The realization of field shooting ineffectiveness

[Weldor]

That's my problem, FS shuts down shooting in the NF for fire reason's. BLM is in the desert 110 degree's. No ranges with a resonable distance(driving) with over 100 yrds. When they lift the restrictions it's hunting season. I personally don't like banging steel during someone else's hunt. Done with the whining. I do try to field shoot as much as possible. I can see all my bad habits when I start up then transition to normal. Muscle memory suffer's between sessions for sure. When we hit Texas for our annual deer hunt first thing out is 600 yd 12 inch steel plate..

 

[MuleyFever]

I had this same experience. Once I got my rifle dialed in on the bench out to 800 I started practicing off my tripod and sticks. Very eye opening.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

That's my problem, FS shuts down shooting in the NF for fire reason's. BLM is in the desert 110 degree's. No ranges with a resonable distanc(driving) with over 100 yrds. When they lift the restrictions it's hunting season. I personally don't like banging steel during someone else's hunt. Done with the whining. I do try to field shoot as much as possible. I can see all my bad habits when I start up then transition to normal. Muscle memory suffer's between sessions for sure. When we hit Texas for our annual deer hunt first thing out is 600 yd 12 inch steel plate..

A suppressor opens up options.

 

[Southern Lights]

We have hunting matches down here in New Zealand that are field style. Rifle weight limit to10# max. 60 seconds for the stage. Only first round scores. You get two follow-up rounds to figure out what went wrong if you want, but they do not score.

Shooting positions are prone, shooting off packs, sitting, offhand, fence posts, etc. Shooting around or over brush, logs, etc. No tripods. No padding yourself with bags, etc. Some stages allow no supports of any kind. Must carry all gear between stages.

Targets are animal shaped up to Wapiti/Elk sized. They are made of rubber, but the kill zone is a steel plate of appropriate size (6" to 12") and painted same color as the animal. Only hitting the plate counts. Gut shots make you cry and score nothing. Ranges are 100 to 800+ yards.

On 20 targets, extremely good shooters will do 18+. Average is in the 7-10 range if wind isn't too bad. Last match the wind was ferocious so averages probably closer to 5-7 out of 20.

For testing yourself, I keep it dead simple. Start standing with gear. You have 60 seconds to get into designated position you are practicing (sitting, pack shoot, etc). and get off a shot on 6-8" plate. Keep going back further until you can't consistently hit that plate. That is your max distance in that position.

If you want to add more excitement, run 100 yards into the position then start the timer so you are winded when making the shot.

 

[Weldor]

A suppressor opens up options.

Got that covered. Thanks.

 

[Weldor]

We have hunting matches down here in New Zealand that are field style. Rifle weight limit to10# max. 60 seconds for the stage. Only first round scores. You get two follow-up rounds to figure out what went wrong if you want, but they do not score.

Shooting positions are prone, shooting off packs, sitting, offhand, fence posts, etc. Shooting around or over brush, logs, etc. No tripods. No padding yourself with bags, etc. Some stages allow no supports of any kind. Must carry all gear between stages.

Targets are animal shaped up to Wapiti/Elk sized. They are made of rubber, but the kill zone is a steel plate of appropriate size (6" to 12") and painted same color as the animal. Only hitting the plate counts. Gut shots make you cry and score nothing. Ranges are 100 to 800+ yards.

On 20 targets, extremely good shooters will do 18+. Average is in the 7-10 range if wind isn't too bad. Last match the wind was ferocious so averages probably closer to 5-7 out of 20.

For testing yourself, I keep it dead simple. Start standing with gear. You have 60 seconds to get into designated position you are practicing (sitting, pack shoot, etc). and get off a shot on 6-8" plate. Keep going back further until you can't consistently hit that plate. That is your max distance in that position.

If you want to add more excitement, run 100 yards into the position then start the timer so you are winded when making the shot.

Sounds like a good a regiment and fun way to stay on the game. South island or north? some rough country down there. Good cross canyon shooting.

 

[Southern Lights]

South Island. They may do one up north, but I don't recall.

Last shoot it was so windy up top you had a hard time standing. On 300y shots my 270 was blown completely off the target by the wind which has never happened before. It was gale force windy. I didn't have a Kestrel and was really regretting forgetting to bring it.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

You can learn a lot by implementing what @Formidilosus has been teaching here if you're willing to actually try it.

I was a very experienced shooter and killer, thought that my ways were the best ways because of how successful I was. Once you swallow some pride and actually try new things, it's amazing what you learn.

