Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Offhand shooting

I see lots of wood/blue in those photos.....Nice.

I've never been a 1 trick pony, regardless of what many may think.

Besides, a Ruger 77 was my only rifle for many a years. Barrel rusted out towards the muzzle and stock cracked in 2 places.

Gotta love it.

twenty five yard "finisher" 416 Rigby. (Initial shot at 40 yards by my friend off sticks)

[img]http://lavikinga.com/jorge/Zimbabwe/CD1A.cfm[/img]

~ seventy yards whilst on a l-r "trot" and in low light (scope cut the ol' schnazz)

[img]http://lavikinga.com/jorge/Zimbabwe/CD2.cfm[/img]

Not counting Namibia where all my game shots were offhand facilitated by shooting sticks, in my case a 5' tall tripod, this is the only true offhand game shot I can remember, taken without other support. I invariably hunt the plains, or open mountain areas where game is usually not close so there is no need for a true offhand shot. A rest, any rest, or a bipod can be used without risking a bad outcome.

This was an Idaho bull in the predawn grey at about a hundred and fifty yards and as I was up to my armpits in ferns and the bull was almost broadside and at ease I went for it.

Me too, and I love to use old iron...

Does this count?

There was the time when the first shot on a hard quartering at around 30 or so went too far left. Offhand it was. The Doe took off running, (correction) her front right dangling, and picked my point on the compass to run to. She recognized me at-well it was getting close-and made a leap which I'm not sure would have cleared my head. Second shot was from the hip and she crashed at my feet. Never did practice for that one.

Another thing to consider is game rarely stands perfectly still and waits while you get down in position or scramble for a rest, or is moving past/away from you to begin with. I'll take a step and lean into a tree or something to steady my aim, if circumstances allow, but more often than not- here in the Eastern woodlands- it's an offhand shot right now or not at all.

I have a lot more respect for a rifleman who can hit a paper plate every time offhand at 100-200 yards than the guy who can produce ½" groups off the bench but can't hit the berm when shooting off his hind legs.

I bet you did. Who, as a kid, never practiced emulating Chuck Connors, "The Rifleman"?

RE moving animals, I will not fire at them. Just my choice, but it sure seems like a few folks out there are good at it. And thats great!

My theory though, is for the way and places we hunt, it rarely takes moer than a few seconds to grab some kind of rest, and I'll do that every time. Even if it costs me the game.

Just a different way, but if you practice for getting a rest as another poster noted, then its second nature and quick.

Of course I rarely shoot an animal unless bow or my old war musket, thats close. Generally all my shots are around 175 and further out, its mostly due to where and how I choose to hunt. Pretty common to take at least a couple of shots at 300-350 on a particular trail. While I'm pretty sure I could do that offhand on a good day on our deer, Its much more reliable to get a rest. And since I won't shoot unless I"m 200% sure, its about the only way I do it these days.

Alaska fall hunting is a bit different at times and I"ve made a few quick moose shots around 125-150 off hand with zero other rests around. But they are not small and standing still...

I didn't mean to imply that my shots were offhand. My point was that even though I practice it, I rarely use it. Sitting here thinking about it the only truly offhand shot that comes to mind was a small muley buck at about 75yds while I was still hunting a river bottom. 100gr interlock from my Ruger 77 250 savage. Deer was facing me pretty close to straight on. Bullet entered just below the chin a few inches and followed the spine on back a bit.
Ruined about 4 inches of backstrap.

Scott

I failed to notice your pics earlier. Besides nice shooting and irons as always, I really enjoy the mix of stuff you use. I figured I was kinda weird for using anything from a home made recurve to a crossbow to a civil war musket all the way to a Mc stocked custom rifle.

Those blacktails sure always make me want to go back. Hopefully in less than 5 years that will happen, and I can figure a way to hunt them every fall. If nothing else hopefully can drive to Valdez and make somethign work out of there!

If you do all your pre-season shooting from a bench rest, be sure to take a bench rest with you when you go hunting.

I don't consider shooting from a bench to be practice for hunting. I shoot a scoped air gun in my basement regularly and practice offhand, kneeling and sitting at the range, mostly with a .22.

I rarely shoot offhand when hunting though, except in the thick stuff, and when I'm in open country I usually carry shooting sticks.

shrapnel

I was thinking the same thing of the gopher shooting about a 1/2 hr ago. Shot 15, most unsupported. One on the run. I am getting better since I have lots of practice lately.

That is the truth too! I was at our local range and an old timer was hitting a 5-inch plate at 220 yards shooting off hand with Winchester M70. 3 out of 3 was the norm. My barrel is waving all over the place with off hand range shooting.

What is the secret to better off-hand shooting?

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Actually I found to start squeezing the trigger as soon as its on target. Sure its gonna wobble around while you're doing it, but eventually, with practice, the wobble gets smaller.

Holding your breath and or position waiting for it all to get better NEVER works.

1) Knowing how to mount a rifle. Lots of guys FIND game/target in the scope, WRONG way to do things.

2) As Ingwe said, quick is best. You can't be standing there for 10 seconds (see #1). You don't have to be quick draw, bring rifle up, find the spot (you should be close if you know how to mount a rifle) and shoot.

3) A good trigger HELPS much

4) I prefer a rifle with a little weight out front, or at least neutrally balanced. A butt heavy gun sucks for offhand.

And yea, practice. It's an odd day when I don't sling a magazine of ammo through an open sighted 22 off the back deck or a pellet gun.