Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Mystery revealed after 25 years

Some 25 years ago, I missed a Moose which was facing me at 100yard with 3 shots from my 338wm. I had use a tree as a rest, and fired each shot directly into his chest, dead center bull. After each shot the bull was still standing. On the third shot he headed back in the bush. I found only hair which had been shaved off it's right side where he had been standing. The rifle was checked for accuracy it was dead on, The rifle had a solid rest there was no flinch or buck fever. In my mind each one of those shots should have killed the moose dead. This summer while reading John Tayor's book on African Rifles and Cartridges, I finally found the answer. By holding the rifle solid against the tree for a good support the recoil caused my shots to shift to the right, the unsupported side. I should of had my hand between the rifle and the tree to give it a cushioned support. Thanks John for answering something that tormented me for 25 yrs. Just thought this was something I should share.

If you held the barrel against the tree it could cause an issue.

But if you held the stock against the tree, and the rifle had a free floated barrel, I don't see where it cause enough difference to make you miss at 100 yards.

Holding the side of the forearm against something solid will make the rifle jump off away from the object. I missed a deer at about 150 yds for the same reason. But it only took one shot to figure it out

One of the very first things my dad taught me about shooting was to always have my hand between the tree and the stock.

That's interesting. I've killed a lot of game exactly as you described. Did your rifle have a free floated barrel, or were you using something like a Winchester 94?

A Win 94 in .338 Win Mag would be cool...

have had it happen as well.

Missed a cow elk at less than 100 yards for the same reason, stock resting on a rock, shot way over.

Weatherby Mark V .270 Weatherby Magnum. Had a couple of steps screwed into the tree my stand was in to use as rifle rests. I had my hand under the forearm but it was touching on the right side. It was very obvious when it bounced out. I found a trench plowed out by the bullet a good foot and a half from where I was holding.

I know you figured that out before 25 years passed . . . right?

Yup, you can even see it with a .22lr if you watch closely.

That was one of the first things my Dad taught me when he was teaching me to hunt.

Ed

missed the biggest buck i'd ever seen, using a fence post for a rest.

I know some folks that can't hit a train engine....shooting offhand....OR SUPPORTED!!

I recently bought two remington model sevens -308win & 260rem - and an XP-100 7br .
Having been use to varmint rifles and standard remington 700's w/ 24" barrels these little buggers confused me --shoot two good shots -take a good look -all good -shooting position obviously changed -big time flier on third round.
Like some bench rest shooter said --you can fall off the bench when the shot breaks --you just have to do it the same exact way each time.

Never heard anything like this before. Don't shoot against trees and fence posts I guess. Weird.

With a 3338 mag the recoil forces are so harsh that free floating alone will not make much difference. The whole damn package is moving when you touch that monster off and the forces have to go somewhere! Lock into something solid on just one side and the recoil will be diverted in the other direction.

Oddly, the low recoil 30-30 might not have the same problem to the same degree.

1B

I have had it happen when resting the forend on a rock.

I've always taught my son that very same thing.. Last time I had to use that technique I dropped a big doe at about 180 yards with my .264WM..

I never let the rifle alone rest against a tree..

The more recoil, the more pronounced the effect.

It will even make auto rifles malfunction.