I've become a more effective shooter and killer in the last two seasons by going out and trying new things. I also can't believe what my rifles have been through, yet continue to shoot dead on at all ranges. No "re-zeroes", "loose screws", "vibrations causing poi shifts", etc. It's very refreshing to know when I miss that it's 100% me sucking and not an equipment issue. I was an absolute "re-zero" NAZI and even chastised folks who would dare say they wouldn't check zero after bumping a rifle. I've learned a lot.

Your last comments are absolutely spot on!

"My take away is this. If you want your on demand effective range to be over 300yds in the field. You must go shoot in the field. You can not just practice field position on a flat range. You must go shoot in the field under some sort of stress. It's almost like Form knows what he is talking about...

I would encourage every one to hump some steel into the woods and have a fun / eye opening day with some friends."

 

[Rippey715]

Dry fire practice can help a lot. I use a DFAT trainer and their target cards, and a little giant ladder or other props in the garage. Just keep building positions, checking body and wobble zone, work on perfect trigger presses, and practice a couple times a week. Really helps.

 

[Poser]

Dry fire practice can help a lot. I use a DFAT trainer and their target cards, and a little giant ladder or other props in the garage. Just keep building positions, checking body and wobble zone, work on perfect trigger presses, and practice a couple times a week. Really helps. View attachment 731680

I just looked those cards up. That’s a pretty cool way to practice I hadn’t considered before. I usually dry fire difficult shots extensively before shooting in order to get more reps in, but hadn’t really considered doing that at home.

 

[Southern Lights]

Posting examples of the animal targets we use in field comps made by Rifle Ranch Targets in Timaru, New Zealand. Using a full size animal vs. a plate alone makes it more challenging. At distance it can be hard to clearly see the kill zone and is more realistic than a plate hanging out by itself. Hitting off the plate again is no score (gut shot). The animal is made of heavy rubber and even makes the plunk sound of a gut shot to know you missed vs. the gong.

Shown:

Pig
Red Deer
Fallow
Wallaby
Chamois
Rabbit/Hare
Possum

Rifle Ranch Targets | Timaru

Rifle Ranch Targets, Timaru, New Zealand. 1,055 likes. Rifle Ranch Targets are high tensile AR500 steel made and fully tested in NZ. Target stands and chai

www.facebook.com

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

That's my problem, FS shuts down shooting in the NF for fire reason's. BLM is in the desert 110 degree's. No ranges with a resonable distance(driving) with over 100 yrds. When they lift the restrictions it's hunting season. I personally don't like banging steel during someone else's hunt. Done with the whining. I do try to field shoot as much as possible. I can see all my bad habits when I start up then transition to normal. Muscle memory suffer's between sessions for sure. When we hit Texas for our annual deer hunt first thing out is 600 yd 12 inch steel plate..

Where are you at in AZ? I can be up at 4 am and shooting out past 1,000 yards by 5:30 am. Finish up before it gets too hot and get ready for work.

I used to make excuses to not shoot here in the summer time. Last two Summers I’ve changed that attitude and it’s been wonderful.

 

[Weldor]

Where are you at in AZ? I can be up at 4 am and shooting out past 1,000 yards by 5:30 am. Finish up before it gets too hot and get ready for work.

I used to make excuses to not shoot here in the summer time. Last two Summers I’ve changed that attitude and it’s been wonderful.

I still get up and shoot also, but not a 1000. I live on backside of the Catalina's. National forest (if open) or blm. I don't shoot rocks, Trying to place steel out to 1000 is alot of work in the foothills. We used to have a friendly rancher and could leave our plates out, but that went away. Where you at? You at a range or putting your own up?

 

[Weldor]

Posting examples of the animal targets we use in field comps made by Rifle Ranch Targets in Timaru, New Zealand. Using a full size animal vs. a plate alone makes it more challenging. At distance it can be hard to clearly see the kill zone and is more realistic than a plate hanging out by itself. Hitting off the plate again is no score (gut shot). The animal is made of heavy rubber and even makes the plunk sound of a gut shot to know you missed vs. the gong.

Shown:

Pig
Red Deer
Fallow
Wallaby
Chamois
Rabbit/Hare
Possum

Rifle Ranch Targets | Timaru

Rifle Ranch Targets, Timaru, New Zealand. 1,055 likes. Rifle Ranch Targets are high tensile AR500 steel made and fully tested in NZ. Target stands and chai

www.facebook.com

View attachment 732014View attachment 732015View attachment 732016View attachment 732017View attachment 732018View attachment 732019

Those are outstanding.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I still get up and shoot also, but not a 1000. I live on backside of the Catalina's. National forest (if open) or blm. I don't shoot rocks, Trying to place steel out to 1000 is alot of work in the foothills. We used to have a friendly rancher and could leave our plates out, but that went away. Where you at? You at a range or putting your own up?

