Thoughts or ideas,.......

[rb288]

I am thinking of taking a long range shooting class this summer.
The issue is most of the shooting will be done from the prone position.
Back problems from my youth and advancing age makes the prone position a problem and painful.
Do any of you shooters have this problem and what, if anything, are options to deal with this?
I am a good shooter from a bench, but benches are not going to be available at this range and having to move between firing lines makes a heavy portable shooting stand impractical.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Coyote3855]

Would a tripod that allows you to shoot from a standing position work? Not sure how heavy they are but lighter than a bench when you move between shooting points.

Various models and types out there, this is one: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1024616137?pid=420392

 

[Scrapiron45]

I've found that a sitting position, with my back against something solid, (tree, truck tire, etc) using a set of shooting sticks works well for me. It's easier to get up and helps to eliminate the heartbeat bounce I get when laying prone.
I suppose some type of bleacher seat could be adapted to support your back in the absence of a tree to lean against.

 

[rb288]

I have come up with a plan.
I found a small table a little over a foot high.
I reinforced it and it seems to work.
It is low enough to the ground to have no wobble at all.
I can sit on the ground, get a good sight picture, it is stable as a rock, and very light, like 3 or 4 lbs, so easy to carry around.
I'll be doing some testing over the next few days and will update.
Thanks for the ideas and thought.

 

[jmorris]

Back problems from my youth and advancing age makes the prone position a problem and painful.
Do any of you shooters have this problem and what, if anything, are options to deal with this?

The only thing worse than getting old, is dying young.

Every time I split wood, I think I either need to quit doing it or do it more often. Exercise doesn’t get any easier as you get older but done often enough can make you move better than many young folks can.

If you just want to shoot long range and learn, I’d suggest you join a club that shoots from a bench. There will be many decades of experience around and unlike other competitive sports, gun guys almost always are very open and enjoy sharing tips and tricks.