/2 in steel plates 6 in wide x 10 in tall, welded some base plates on em, I can hit em at 100 about 90% of the time and about 75% of the time at 200. That is with a scoped bolt action Hawkeye with a Boyds thumbhole, I dont do as well at 200 with my model 7 in the same caliber. I wouldnt hesitate to take a shot at a deer offhand out to 200 standing still of course..Then again, I do shoot alot.
 
I have managed 3-1/2" @ 100 yds with an 8mm Mauser and a 375 Marlin.
Both with peep sights and a 1907 style sling in a kneeling position (very steady)
and would not hesitate to take that shot on a deer out to 200 yds, but I prefer to use a scope at longer ranges.
I do hunt a lot of thick timbers and usually use open (peep) sights under those conditions,
however all the big game I have bagged to date has been with a scope.:D
I do feel that iron sights test the true rifleman in all of us, and practice with them often,
but lets face it , it's a lot easier to get good hits with a scope.;)
 
I shot clays and other reactive objects at about 100 meters and feel comfortable hunting animals at max that distance, a rolling tire now and again to:D, really funny.

early shooting exams for moose hunts is a running moosetarget at 80 meters, one shot standing still then it starts to move and you shot once again, I get all hits most of the time in the heart areas(size of a cd)

but naturally seek support if given the chance and don't have to shot at that distance

slightly over 200 meters is my max on our smallish roe-deer but I'd rather not, support is a given for that range.
 
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