Why am I the only one standing up at the range?

Benchrest is fine for testing the accuracy potential of a particular rifle-load combination in a hunting gun and for sighting in. Too many hunters go to the range once or twice before the hunting season and sight-in their gun from the bench. They never practice offhand and wonder why they miss when shooting at game. In my hunting experience most shots are close(under a 100 yards and require a fast response). You need to practice offhand if for no other reason to show respect for the game animal you are shooting at. You want to put it down with one well placed shot to minimize suffering.
 
Benchrest has its place, as does offhand. Sight in for benchrest, but shoot offhand when getting ready to take to the field. Cooper's book The Art of the Rifle is an excellant source for learning from (if you can't get a coach or instructor).

I practice it, but with a .22 at clay pigeons (stationary) at 25 yards. The only other time I regularly shoot offhand is at Running Deer or blackpowder.
 
Q-Man, check out http://www.jarheadtop.com , very good and inexpensive. More geared to highpower(service rifle) shooting positons, using a sling. Developing a solid position will increase your score and size of the freezer. In rapid fire sitting and prone positions you have to go to your position from standing after the clock has started, firing 10 shots in 60 and 70 seconds respectivly.

Brian
 
the range that i go to only allows bench shooting. i suppose that you could shoot fomr lying down but thats it. There are blocks f plywood in wach stall taht prevent you from standing up. This comes from a neighborhood that is on the other side of a rather large hill and about 5 miles away. They were complaining that bullets had danger of gong through or over the berm and over the hill (which is almost a mountain)and reaching their neighborhood. SO instead of being shutdown teh range put in these blocks and only allow 100yrd shooting on bench. This range has been there for over 50 years and some people who built there houses down the road strted complaining about the noise. they are really off the main road and it pisses me off that they almost have my range shutdown form bad press and a lawsuit.
 
Great post. A couple months ago I got off the bench and started shooting off-hand, 50 yards, with a .22 bolt action. I was pleased that I could keep almost all shots in a 5 inch circle at 50 yards. Then I realized I really need to get better -- I need to push that to a 5 inch circle at 100 yards. Once I master the .22 I am going to start with my 7x57.

I have seen a fair number of shooters shooting off hand. They tend to be the home defense types, working out with their AR-15s.

[Edited by Dogger on 03-13-2001 at 09:48 AM]
 
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