Thread: Offhand

Hey Guys (and Gals)

What sort of range can you reliably place shots on rabbits and hares - standing or offhand without a rest (I got a bit of a hard time from the two young people I took hunting this evening after missing two at around 60M, one was a ranged shot so I'm sure it was a true 60M). Usually I can get them pretty consistently to 40-50M but is that good, bad, average or just indifferent . . . .

I did shoot one at just on 65M offhand today but thats really as far as I'll try and I was as surprised as them to get it!

I think that is very good. I don't even try unless very short range, i.e. <25 metres. For the rest, I use full length shooting sticks, or put my rifle on backpack.

pretty good shooting. what was there shooting like.
when they get to our age. they won't be any better assuming were are still allowed to own guns

I couldn't hit a rabbit at 60m with a rest! To be fair I couldn't hit the side of a barn, from the inside.

Depends on rifle/scope I'm using, 60m is a fair way offhand for bunnies.

Sometimes you cannot miss, other times cannot hit. Personally I think it is more about how often you practice that sort of shot WITH THE SETUP YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO SHOOT OFFHAND.

P.s not "yelling" just capitalized for effect.

40m on a good day

What was the winning off hand shot at the last Toby shoot 300....something

Originally Posted by Sideshow

What was the winning off hand shot at the last Toby shoot 300....something

There is a specific off hand shoot for a trophy at the Toby shoot and the target is set at three hundred. The shoot takes the form of a hit gets you through to the next round and a miss sees you eliminated. Last year, the winner and runner up were neck and neck across the first four rounds and then both missed on the fifth round and then one of them got a fifth hit on the sixth round. It sorts the men out from the boys and last year there were many of us that were barely out of nappies on the first round.

This thread upsets me. Mainly because I would never shoot off hand past 40m. I have had a policy since I was a kid that you lose more game missing than you do sitting down. I can shoot respectably off my knees.

This was till I got an AR15. Suddenly I was a crack shot (relatively speaking) offhand, at least briefly, till the government stole it under false pretenses. I would routinely surprise myself to 75m.

I guess I need to practice.

Consistenly shooting rabbits off hand at 50 metres is very good especially if you can place the shot well each time.
For most shooters, if you want to be a good shot you have to be shooting alot whether its on game or targets.
Also a rifle that fits you well and sits in a well balanced manner with a good trigger means alot to ensure good shooting.

Used to be pretty sharp 50 m 1/2 grown rabbits when doing it a lot.
pub competitions use brno the stock shape is good for offhand.
Practice is still the key.
Still shoot muttons 20-30 meters offhand.

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Year have to agree practise is key. I’m not saying go out and shoot at animals at 300 off hand. 25 meters is my self imposed limit on deer.

larger animals 100yards...not too hard but will take a rest whenever posible
rabbits are hard enough to hit a 40 yards standing using a rest with a .22lr ,funny thing is I can hit 99% of rabbits at this range 99% of the time consistantly even if they are on the move its all about the gun and a .12ga with a load of #3s is prety darn effective at that range (and a fair bit further too) one spot I hunt once the grass starts to grow you get glimpse of arse or ears as they bolt and thats it.......the rifle is practically useless and the shottie really starts to shine.

50-60 metres on rabbits, out to 150 on deer etc. Consistent offhand shooting is a technique that takes time to develop, involving stance, breathing, and trigger control. Ping-pong balls with an air rifle out to about 25 metres is good practice. You are wasting time and ammo to try offhand shooting with a poor trigger. You need a clean break at exactly the right time to get results. Nobody can hold a rifle still offhand, experience, breathing and trigger control is the secret.

Practice is right - I like the air-rifle idea, that combined with a good trigger (I usually shoot with a Winchester M52 with the "micro-motion" trigger, its pretty good) is just what the Dr ordered (pun intended).

Now what is a modestly priced air-rifle with a trigger that can be made really "good"??