The importance of plinking.

[Latitude37]

I hadn't shot my rifle (.22) for quite a while, recently. Months? Definitely out of practice. So I set aside some time on Sunday to just get my eye back in with some beer cans filled with water. My wife and I put about 100 rounds through it, laughing and joking at missed shots, laughing at a can that we'd both thought had been missed multiple times but had lost its water and had 4 or 5 holes through it. That kind of thing, just cans on the ground, about 30 - 40 m from where we stood, using a fenced post for support, or kneeling.

Anyway, later that afternoon, saw a bunny down the corner of our place, got a good angle with a tree half hiding me, and popped it in the head. Went down on its side and didn't even twitch. That plinking was good practice for practical shooting.

[bladeracer]

I consider informal practice to be far more valuable than sitting at a bench shooting at regular targets at fixed distances under range conditions. The range is useful for practicing the fundamentals, but it offers nothing for improving your field skills. And it's just plain fun.

I hadn't shot my rifle (.22) for quite a while, recently. Months? Definitely out of practice. So I set aside some time on Sunday to just get my eye back in with some beer cans filled with water. My wife and I put about 100 rounds through it, laughing and joking at missed shots, laughing at a can that we'd both thought had been missed multiple times but had lost its water and had 4 or 5 holes through it. That kind of thing, just cans on the ground, about 30 - 40 m from where we stood, using a fenced post for support, or kneeling.

Anyway, later that afternoon, saw a bunny down the corner of our place, got a good angle with a tree half hiding me, and popped it in the head. Went down on its side and didn't even twitch. That plinking was good practice for practical shooting.

[stihl88]

Absolutely, it's a shame Victorians aren't allowed to target practice in state forest "sighting in" only allowed as far as i'm aware.

[on_one_wheel]

Absolutely, it's a shame Victorians aren't allowed to target practice in state forest "sighting in" only allowed as far as i'm aware.

Sighting in / target practice
tomayto / tomato

[bladeracer]

Absolutely, it's a shame Victorians aren't allowed to target practice in state forest "sighting in" only allowed as far as i'm aware.

Unless you can find a law that specifically prohibits it it's allowed. We can zero rifles, test ammunition, pattern guns, and generally practice on public land that is open to hunting/shooting. Stay well away from tracks and roads, don't shoot at trees or signage, clean up after yourself, be aware that other users of the area may be out there or may appear at any time. If you cause distress or fear to other forest users, even if you don't know they're out there, you can be charged despite being legal to shoot there, just as you can be charged on private property. Find somewhere secluded with a good backstop.

NSW doesn't even allow you to confirm your rifle is zeroed while hunting.

[stihl88]

Unless you can find a law that specifically prohibits it it's allowed. We can zero rifles, test ammunition, pattern guns, and generally practice on public land that is open to hunting/shooting. Stay well away from tracks and roads, don't shoot at trees or signage, clean up after yourself, be aware that other users of the area may be out there or may appear at any time. If you cause distress or fear to other forest users, even if you don't know they're out there, you can be charged despite being legal to shoot there, just as you can be charged on private property. Find somewhere secluded with a good backstop.

NSW doesn't even allow you to confirm your rifle is zeroed while hunting.

I should have clarified that there isn’t a specific clause in the Act or Regulations explicitly excluding target shooting in Victorian State Forests/Crown Land.

However, when discussing shooters with the Genuine Reason of "Sport or Target Shooting" who may wish to target shoot on Crown Land. Unfortunately for them the following clause prohibits them from such activities: hence the default "i'm sighting in my firearm" get out of jail free card.

Schedule 2, 1, (5A) of the Act states;
If one of the reasons for the licence is sport or target shooting, the holder must not engage in sport or target shooting except—
- (a) at an approved shooting range; or
- (b) on land owned by the holder, where the activity is being carried out in accordance with the regulations; or
- (c) on land not owned by the holder, where the owner of the land has given permission for the carrying out of the activity and where the activity is being conducted in accordance with the regulations.

Other Considerations Regarding Authorised Activities
One might also consider that because "Sport/Target Shooting on Crown Land" is not listed as an approved activity under the list of Genuine Reasons then it is by default not an Approved Activity regardless of what we all think (refer to following table), another reason to state the "i'm sighting in my firearm" get out of jail free card.

Genuine Reasons & List of Permitted Activities..jpg (182.79 KiB) Viewed 643 times

[stihl88]

Absolutely, it's a shame Victorians aren't allowed to target practice in state forest "sighting in" only allowed as far as i'm aware.

Sighting in / target practice
tomayto / tomato

Not quite in this situation... More like Tomato-Tomatillo they are related but not the same...

[Blr243]

I hate shooting at trees because shot up tree stumps look terrible esp from the land owners pov .. but they are good safe back stops. I see why they do it. I look for dam walls with no stock around

[mchughcb]

I compete competively offhand out to 100 yards from 22LR to 416 Rem Mag. Makes a huge difference even a little bit of practice to hunting. I've pulled off some cracker deer shots with my double rifle offhand.

[bigpete]

I used to shoot much better when I used an air rifle for plinking every day