Always practice from field positions before hunts

[mcseal2]

Just wanted to throw that old reminder out early in hunting season.

I was shooting my new 270 rifle I talked about in the Project Kimberly post Saturday at my gong. I was set up in a favorite field position for longer shots where prone isn't an option at 350yds. I set up my shooting sticks under the front of the gun, and my Eberlestock J34 under my right armpit for added stability. I feel like I can brace on the pack a bit and get fairly steady this way. I missed the 10" gong 4x in a row which is darn unusual. It was pretty windy and I blamed it on that, but knew I wanted to check my zero from the bench.

On the bench earlier today my first shot landed perfect. I thought about what else could have been wrong and I put my hand on top of the scope and added a little down pressure to emulate what the sticks would do. The next shot went high about 4" from where it should have landed and about 2" left. I alternated shots with and without pressure for another 4 rounds and ended up with 2 nice groups, one with down pressure and one without. With moderate downpressure the stock contacts the barrel at the tip of the forend. Problem identified. I don't have time to work on this problem before my Wyoming muley hunt Oct 1, but I have other rifles I can use. I will see what my gunsmith says about stiffening up the stock or further opening the barrel channel. I may see if Manners or one of the similar companies will build a stiffer lightweight stock for my modified Kimber.

Glad this was found and identified before my hunt occurs. I did the same test with my Rifles Inc 300WM from the bench today and did not have any issue. I will be testing it from field positions this weekend to make sure no issues show up there. I'm taking it shooting the 180gr Accubonds, and my old reliable 264WM shooting the 140gr Bergers. I'll let how we end up hunting decide which I carry, there is a 3lb difference in ready to hunt weights between the two.

Don't forget to test any new rifles from the positions you like in the field before hunting season!

 

[Charlie-NY]

From a sitting position while using a tall Harris bi-pod I can knock over a bowling pin sitting on the 300 yd line. Occasional misses happen but this is how I practice for the field and it does build confidence.

Prone is far more stable but in my experience, terrain and/or vegetation always seems to get in the way of shooting from this close to the ground.

 

[Guy Miner]

Good points, and I preach them as well.

Practice! Get off the danged bench and practice! Prone, sitting, kneeling, even squatting (USMC "rice paddy prone") is good to learn, and of course, standing. It makes a difference when in the field, and there's nothing remotely resembling a shooting bench handy.

I took that bear a couple of weeks ago, at 325 yards. Sitting, no support. One shot with the ol' .30-06, after lots of practice with the same rifle & bullet at 300 yards. Same sitting position I've practiced with many times over the year. It works for me.

300 yd practice with the .30-06, standing:


Prone at 300, with the .375 Ruger Number One:


Although I thoroughly enjoy shooting from prone, I don't practice it much anymore. In the field I normally can't use it because of too much intervening grass, brush, logs, etc... Seem to shoot most of my game animals from sitting. Sometimes kneeling or standing, but if I can plop down onto terra firma and get solid, I will.

Regards, Guy

 

[mcseal2]

Good post!

I end up shooting sitting or kneeling most of the time. I have sticks or the Rapid Pivot bipods tall enough for use kneeling too. Our grass is sometimes to high for sitting even so I practice kneeling just as much.

I have some old metal lawn chairs I put in my whitetail blinds too. They have armrests I can brace my elbow against and have my taller bipod on the front of the gun. I can get really steady that way and make solid shots. I don't usually get more that on chance if that at a mature buck, I want it to count. I set my blinds up for 225-250yd shots so I can get in and out of the area easier without spooking the deer by being to close.