Shooting from kneeling unsupported

[2ski]

How far and how fast you need to shoot?

I was wondering more the logistics of it. The picture above answers my question.

 

[Macintosh]

I'm confused. I guess I would call putting your elbow on your knee supported? If thats unsupported what is kneeling supported?

I prefer kneeling to any position. Its quick to get into. You have one point of contact at least. I'll go to sitting if I'm on a hillside shooting downwards.

Unsupported=no EXTERNAL support, but anything goes with your body and the gun itself (sling, etc). Always less stable than supported, but the trick is in using your body to “ground” the gun as steadily as possible given the situation, ie elbow on knee to create stability without requiring a “thing” to do so.

Supported=supported by some other object. Bipod, tripod, pack, poles, tree, fence, rock, etc. This is +\- always more stable, just not always realistic.

 

[Nine Banger]

I was wondering more the logistics of it. The picture above answers my question.

I think most shooters put the pack in front and 1 or 2 sticks in the back, but that pack I've been using is the tallest frame EXO makes, with a full lid, and I'm not tall.

I'm confident out to 450 kneeling like that. At 600 I'm more like "did I hit it?" A wobble zone thing.

 

[Formidilosus]

I think most shooters put the pack in front and 1 or 2 sticks in the back,

Not if they want to hit anything…

 

[Nine Banger]

Not if they want to hit anything…

Good deal, glad I got it right.

The other way is a balancing act and you get a stick in the face as a reward when its set right.

 

[Formidilosus]

The other way is a balancing act and you get a stick in the face as a reward when its set right.

Exactly right.

 

[Bluumoon]

I was wondering more the logistics of it. The picture above answers my question.

I’m slow with sticks. The above is an excellent position if you have time.

I asked how far and how fast, I’m not great from unsupported kneeling. This years bull elk popped over a rise at 225 yards following cows, the cows were already on to us standing out in the open, up hill shot. Further than I wanted for off hand, prone was no good, sitting might have been ok. Pulled rifle, swung pack around, took a knee (edit: I’m playing w the position and shooting now, I prob used more of a sitting supported) and used verticle pack as front rest, shot him before he could spin and leave out.

Kneeling, pack up front is not great, maybe not much better than sitting unsupported for me.

 

[prm]

Kneeling is probably my most used position. Gets above much of the brush, logs, etc., and yet is reasonably stable and quick to adjust for a quick shot at ranges where off hand starts to get iffy. Add in a pack, branch, or tree trunk for the body and it gets very stable. Kneeling was my relative best position for scoring in competition. But that was a looong time ago. I could really benefit from some real training on hunting shooting positions and a period of volume shooting to establish some good habits. Retirement goals!