Offhand Shooting

[PaddyT]

The video is pretty interesting so ive watched that, put 200 rounds offhand at the range last Friday- first 50 a bit messy (was using the bunny target printed off this site) but got the stance comfy after that-final 100 at 35M - reckon I killed the bunny 77/100 shots so am seeing improvement- and am feeling more comfortable with the process.

[in2anity]

Hi in2...
I wasnt poo-pooing your tips mate...
I used to shoot smallbore state & national comps so did the very style of shooting you mention, & i have a box of trophies to prove it.

My post was based on (as i stated) field shooting, as fom memory the OP was a newbee or getting back into shooting & mentioned field shooting.

I just believe a newbee should learn some basics first--like develop their own feel for the firearm & trigger, before trying to take on too much technical stuff.
And i believe the best way to do that is as i described-mostly get the shot off in rapid time & learn to hold tension on a trigger without it going off, all which doesnt allow for a full body position technique.

ALMOST EVERY time i go to a range & see a self confessed "dead set expert" tutoring a newbee, be it rifle in any position, or shotgun, the person is pummeled with too much info & end up concentrating on everything other than just shooting.

I admire the skills you probably have, & no doubt you can shoot that style way better than me now, but the fox i came within 12 yds of yesterday, & the one i came face to face with last time out wernt waiting for anyone to get their positional technique into full swing.

I dont think any of us are wrong & i rekon the OP has got some pretty useful info from all of us.

All good mate I figured you were taking the whole "lets not overwhelm him" tact. I wasn't offended nor was i trying to offend, I just think it's important to get the fundementals right off the bat; old habits die hard. Anyways i think he's got the gist of it now.

[PaddyT]

Im not going to get offended- too old and offensive myself! Would rather be stripped back to bare bones and rebuilt than learn a bunch of crap habits and use them to my own detrement- its all been good advice- ive got to stew it make it digestible for myself!

[Stix]

And in2, just in that fundamentals point.
In the field i was a great shot as a youngin with lightning fast reflex & incredible accuracy-in either off-hand rifle or shotgun.
Once id mastered the fundamentals you are talking about in comps, i couldnt hit jack sh1t in the field for taking too long...the wrong set of fundamentals had crept into me for fast paced off hand field shooting/hunting.

I still see it now--take any range expert out on skitchy rabbits or foxes who will only give you a second or 2 at the most to get set & a shot off, & they never get to release a shot...because they are too caught up in the long slow technical process.

I believe they are different forms of shooting, & thus require some different skills, & its up to the individual to be aware of them.

[in2anity]

And in2, just in that fundamentals point.
In the field i was a great shot as a youngin with lightning fast reflex & incredible accuracy-in either off-hand rifle or shotgun.
Once id mastered the fundamentals you are talking about in comps, i couldnt hit jack sh1t in the field for taking too long...the wrong set of fundamentals had crept into me for fast paced off hand field shooting/hunting.

I still see it now--take any range expert out on skitchy rabbits or foxes who will only give you a second or 2 at the most to get set & a shot off, & they never get to release a shot...because they are too caught up in the long slow technical process.

I believe they are different forms of shooting, & thus require some different skills, & its up to the individual to be aware of them.

The only difference between the silhouette pose and what you do is basically that you don’t drop your elbow onto your hip or pop your hip out. I do it without even thinking and I’ve taken countless game using this technique - you can still acquire damn fast (in conjunction with a safari sling). Much to the amusement of my buddies I even do it out of habit when shotgunning - sure it’s pretty useless then, but it hardly slows you down. Anyways each to there own - whatever works for you I guess - I’m not a massive hunter, so i can’t argue too strongly here