Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Field Accuracy - practice vs equipment

I've analysed my field shooting performance and have decided I don't need to shoot further, just more accurately and more consistantly at the ranges I currently shoot at. In effect I need to be able to shoot slightly better than 1.5moa out to 275yards. The positions I use are from a stand with a shooting rail, prone over pack, kneeling with sticks and elbow on knee or pack very occasionally sitting and standing with sticks and elbow supported or unsupported. I use cross or quad sticks and I'm much more fussy about shot angles and placement.

I now almost exclusively hunt with a supressed stainless sporter M700 in a Macmillan mountain stock with a minimum of 8x50mm scope in low 30mm talley rings with accurate and quite flat shooting loads (243 and 7-08). I don't use turrets but aim off.

In effect I need to move from killing to specific bullet placement. I've started carrying my range finder in my pocket instead of my pack and have memorised my drops better.

My friends are of the opinion that I should consider turrets and/or a more vertical grip stock with adjustable cheek piece.

I don't think I have an issue with cheek weld. I have a long jaw which seems to me to sit well and repeatably on the stock. I would like a more vertical grip but not necessarily enough to spend on a game scout at this point.

I don't like the idea of turrets because my rifle is pretty flat shooting and I often shoot multiples where deer run about and stop momentarily at varying ranges. I would consider a TDS system but all now seem to be on second focal plane scopes which I cannot operate.

So the plan is - greater accuracy in ranging and matching drops to range and to practice more with what I have.

Unless you tell me a game scout/warden and PMII will magically improve my shooting

1.5 MOA to 275 yds should be pretty easy to achieve with just about any quality setup from the prone.

If you want to be a good shot, shoot offhand all the time. If you want to know how far away you can kill a deer, shoot milk jug size targets in all conditions and from a variety of positions.

No need for new equipment, simply get out there and practice from field positions.

Depending on what game you're hunting, the milk jug sized targets Travis mentioned should suffice. Paper plates also make for good deer vital zone sized targets.

Introduce some stress to your practice, whether via timer or exercising to get your heart rate up to simulate the pressure of a hunt, especially if you're mobile and may have a higher than resting heart rate due to climbing a hill or whatever.

Practice getting into position, finding the target in the scope, and making the shot quickly. I've seen more missed shot opportunities due to these problems than anything else.

Practice figuring out ranges without a rangefinder. They are a handy tool when you have time, but they do waste a lot of time that could be spent making the shot, especially on skittish game at relatively close ranges where a MPBR zero negates the need for a rangefinder...just point and shoot.

Zero your rifle to where there's no need for any hold over out to 275 yards. Should be very doable, given the right loads, and depending on target size.

The big thing is to just get out and shoot. Instead of spending money on a new stock, spend it on ammo. Shoot that ammo up in practice, and you'll be ready for the hunt! Plus you'll show up your buddies who think you need new gear.

I use gallon jugs filled with water and shoot of bipod shooting sticks. The max I've shot with this is 375 yards. It works. A 12" paper plate is also a good tool. If you can put three shots into it, you should ge good to go for most practical hunting applications.

I have steel plated out to five hundred yards from my stand. I practice shooting them. They are 2 feet square with a 10”” orange circle painted in the middle. I like the sound it makes when you hit metal!

Start here: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Rifle-Jeff-Cooper/dp/1581605927


Okie John

Stalk and spot rock chucks all spring. Has been the preferred training method for generations around here.

We shoot pigs every time we go to lease. They are great for practice and for trying different bullets.

Maybe I've not been clear. I have absolutely no problem killing deer at decent ranges and frequently. I do it just about every day (365 day season)

But our deer are small - think coyote size for roe and large fox for our little muntjac. The issue I have is too often hitting vitals that end up increasing damage to the carcass ie too close to the backstraps, occasionally the liver (and hence gut content contamination) and shoulders. So I need to be able to hit 3-4". I'm never going to shoot offhand and I'm very unlikely to take a rushed shot because I'll get another chance to make a considered shot and even if I don't I'll come back tomorrow.

I'll rephrase. Are raised cheek pieces, vertical grips, turrets etc an aid for precision field shooting on live game?

If you dont have a problem with cheek weld, why mess with the stock? I cant comment on vertical grips but in your first post you said you hold off. For precise shot placement, a scope with turrets and consistent accurate adjustments is better than holding off.

For the distances you cite the question of first vs second focal plane is moot since a straight 6x with a hashmark reticle will easily get it done.

It sounds like you have quality equipment already, but is it possible your rifle could benefit from a trigger job?

Just a tiny bit of creep or a too-heavy letoff will jiggle your shot to the point that 1 1/2" per 100 yards will be VERY difficult to achieve in field positions.

Other than that, I would grab a very accurate .22 rifle that is the same size/type as your hunting rifle, do some fairly extensive shooting at 50-100 yards with the sticks and see if your accuracy improves. Perhaps you're reacting to recoil or muzzle blast in a negative way.

Do you wear hearing protection when you hunt?

For 500 yards and in I'd be thinking around the size of a clay target, or at max 12x12 inch, 24 inches is a HUGE target for scoped deer rifle IMHO.

A rangefinder and turrets will definitely aid precision...especially in the cases you're mentioning. Hold off is fine for a big kill zone, but the narrower that kill zone the more precise you need to be, so don't be forced to hold off, know exactly where the bullet will strike.

Yes

You need to enter the dink contest.

Nothing is as valuable as quality disciplined trigger time—practice, practice, practice.

If your max is 275 I don't think a turret would help. Laser RF and a drop chart at 25 yard intervals, then practice.





P

Either posters aren’t reading what he’s doing, or don’t understand what he’s asking. Milk jugs aren’t going to help him.







Yes. Regardless of the distance, the target size that you are trying to hit puts you squarely into “precision rifle” realm. Vertical grips, adjustable stocks, mil reticles and turrets, and FFP will all help in precision shooting. I would even look into a full up chassis.

What 8x56mm scope are you using?

Curious as to why such big cartridges for that size game? They’re not helping in the precision or meat damage departments.

Thanks - very helpful.

Hunting areas have a mix of game so 243 for use on tiny muntjac because its the legal minimum for roe. 7-08 for fallow and also reds which can be very large ie verging on cow Elk. Generally all works well except where roe and reds coexist, then it's either big holes in roe or pass on anything other than perfect presentation for Reds.

Scope is a swaro pf 8x50