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.

Playing w it, this is about the best I can figure. Not sure I’m doing any better than 4.5 MOA, but consistent on 10” at 200, not so much consistency at 300. I’m sure there’s a better way.

 

[Brap01]

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.

Playing w it, this is about the best I can figure. Not sure I’m doing any better than 4.5 MOA, but consistent on 10” at 200, not so much consistency at 300. I’m sure there’s a better way.

Have you tried putting your firing side foot (right foot) on the ground and your offhand knee on the ground? That way you can support your firing side elbow on your knee. I have shot off support that way but I haven't tried it off a pack yet.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Terrain always dictates the best position to employ. Being flexible gives you more options on varied terrain. The goal, as always, is to build your support from front to rear, get as low as possible, with as many points of contact as possible.

I’m not a kneeling master (I outright loathe it), but it should be a method you can use. The traditional “high-kneeling position” like the old army men figures show is not very good.

The best tip I can offer is regular yoga or stretching exercises. Flexibility can open up tighter or lower positions. That can sometimes turn a traditional kneeling position into something more like sitting.

One of my preferred kneeling positions involves sitting on my right foot and resting the back of my left tricep on my knee (or even better, my shin). Tricep and humerus resting on knee and upper tibia/anterior tibialis is good front support. Buttock on foot is good rear support. Tuck your right arm in so it can rest on your ribcage rather than sticking out into air. Adjust the position of your right foot to raise or lower the muzzle as needed (sitting on sideways foot is ideal, since it is lowest). Getting as much contact between muscle and bone as possible is ideal.

I give the edge to this German over the American above, but his butt could be lower and his left arm could be further forward. He could also be essentially resting his right elbow on that cartridge box, with his humerus along his ribs.

For practice purposes, I prefer to practice kneeling in real terrain, not on a flat range. I’m not interested in what my form looks like vis-a-vis a picture in a shooting manual, I am interested in “how would I shoot that target from behind that bush or from this clump of tall grass?”

 

[WyldGoose]

Have you tried putting your firing side foot (right foot) on the ground and your offhand knee on the ground? That way you can support your firing side elbow on your knee. I have shot off support that way but I haven't tried it off a pack yet.

I’ve been using this method off my pack the last several months. Right handed shooter, left hand c-clamped around barrel with fingers gripping top of the pack, right knee is up and right elbow is resting on that knee. It’s been pretty solid for me.

 

[Bluumoon]

Have you tried putting your firing side foot (right foot) on the ground and your offhand knee on the ground? That way you can support your firing side elbow on your knee. I have shot off support that way but I haven't tried it off a pack yet.

I’ll need to go back and work on that one

 

[TradLife406]

I've been playing with kneeling unsupported dry firing. We didn't spend much time at it during my week of S2HU.
My conclusion is if it's that position or missing an opportunity I -A really fk'ed up that I didn't see the animal soon enough and/or B-Will just have to hunt more for another opportunity.

My body simply doesn't bend low enough to make it ethically viable without a support.

10/10 would rather take the extra half a second to do seated unsupported.

Usually I'm ambush hunting. If I'm working coulees or say elk hunting I'll have some sort of rest in hand. Trekking pole or shooting sticks.