Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Range pad to shoot prone and any tips

I always shoot from a bench at my range but want to learn to shoot prone.

Thought I would start at close range (50 -100 yards ) with a .22 RF.

Can someone suggest a commercially made pad to purchase? Any tips? I have a bipod but never use it on the bench. I guess this is a good time to use it. How about a pack for a front rest?

My old bones are in for a rude awakening but I want to give it a go since I am headed West for Antelope this Fall.

Thanks.

I’ve been using this one for a while now and it’s been great. Get yourself a good rear bag also.
For antelope I would also practice shooting from sitting positions.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/939101910

Just don't buy one with vinyl patches on it. Gets hot in the sun and burns the schidt out of you.

I really like my TAB Gear Pollok as it is super small. Works great over a Thermarest accordion pad.

https://www.tabgear.com/collections/shooting-mats/products/pollok-shooting-mat

I would suggest laying down on the ground assuming there is a spot without thorns.

I have never practiced shooting prone and yet I've shot two animals from that position with no range pad, bipod, etc. Most of the time an animal isn't going to wait around for you to get your range pad, etc. One was a deer I took with one shot from 360 yards with a 22-250. The other was a Wyoming antelope I took from probably 280 yards with a 300 Weatherby Magnum.

One note of caution. I once attempted a prone shot on a groundhog with a Thompson/Center Encore chambered in 25/06 that gave me the worst scope bite of my life and required stitches. The groundhog lived to see another day. The stock design of the Thompson/Center Encore does not lend itself well t prone shooting.

On second thought, though I never specifically practiced for the event, I did shoot some CMP matches with a Garand or an M1A in which some targets were shot from the prone position.

I use the voodoo....

https://www.voodootactical.com/roll-up-shooter-s-mat.html

Is that your spotter?

I use the Midway pad linked in the second post and it works fine. They go on sale a couple of times a year.

To clatify, I will use the pad at the range and not planning to hunt with it.

Suggestions for a good rear bag are appreciated too. Thanks!!

Tag

It helps if the pad has a patch of rubber or something non-slip for you to rest your elbows on. Slipping elbows is death to accuracy.

This works pretty good.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/rangemaxx-shooting-mat-100123255

I ended up getting the one from Midway and like it just fine. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Knee and elbow pads if you are doing a long shooting session!

They are a solid product at a great price (on sale).

If you shoot in the wet a lot, you may want to consider coating the bottom with something, from a tent spray to a vinyl primer paint.




GR

I've used pads, but anymore just throw down a $4 moving blanket from Hazard Fraught. It's plenty big for gear, and keeps dust from getting kicked up on your stuff. If the ground is wet, a tarp goes down first. If it's actually raining, we've got a canopy. This is all for a fixed firing position. Burrs, stickers, and seeds can stick to the blanky, but in general it works well.

If on the move, then no pad, blanky, etc. Just shoot with what's around you.