Thread: Prone shooting in the field

Hi, I posted a rough outline of shooting technique for the 4 basic positions and use of rests for hunting on this page:
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....86/index2.html

I'd recommend that whatever training you take him through that you try and replicate your hunting conditions as closely as possible. I personally dont train with a rear bag as I never carry one hunting. Prefer to practise with either my hat or jacket. Allows most people to get pretty stable when combined with a bipod even when the heart rate is up.

I use my rear hand solely to manipulate the rear support. I.e squeeze the hat or jacket to either lower or raise my point of aim

Originally Posted by Pete_D

That's what I'm thinking also, I guess prone unsupported is a lot like off-hand, it requires nothing else but you and the rifle and will always work.

@Pete_D I’d say when you have a chance go back and have a really good read of this article!
Especially about the hand sandwich which is where most get caught out...been there got the bloody t shirt.

I use the seated across knees position more than prone. With practice very fast and a bit more height to shoot over vegetation.

One thing to remember is if you are resting on a fence or tree anything for that matter make sure the barrel isn't touching anything. If it is the harmonics in the barrel will be affected and your shots will fly different. I remember my mate once using the spocks on his motorbike as a rest on his 200 yard range on his orchard, he lay down to shoot but the barrel was on the spocks not the forearm and he shot a group a bit like a shotgun pattern. After a bit of head scratching we figured it out and the next group was back to normal. Having something soft to rest on is always a plus imo.

Originally Posted by Mooseman

One thing to remember is if you are resting on a fence or tree anything for that matter make sure the barrel isn't touching anything. If it is the harmonics in the barrel will be affected and your shots will fly different. I remember my mate once using the spocks on his motorbike as a rest on his 200 yard range on his orchard, he lay down to shoot but the barrel was on the spocks not the forearm and he shot a group a bit like a shotgun pattern. After a bit of head scratching we figured it out and the next group was back to normal. Having something soft to rest on is always a plus imo.

Even the stock sideways against a tree will cause vibration and change of impact - so when resting stock forend against side of a tree have your hand in between.

Ryan Cleckner's videos were helpful & informative for me.

Originally Posted by Sasquatch

Ryan Cleckner's videos were helpful & informative for me.

Good Vid, I learnt some really useful points regarding slings.
Again though, proper use of a tree as a rest wasn't fully covered. In my opinion the best way to use a tree is as follows: A right handed shooter shoots on the right side of the tree - this gives visual cover by breaking your body outline and allows a really solid rest. Ok so for RH shooter - With left forearm at 45 degrees to the barrel and a death grip on the fore end, both elbows up, push the back of the wrist hard into the tree trunk with right leg back and straight, push like Richie McCaw locking a scrum. This gives a solid positive hold and imo is vastly better than the finger tip tree truck tickling position off the left side of the tree.