Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Positional Drill "Postal" Match

That's some pretty great positional shooting Pat! I've played around with a pack as a rear support in sitting positions, it seems quite steady. I'd love to get it consistently sub-moa like that.

I find that my offhand results are based on, in order of importance, my state of practice, the quality of the trigger, and the balance. My heavy guns are more "work" to shoot offhand, but I don't find that I shoot them any worse if they still balance alright.

Shot a work gun this time. Annoyingly I produced the same result- 17/20.


Particulars:

Colt M4A1 Block II
Vortex Razor 1-6x (all shots at 6x)
60gr Frangible



All shots made time, 3 misses.


Tot All= 17/20

Same sequence as the first time. Prone is the hardest as the gun/ammo system is 2 MOA and that gives me zero wiggle round room. And I straight hammered the offhand shot during the medley.

Carl, I had the same problems with the sticks. Mine are homemade and needed to be repositioned after every shot. Kind of frustrating and you can see that in my 30-06 targets. I also shoot with elbows on knees to get the best support. I'm also thinking my sticks are still a tad too tall....This isn't a good picture, but it's from the last time I shot this with my 30-06 and 270 fwt:



Crappy pic, but you get the idea... I'd love to shoot my 375 H&H in this event, but don't think I'd make time due to the recoil

Tag....

Back up guys. Carl started this a while back and it's a great shoot. I like to take my "new to me" rifles out and test function and accuracy in different field positions, more like hunting situations. I found out my pre 64 model 70 270 fwt's extractor was bad during one of these shoots. It was dribbling the case out, barely flinging it out of the way of the next cartridge to be loaded. This was over a year ago when I ended up buying a new extractor for the old girl. Today I took my sporterized m1917 out to test some loads and saw that a load I had laying around for my Remington 760 worked quite well, so I figured I'd give the Carl Ross positional match a try. I shoot this every once in a while and figured a few others might like to try it. With the time constraints, it can be damn challenging. Especially if you aren't accustomed to shooting under duress.... Here's what happened today with my other rifles "elk load" and a new rifle. Nothing special, rifle isn't a tack driver (per se) and I'm using the scope (American made Burris FFII 3-9x40 with ballistic plex reticle) that was on my CZ550 American that I sold to Geno (Valsdad) here on the fire. Rifle was glass bedded by yours truly and a Timney sportsman trigger was installed. I also re-contoured and refinished the stock. Bench accuracy of this rifle and load are right around 1.5 moa..:



All shots made time, with 3 misses... 17/20

I figured this would be a great thread to bring back in light of the recent "off hand" shooting threads. This is great practice guys. Play if you want...

I practiced today with my new to me AR. Bump this one up if anyone cares to do a little positional shooting before hunting season....:
Rifle with my crappy homemade shooting sticks. Same one's I've been using for years...



2 misses. All shot within time constraints. Score 18 out of 20:





Still fun practice. I generally try every new rifle on this shoot. I realize this is an old thread Carl started, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we keep it going. No winners or losers, just fun practice....

BSA, this is an old post, but, it's a fun, challenging means of practice. You may have been around long enough to remember the old "Poatal" matches. There were several different types of challenges/competition. An honor system, where we scored our own targets, and trophies and or prizes were given. It was a good time and great methods of practice. I still miss the "Poatal" matches! memtb

That sounds cool buddy. I don't remember those, probably before I joined. I printed a bunch of these targets and they are always kept in my truck, so when I get a new rifle I can try it out. Generally I can tell a lot by a rifle's fit and feel after shooting a few offhand targets. This positional shooting has always been fun and challenging to me. Glad Carl started this. The other shoots you mention would also be cool if we could start doing those again. It sure was a kick in the pants yesterday, shooting my new AR. I don't think I've ever gone through that much ammo with one rifle during a range session. Now I need to go out in the shop and load up some more...

Excellent drill. I started using this as the baseline to teach new hunters. Have gotten great results. So good in fact, that this drill has been added to the shooting tests that are used at work.

That's cool Formid. I'm glad I'm not the only one that likes the hell out of this one...

BSA, Just do a search from about 15 years ago. Look for "Poatal" match. The idea and spelling was originated by our friend JJHack! We had some really good shoots back in the day!!

Tag

Trying this next time out.

Glad to see this is still getting some use!

I shot it pretty often until I switched "home" range facilities. Now 100 yard paper is inconvenient, and steel to 1400 IS convenient, which has led to me not shooting this drill in a while (or much paper at all really). I ought to print it out and run it a couple of times for comparison for how I used to do next time I do a range day.

I do practice a modified version with the same concepts for dry fire a lot, using my match rifle and a bit smaller aiming points. 2 or 3 rounds each from standing, kneeling, siting, and prone unsupported. 5-4-3-2 moa for the aim points, 90-120 seconds. Was rewarded at the last big match I shot with a stage set up almost EXACTLY how I run my drill, tied on the high score for that stage with a couple other guys.

It's a fun drill wareagle. The way I see it is, it is excellent practice that gets me ready for hunting season. There's more to shooting than just off the bench (as you know). I love punching paper and doing this positional shooting, it gives me more confidence when the time comes to pulling the trigger on a critter.

Printed up the targets. This 100 degree heat can't last forever. Someday I will go to the range again.

I will never live down that misspelling! My goodness that's back when the origin of the internet began.

It's a kind of haunting ( although kind as it was )name for these matches now!

JJHACK, You need to start another one up. We have automatic spell check now days to help you out buddy... Now we just need help with our shooting... Ha ha....

Some of the "old-timers" on 24hourcampfire.com remember that typo with a smile -- you were a great sport (and you still are)!

Just for posterity, here is the link to the thread where you posted the final rules: The Birth of the Poatal Match MEME

John