Nice man that’s a sweet area to live!

Yeah it is a lot of work for sure. I end up setting up my own stuff around here which takes time. I’m south of Florence and east of Coolidge near Kelvin Highway and Cactus Forest.

I actually have a few spots scattered around here where I just leave targets, gongs, and stands out year round.

I know a lot of the ranchers and farmers around here too so we have targets there and shoot a lot of coyotes.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Posting examples of the animal targets we use in field comps made by Rifle Ranch Targets in Timaru, New Zealand. Using a full size animal vs. a plate alone makes it more challenging. At distance it can be hard to clearly see the kill zone and is more realistic than a plate hanging out by itself. Hitting off the plate again is no score (gut shot). The animal is made of heavy rubber and even makes the plunk sound of a gut shot to know you missed vs. the gong.

Shown:

Pig
Red Deer
Fallow
Wallaby
Chamois
Rabbit/Hare
Possum

Rifle Ranch Targets | Timaru

Rifle Ranch Targets, Timaru, New Zealand. 1,055 likes. Rifle Ranch Targets are high tensile AR500 steel made and fully tested in NZ. Target stands and chai

www.facebook.com

View attachment 732014View attachment 732015View attachment 732016View attachment 732017View attachment 732018View attachment 732019

This has inspired me to up my target game. I used to have a few like this, deer and coyote specifically but they were just black painted steel. I love painting them their natural color for training. So cool!

It’s why I love shooting rabbits and coyotes and squirrels so much. There is no replacement for practicing glassing up an animal, then getting a sight picture on a critter that is built to blend into the terrain perfectly. Pair that with the animals moving dynamically makes for excellent practice on big game. Constantly adjusting position/following animal in the scope. Learning to judge distance travelled in the scope (coyotes specially can move 100 yards in a matter of seconds), coming off the gun and re-ranging if needed and then re-finding the animal in the scope again, etc.

I can’t count the number of folks who have missed chances on coues deer especially. They simply can’t find the animal in their scope. Once you’re past 400 yards (yardage for 70+% of coues deer kills I’ve been a part of) the number of folks that can effectively get the deer in their scope and get a shot off in time is scarily low.

 

[Weldor]

We used to shoot up by Freeman, on blm. to many compliants from other folks. Plus if we left the plates out they would disappear. That's the problem with leaving anything out, it grows legs . There's few blm parcels that are good if they are not covered up in campers. Somebody put in a travel guide now it's full of travelers off I-10. A guy could make mint if he opened a 1000 range somewhere out there.

 

[Weldor]

This has inspired me to up my target game. I used to have a few like this, deer and coyote specifically but they were just black painted steel. I love painting them their natural color for training. So cool!

It’s why I love shooting rabbits and coyotes and squirrels so much. There is no replacement for practicing glassing up an animal, then getting a sight picture on a critter that is built to blend into the terrain perfectly. Pair that with the animals moving dynamically makes for excellent practice on big game. Constantly adjusting position/following animal in the scope. Learning to judge distance travelled in the scope (coyotes specially can move 100 yards in a matter of seconds), coming off the gun and re-ranging if needed and then re-finding the animal in the scope again, etc.

I can’t count the number of folks who have missed chances on coues deer especially. They simply can’t find the animal in their scope. Once you’re past 400 yards (yardage for 70+% of coues deer kills I’ve been a part of) the number of folks that can effectively get the deer in their scope and get a shot off in time is scarily low.

If a guy knew someone from the mines, belting would be perfect. Heavy and lasts forever.

 

[aschuler]

We used to shoot up by Freeman, on blm. to many compliants from other folks. Plus if we left the plates out they would disappear. That's the problem with leaving anything out, it grows legs . There's few blm parcels that are good if they are not covered up in campers. Somebody put in a travel guide now it's full of travelers off I-10. A guy could make mint if he opened a 1000 range somewhere out there.

+1
I know I'd use it!

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

We used to shoot up by Freeman, on blm. to many compliants from other folks. Plus if we left the plates out they would disappear. That's the problem with leaving anything out, it grows legs . There's few blm parcels that are good if they are not covered up in campers. Somebody put in a travel guide now it's full of travelers off I-10. A guy could make mint if he opened a 1000 range somewhere out there.

There’s a range in casa grande (I despise ranges personally) where there are some targets up on a cliff side above the normal 200 yard range area.

I believe that last time I was there there is one target as far as 750 yards.