Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns sighting in a .44

When sighting in a SRH .44 mag or SBH Hunter, should the barrel be rested on a rolled up blanket, or if using shooting sticks,the barrel is not rested on the sticks, I'm having trouble sighting these in. The SRH has iron sights, and a red dot on the SBH Hunter.

What range are you shooting it at?



Travis

I rest my forearms on sandbags, leaving the gun and my hands free with a two handed grip. And don't let the gun butt hit anything during recoil. Just the way I do it; I'm sure others have different methods.

started at 25 yds, went out to 50 yrds. Should one rest the forearms on the rest or the wrists, or does it make a difference?

Same here. For my hunting guns I zero at 50 yards.

If I'm using a revolver and a rest, for the initial sight in I let the gun rest on the frame in front of the trigger guard. The gun needs to be able to recoil free of the rest without encountering anything to impede it. Once I'm on paper and know my groups are good, I shoot from hunting positions. No rest, other than my knees or sticks. With my knees, my forearms are supported. With sticks, the frame in front of the trigger guard.

If your wrists are on the bag, recoil will cause the butt of the gun to hit the bag.

I'd just shoot it strong side barricade but if you are using a rest I just rest my arms and not the handgun.



Travis

I do similar, but I rest the wrist/forearm of my strong hand on sticks instead of the gun. It is easier to keep it all together and there is no change in POI as the gun is held the same as when shooting off-hand.

Thanks, your replies help a lot

RJM and I hold our guns the same way. As they say about pictures and words...

Here is RJM on the porch, shooting at a metal gong on the other side of my 100 yard rifle sight in target:




Using the insides of the knees minimizes both the natural wobble, but also alleviates fatigue that one gets after X amount of rounds. It really is a great position for both sighting in and practical field usage.

Here is a pic of me that RJM took. This hold is a variation of sorts. I am locking my forearms in a steady resting position, getting a steady sight picture.

The bonus here is that this allows the gun to recoil in a similar manner as if I were shooting in a standing, two handed unsupported position.

Each place you sit you will have to make some minor adjustments for your environment/obstacles, what you have to lean against, etc.

The white dot in the picture is the target.

IIRC that is Elmer Keith's recommended position for long range handgunning - back braced against something, both forearms/wrists braced either on the knees or clamped between them.

That's an interesting position, Mackay, Are the knees pressing against the hands, or the wrists? Thanks for all the replies. It's beem really interesting and informative.

Mackay,

Is Bob shooting SA, or did you just snap the pic mid-trigger pull?

I start off hand at 25 yards and go to the rest later. Shooting off a bench rest screws up my groups, but I can usually do ok there. Mackay's position would work better than a rest.

Wow, good eyes!

I sight in my 44 mag the same way, it works well for me.

Jim,

You are right. The position is most often associated with good old Elmer. I know I think of him first (and his almost trademark hat and cigar) when I visualize the position.

That being said, I am willing to bet that since there is really very little new under the sun that he was not the first to use it.

I can easily imagine some kid from Georgia in a grey uniform coat, with an 1851 .36 Navy braced between his legs getting in some long range practice or trying to kill something at extended distance for food or other reasons,years before Elmer came on to the scene.

Keith certainly brought it to many people's attention through his writings though, and it is a great field shooting position.

GRIN!!

I don't know if RJM knows that his N frame can be shot single action!

I just got the shot at that moment. I think I was trying for when the round actually fires, but I had a premature ummm..

Never mind, Travis would not be able to resist if I went down that road!