Steadying your rifle?

M

murphjup

New member
Well, I'm a relatively new hunter, Only within the past year... so I am wondering how everyone steady's their rifle for shots in the field??

Do you all just hold them? Brace against something? Bipod? Carry a stick?

Any ideas for steadying your rifle on longer shots would be appreciated?

Thank you in advance.

:)
 
Depends on you and whats most comfortable. If you can get your hands on a bipod and some other options at the range and try them out, you can decided what you like best.

Still prefer the good ole prone supported, but im also used to mountains with ridgelines, rocks and hills which are conducive to it.
 
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I use an eastman outfitters collapsable bipod. It carries easily and can strap to my backpack for long hauls.
 
most of my shots are pretty close range. i wrap the sling around the back of my left elbow and that 1) keeps the sling from swinging around and 2) helps steady my shot. This is for when im walking around. Otherwise i tend to set up somewhere where i have a solid rest.
 
I think you are asking a great question. Taking shots of any distance without a rest is generally a bad idea but it doesn't take much to help considerably. A lot of things depend on what style of hunting I'm doing. Even the use of slings and learning to drop to a kneeling position when ever game is spotted are good things.

My coyote/fox gun wears a Harris bipod. I really like it but other predator hunters (a majority I'd say) prefer a pair of shoting sticks instead. A big plus is shooting sticks are usually free and easily detachable. I use a set of crossed alum arrows.

With my deer guns I use what ever is available. When sitting on stand I use trees and fences. When I'm on a slow strol thru the woods (still hunting) I try to make sure my frequent stops are next to an available rest like a tree.

My small game guns don't have anything either. If I can I use a rest I do but many of my shots are close range and running. The only things that help here is a sling and lots and lots of practice.
 
Even at cloose range if I can get a rest I will use it. Whether it's my stand or a tree when I'm on the ground I know I can not shoot near as well without it.

In fact for years we hunted deer on Cumberland Island Ga. where they had some unusual rules. During the muzzle loading hunts you could use modern pistols. Don't know how they came up with that but they did. And sense I had access to first my dad's .44 Ruger we just went with that.

Took only a couple of trips to the range to come to the conclusion that I had no business trying to take a animal offhand with a pistol. For the next 20 years or so, even after the Ruger was replaced with a TC Contender, I would cut a small hickory sapling to cary and use as a rest. Left a couple of short pieces of twig on it a different hights to make it work better. Shot a bunch of hogs and deer with that set up. Even got in the habit of carrying it when I had my rifle. Helped there too.

Don't let anyone tell you it's a sign of incompetence with you gun to have to carry a prop. Fact is it's both a admission of the obvious and it also demonstrates that you do not want to wound and lose a animal, something all ethical hunters work to accomplish.
 
If given the opportunity, I will take a supported shot from any kind of stable rest as it improves my shot placement. Although I can shoot offhand and have taken game with offhanded shots (and maybe a couple underhanded :p) its just personal preference for me. Some of my "rests" included logs, barbwire fence, backpacks, fanny packs, tail gates, tree limbs, gates, bi-pods, chairs, window sills, etc.
 
I like the NRA-match sitting position if I have a few seconds to get into it. Can't do kneeling anymore, my knees won't tolerate it.
 
Steady rest is obviously the best. If you can get tree stands with a brace of some kind, or use hard-sides (like burying pallets sideways) for your blinds, you'll be in good shape when you're holding still.

Offhand anything is tough at any range. Most of the deer I've taken offhand have been because they weren't moving much and I had all day to steady. My offhand shots have been seated, ground and tree stand, or kneeling when on the move.

I put a bipod on my primary rifle which was great at the range, but 6-9" proved too short to be much use on the hilly terrain I hunted this last fall. I took a prone position in a hilltop field with the bipod at 9" and it still wasn't quite high enough, deer saw me fussing with it and booked.

Monopod shooting stick has been a help. It's sort of clumsy to keep out at all times - I usually strap it to my pack because you obviously want your hands on your firearm, not an accessory. Even when it's out, you probably don't want to be carrying it extended as it will snag everything (I usually shoot mine from kneeling-height) and it takes time to adjust to the proper height. However, if you have the time to set up a shot, it is definitely an improvement over offhand if you can't find another expedient rest. Also good for if you've spontaneously picked a new site and want a rest of some sort while your back's up against the tree. It's not a cure-all, as you'll still be surprised at how much wobble remains, but it's definitely a help.
 
A makeshif rest is good. Just remember that only your hand touches the rest, and the only thing your rifle touches is your hand. Placing your rifle, for example, on a tree limb can change the impact point.

Using a fore end rest that's not hard may not change the impact, such as sighting in, or using shooting sticks, but it's up to you to see if there's a difference.

Learn to use a sling. Remember that bone never touches bone--such as elbow on knee cap.

Be careful of bipods. Especially if the bipod screw contacts the bbl!
Make sure you're aware of any impact changes using bipod, as opposed to not.
 
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Trees, rocks, prone position (if possible), sitting with the rifle on your knees, hill sides, embankments... the list goes on. Anything that can help steady your body, if not the rifle, still makes a difference.

I am usually found in a kneeling-supported position, just before I fire. It's quick to get into, and steadies me up enough to make an improvement.
 
Personally, I prefer to use terrain/vegetation for rests. Carrying a rest with you is just one more thing you have to tote around. I do prefer to shoot with a rest instead of offhand, however, particularly past 100 yards (if it's within 100 yards, it's toast, even offhand...past that, not so much).
 
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Remember that bone never touches bone--such as elbow on knee cap.

That's a new one on me. I've always heard/seen/read/been taught/experienced exactly the reverse...
Click to expand...

Basic marksmanship principle. The Army has taught it for many years (at least they did when marksmanship was any kind of priority).

When bone touches bone it wobbles and isn't steady. Put the fleshy part near the elbow on the kneecap. Or put the actual elbow bone on the fleshy part near the kneecap. Don't put elbow bone on kneecap bone. Unless you like your DI yelling at you and making you do pushups, as well as missing the target.:D

Only applies to sitting or kneeling, of course, but you can demonstrate it to yourself to see which is steadier. Rub an inch or so behind the elbow in a circular motion. Now rub the bone. Now you got it!
 
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For long range, I use a Harris bi-pod on my Savage 7mm Rem Mag. A bipod isn't perfect, but they do really help on long shots. For close shots, I tend to sit and use my elbow and knee as a brace. I've also shot prone using the ground as a brace.
 
I always carry a walking staff to provide a 'rest' of sorts if a leaning rest cannot be taken against a tree or rest against some other object.
if I anticiapte shooting at moveing game I carry my shotty.
 
Being in the heart of fire ant country (DIXIE), I rarely consider a seated, kneeling or prone position.
Given a nearby steady rest like a wood fence post, crook of a limb I will pounce on it every time. I am fair at off hand shooting/hunting. Off hand is preferred for many hunting opportunities as you have minimal body movement for maximum barrel travel and speed...
I have pinned my stock on a tree trunk for long-ish 100-200 yard shots before.
Brent
 
How to steady a rifle:

No question that some kind of rest or brace will improve your hunting shots. If you can use a tree or other bracing device you will make more consistent shot placements.
My choice is the BOG-POD. It is really a great rest and is a tri-pod. Very sold and adjustable and has a swivel v-top for any side to side adjustments, etc. You won't be sorry choosing this one I promise you.
 
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