CraigC
Sixgun Nut
How do you figure that? I test my iron-sighted leverguns from the bench just like anything else.The only rifle that I shoot at the range is a lever action with irons, which really precludes any bench shooting.
How do you figure that? I test my iron-sighted leverguns from the bench just like anything else.The only rifle that I shoot at the range is a lever action with irons, which really precludes any bench shooting.
Desert storm veterans will likely have a number of stories. I have seen lots of troops shooting standing, behind walls, or moving forward, or kneeling behind cover. The weapon is not always rested. A bud of mine kicked down doors and did some indoor shooting in the standing position but it was not exactly precision shooting. He said of one encounter " my chest plate stopped his bullet but I was the only one to leave the room!".The traditional positions, prone, kneeling, and standing are only really relevant in shooting sports requiring them to be used. In military or hunting applications there are better options. The military has taught to use some sort of improvised rest, and to shoot from behind cover for quite some time now. Standing up in the open and firing at opponents doing the same hasn't been taught since before the Civil War.
Holy crap!! You made up my mind im gonna practice lots more freehand...i thought 75 yds was good...good jobI always enjoy shooting off a bench at my local range, trying to work out hand loads and seeing what any particular rifle will give me in terms of accuracy. But after that, I shoot a lot from off-hand. It's a terribly important skill to have. I hunt public land elk, un-guided, and the buggers just don't cooperate. They really like to make you work for your meat. Yet, I've harvested the last 8 years straight.
Bragging a bit now, but in 2011 I killed an elk with my little .308 from 325 yards off-hand... he was also facing me...heart shot, DRT. I thanked my USMC PMI, SSGT McFarland.
It's a shame. The crap that I see at the range... 'I just bought a .338 WIN super duper magnum elk slayer - oh that hurts when I shoot it, rifle.'
Still, there are some very dedicated marksmen out there who work the craft and shoot well. I would not disparage bench rest shooters, as they are scary good.
Nevertheless, hunters, in particular, must practice from 'strange' positions. I do, and it's paid off.
If kneeling is an option, then shooting sticks are a better option.
I'm with you bro ! If I knelt down to shoot, I'd never get up unassisted . They can do what they like, but some of these guys look (excuse me - nobody in particular) too old or out of shape to be doing these stressful positions. To each his/her own.I never REALLY shoot. I just bang off a buncha' rounds in a dirt mound while trying to hit a MOA target.
Really? Because my military experience was different. When I went through basic training, one of our drill sergeants told us "you better learn to shoot from the prone unsupported, 'cause in combat you ain't gonna be carrying a couple of sandbags."The traditional positions, prone, kneeling, and standing are only really relevant in shooting sports requiring them to be used. In military or hunting applications there are better options. The military has taught to use some sort of improvised rest, and to shoot from behind cover for quite some time now. Standing up in the open and firing at opponents doing the same hasn't been taught since before the Civil War.
After reading this for the last couple of days, I can't believe there are so many ranges that ONLY allow rifle shooting off of a bench!
Litigation heavy society is ruining our damn heritage.