Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles More shooting from field positions... Kimber 7-08

A follow-up to an earlier post about shooting off a pack at 490. This time at different distances and less stable rests. Here's the original post from last week: Shooting from backpack

Same rifle, same scope, same load. Here's 190 yards from a seated position. Seated with elbows on knees, scope at 6x.

I held with the reticle dead-on, figuring that POI would be higher than POA. Data indicated that it should have been 3.5" low.

Wouldn't mind hearing thoughts and feedback from those who practice field positions. It'd be nice to get an idea of realistic expectations.

I'm a hell of a lot more comfy shooting from prone. Shot unsupported with elbows in the dirt at 190 yards. This time I held 0.5 mil high.

Next, I shot kneeling at 190 yards. This time with scope on 5x. Also held high 0.5 mils which should have had POA intersect POI, but you can see I was low.

Goal is to be in the color, so some work needed here.

Last position attempted at 190 yards... this time offhand. No shots connected. I'd have been thrilled hitting anywhere on that 12"x12" plate, but no such luck.

Moved to 304 yards. First group shot from prone, unsupported, with elbows in the dirt.

Still at 304 yards, but switched to the tripod. Elbows on the knees. You can see my wind call was off.

Next range distance was 410 yards. First attempt was unsupported prone. I shot 3 times and only connected once. Tough with no front rest. I didn't bother to re-paint the target and moved-on to the tripod so there are other impacts on the steel in the pic below.

Went back to the tripod for 410 yards. Elbows on the knees.

Need some work at this distance. I think shooting off the pack would have been a slam dunk.

Last one...

Shot at 490 yards using the tripod. I've shot here a fair amount from solid rests. Unlike the previous posts in this thread with the tripod, I shot with a bag between my lap and my elbows. It felt pretty dang solid, and I was expecting better performance at 490 than what I got. At this distance shooting off a pack is tough to beat, for me.

I think you're doing pretty good!

M.O.E.(minute of elk) at 490. With a fly weight rig to boot. Pretty sweet.

What is he black tape on the barrel for?

Right on man! Good shooting. That little one inch triangle from unsupported prone is pretty impressive.

I'm really impressed too. Nice shooting.

Good shooting as far as I'm concerned. Is that an SWFA SS scope?

Your idea of shooting appeals to me a lot more than pics of tiny groups with a dime or quarter laid beside them.

What you are doing is the right way to judge both rifle and skill level. You seem to be doing well on both counts...

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I find that the black tape works as well as blue tape under most conditions, and it does blend in a little bit better with the gray stock and blued metal.

As for the extra wrap? That just follows the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared".

I think you are doing quite well with a lightweight rifle. While I am no turret twister,
I do work out my "drops" to 400. Informal "range work" like you are doing will give you valued experience for the hunting season.

Thanks for the comments fellas. I wouldn't mind seeing how other people shoot for practice. Positions, aids, expectations, etc.

I ran the bolt hard and fast so was chasing brass all over the place. I hustled to set up, and even this little amount of activity got my heart rate and nerves up. Nothing like chasing a critter up a hillside though. Maybe add jumping jacks next time?

We've got an 8x10 steel target at ~600. Next time, I'll see how the Kimber does off the pack. Wind can be tricky though. It was all over the place yesterday and coming from a direction I'd never witnessed before.

For reference, the pics below show 490 off my pack. This would be my preferred way to shoot but the point of all this was to figure out what positions work for different distances and scenarios, while keeping set-up time in mind. I could see a situation where a critter trots away while I'm fiddling with my pack as a rest.