Thread: Simple practice shooting question

I'm just getting back into shooting with the aim of hunting, and wondering about range practice. This probably has a very intuitive simple answer, but I want to check I'm not being daft.

If I'm shooting a rimfire .22 on the range, and shooting a higher calibre on a hunt, I'm still going to benefit from range practice with a .22 right? I know handling and recoil are different, but cost of shooting tens of .22 vs anything centrefire is so much less which is why I'm considering this. Of course I'd shoot with centrefire at range too, but likely 80/20 split to save some $.

So is it worth me using a .22 for practice, or should I just bite the bullet so to speak, and shoot centrefire at distance on range repeatedly?

New to hunting so I'm all ears to any advice and opinions.

definately...100% valuable..trigger control,breathing,hold,are all the same....and believe it or not a .22lr does recoil a LITTLE so a firm hold helps too..if you dont believe me on the recoil,hold but plate against chin and fire round LOL.

Practice with a 22 is fundamental to becoming a decent marksman - show me a shooter who practices with their 22 and you'll have a person who has good position, trigger release/followthru, can read wind and understands trajectory. . ..

Originally Posted by pickled_puck

I'm just getting back into shooting with the aim of hunting, and wondering about range practice. This probably has a very intuitive simple answer, but I want to check I'm not being daft.

If I'm shooting a rimfire .22 on the range, and shooting a higher calibre on a hunt, I'm still going to benefit from range practice with a .22 right? I know handling and recoil are different, but cost of shooting tens of .22 vs anything centrefire is so much less which is why I'm considering this. Of course I'd shoot with centrefire at range too, but likely 80/20 split to save some $.

So is it worth me using a .22 for practice, or should I just bite the bullet so to speak, and shoot centrefire at distance on range repeatedly?

New to hunting so I'm all ears to any advice and opinions.

absolutely practice practice but vary it mix up shooting prone or of a bench to try for tight grouping teaches trigger control relaxing breathing and hold then try off hand standing kneeling many shots bush hunting have to be taken in a hurry - deer dont stand still for long and can be gone very quickly - so practice your technique - I taught myself to bring rifle down onto deer rather than come up onto target - my theory being I would rather shoot low than over the top - yes practice and when you get your deer rifle do the same - regard deer as a target to place your shot into

Awesome, thanks team, .22 practice it is!

Cant do now with new range rules/ cone of fire etc but chasing a golf ball on ground at 25m plus standing is great practise or a clay terget at 100m with your hunting rifle snap shooting will soon tell you if you are in the zone .

Even an air rifle, offhand, is good.

The only negative to practice with a 22 is that it can be shot with a lighter grip than a centre fire. The negative being that the brain is trained to a soft grip. Knowing that, if a concious effort is made to pull the 22 hard to the shoulder and grip the fore-end firmly, the practice will be transferable and valuable

And it might seem boring but dry firing (without actaully cocking just going thru the motions of hold and trigger repease) with your centrefire has huge benefit. If you can put up with the boring aspect of it. Offhand only, most avoid practising offhand.

Originally Posted by zimmer

And it might seem boring but dry firing (without actaully cocking just going thru the motions of hold and trigger repease) with your centrefire has huge benefit. If you can put up with the boring aspect of it. Offhand only, most avoid practising offhand.

Why avoid offhand? Most of my practice with the. 22 air rifle are offhand because this is the most likely shooting position in the bush where I hunt. I figured offhand dry firing with my centerfire would be useful.

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

The only negative to practice with a 22 is that it can be shot with a lighter grip than a centre fire. The negative being that the brain is trained to a soft grip. Knowing that, if a concious effort is made to pull the 22 hard to the shoulder and grip the fore-end firmly, the practice will be transferable and valuable

Hey Moa - if you try and practise you can shoot even "snotty" rifles with a light hold, and guess what, they'll shoot better for it - the firm hold thing is a function of your sub conscious being uncontrolled.

25 years ago I got a flinch shooting a 7x57, and I fooled around a lot to alleviate it (things like light loads etc) but after a while I went after the problem from a psychological perspective and that both permanently cured the flinch and improved my shooting. Physiological things like top notch earmuffs, suppressors and muzzle brakes can help too.

As a range officer I see heaps of guys "clinging" to their rifle, I get them set up on the bench, explain natural point of aim, have them dry fire till they are doing it with a totally relaxed trigger hand and then enjoy it as their next group is half what they previously shot!

Agree with the previous comments. It would be sweet to have a rimfire and centrefire in the same format for this purpose (e.g. T1X/T3x).

Yes as the others have said you can't go wrong practicing with your .22. cheap, effective, back to the basic principles, without the other detractors such as cost, recoil, muzzle climb etc. I shoot a .22 most days.

Originally Posted by MB

Agree with the previous comments. It would be sweet to have a rimfire and centrefire in the same format for this purpose (e.g. T1X/T3x).

yip I have a t1x, T3x 223 and creed. When i pick up the centrefires its just like grabbing the T1x on the range ( lol until the " bang")

Originally Posted by Tentman

Hey Moa - if you try and practise you can shoot even "snotty" rifles with a light hold, and guess what, they'll shoot better for it - the firm hold thing is a function of your sub conscious being uncontrolled.

25 years ago I got a flinch shooting a 7x57, and I fooled around a lot to alleviate it (things like light loads etc) but after a while I went after the problem from a psychological perspective and that both permanently cured the flinch and improved my shooting. Physiological things like top notch earmuffs, suppressors and muzzle brakes can help too.

As a range officer I see heaps of guys "clinging" to their rifle, I get them set up on the bench, explain natural point of aim, have them dry fire till they are doing it with a totally relaxed trigger hand and then enjoy it as their next group is half what they previously shot!

I see now I wasnt clear about my reasoning. Most centrefires are heavier than 22's and so need a firmer, stronger grip to shoot - well for me anyway. I have found that for offhand shooting even with a 22, a firm grip and hard pull to the shoulder is better for a quick accurate shot. So I wasnt thinking so much about recoil as a solid grip to counter the rifle weight