PD shooting setups

[mule]

Just wondering if a bunch of you guys would be willing to share some of your prairie dog setups and ideas

Here are some of mine but I did see a couple of new ones that I'm looking at trying

 

[Cemetery21]

Shade would be nice, but anywhere I've been, it wouldn't stand up to the wind.


This bench worked for my buddy, but I couldn't get it to stay steady enough for me. Note long sleeves, hat and sunscreen.

 

[RAG]

Well, since you asked, lol. This is a favorite subject of mine, as I have continuously refined my setup over the last 25 years, arriving at what works best for me. I find a standard/solid table much preferable to any type of rotating bench. I also like to use a BR rest setup, with pedestal/joystick rest in the front and bunny bag in the rear...simply more solid for steady precision shooting. The front and rear rest are kept in unison with a sliding board (everybody who tries it is surprised at how easy the board slides around); adjusting elevation is obtaining by sliding gun forward and back, and with joystick of course. I can cover about 270 deg side to side, and if I really need to shoot behind me, I can simply rotate myself to the other side of the table. Plus, not shown in the pic here, but I put out a large umbrella 90% of the time, as I don't like cooking out in the sun...so a fixed table is much better for this too. Oh, and my drummer stool is awfully comfy for a day of sitting in the saddle! Only negative for this setup is that you need to have room for the table (I simply flip mine in and out of my pick-up bed...easier than you think).

I made a quick attach axle/wheel setup for mine too, so I can wheel it into an alfalfa field when driving into a field isn't permissible.

 

[rayporter]

25x orion bins. fantastic! get the 30x if you find them.

 

[RAG]

As for shade...a 9' patio umbrella is ideal in my opinion. 30 seconds to put up. Edit: I use a spiked umbrella holder, good up to about 18mph winds, but 20mph+, one must go without shade, because there isn't much that will work in that case.

 

[Tommie]

Regarding sun protection: 20-30 MPH don’t allow much for umbrellas etc. I just cover myself with UV rated clothing.

Shooting setup: After lots of experimentation what works for me is a very stable shooting bench. Even the best swivel style benches can wobble. A bipod allows scanning left/right.

 

[farmerjohn]

Quick set up and easy to haul, stacks flat...

 

[andym686]

Just wondering if a bunch of you guys would be willing to share some of your prairie dog setups and ideas

Here are some of mine but I did see a couple of new ones that I'm looking at trying

Your third picture over reminds me of our trips to Wyoming in the mid 90's. We used a tarp and tent poles attached to the truck, as well as a homemade portable bench.
It worked pretty well. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RAG]

Just wondering if a bunch of you guys would be willing to share some of your prairie dog setups and ideas

Here are some of mine but I did see a couple of new ones that I'm looking at trying

I do like that shade setup, if you're going to camp out for at least half the day, I could see where that would make sense. I also have some folding leg table setups, good for space saving...just not as solid.

Though I do not like shooting off a bipod...not as stable, and jars too much under recoil (I don't like loosing the sight picture under recoil...which might be why I use 25-30lb guns, lol).

 

[RAG]

Quick set up and easy to haul, stacks flat...View attachment 1453730

Aha...another rotating board person. I'm not sure I've seen anyone else do that before...I like it. But you need a nice cushy stool now, lol. I used to have a vinyl seat, but I got tired of sweaty butt, so I found one with a breathable felt top and the sweaty butt syndrome was fixed, ha. The red material on the seat is felt and breathes like a dream.

 

[farmerjohn]

Aha...another rotating board person. I'm not sure I've seen anyone else do that before...I like it. But you need a nice cushy stool now, lol. I use to use a vinyl seat, but I got tired of sweaty but, so I found one with a breathable felt top and the sweaty butt syndrome was fixed, ha.

That's my old Sinclair shooting stool, believe it or not the padded rubber seat is cooler than the foam rubber ones. Use it for competition also, it's worn out several diesel pickups... John

 

[RAG]

My table, and the sister table pictured here that I made for a buddy to shoot along side me, has quick detach legs, taking 3 or 4 minutes to set up and take down, with 4 screws per leg. To fit multiple tables in pickup bed. All my stuff is a little heavier and bulkier than average setup...but worth it when shooting. IMO anyhow.

And here is my umbrella setup.

 

[K9TXS]

I've been using this for a couple of years now and it has worked out great.

 

[K9TXS]

Quick set up and easy to haul, stacks flat...View attachment 1453730

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Curious about how you move the rifle on the table top. I see the front & rear rest sitting on its on smaller table. Does the smaller table slide across the main table OR does the rear stay put and it swings to the right or left? There appears to be a slight gap between the two table tops.

Nice looking setup.

 

[CSLR grandpa]

This set up was on my Jeep tow bar many years ago, always on private property. I don’t know about current laws as far as shooting off a vehicle.
I’ve never needed to travel far to shoot squirrels, times change I may need to.

 

[CSLR grandpa]

 

[RAG]

Curious about how you move the rifle on the table top. I see the front & rear rest sitting on its on smaller table. Does the smaller table slide across the main table OR does the rear stay put and it swings to the right or left? There appears to be a slight gap between the two table tops.

Nice looking setup.

He's got a smaller board, holding the front and rear rest, that slides on top of the main table, keeping the the rests in unison. I have the same thing...here you can see from the top down how it works. IMO it's the way to go if you want a more solid BR-like shooting platform!

 

[powderbrake]

We all shoot from rotary tables, as you can see in the pic. Equipment I use : Custom rifle in 6BR, Leica ranging binocs, Kestrel 5700 Elite on a post , iphone running Kestrel LINK.
Note the slip on sunshade for my neck, ((Amazon)and a spf50 light fishing shirt (Cabelas)to protect arms. I forgot to add the sunscreen for the back of my hands, and they got sunburned this year.
This was actually a pic from 2 years ago, and the wind was really only 2 mph. so only 4 clicks of windage for a 554 yard shot.
We do not use anything for shade on the tables, as the wind shakes the table too much if there is an umbrella on it. wind is more typically 10 to 25mph in South Dakota.




Take lots of water. I freeze a case of water and put it in the cooler, and the bottles still have ice in them 3 days later.

 

[andym686]

View attachment 1453797

That is a nice set-up.
Around where I live, I'm afraid the good old boys would be driving AND shooting at the same time.

 

[jpx2rk]

Here's my set up, a Ryobi miter saw stand and a table top out of 3/4" plywood, folds flat for travel, takes 5 min to set up. Shower stool works for the seat, legs are adjustable for height. I wear the hooded fishing shirts, neck gaiter and fishing gloves for sun protection. The table top was 2 pc of 3/4" plywood but took one layer off and still very stable for me. I use a couple big bags on the forearm, and a couple different rear bags based on the stock currently on duty.