I was just curious about you guys that shoot prone without rear sandbags in competition (if there is even a competition like that?). What is an average 5 shot group at 100 yards? I went shooting today and when I was almost done I decided to toss the rear sandbag and see how good I could do. It was at 100 yards. I shot 13 rounds and called it quits. Is this any good? It is very hard to keep the + on the bull!!! Gotta control breathing, heart beat, and a good solid grip without trying to squeeze to hard. I couldnt decide on where I wanted to place my left hand (im right handed). With a rear sandbag I normally bring my left hand on the right side of my chest and 4 fingers under my armpit and thumb up pointed at shoulder. Any tips you guys can give me to help me improve this new shooting method?
shooting prone with a harris bipod and WITHOUT a rear sandbag
- Thread starter stinnett1981
- Start date
Stinnett
My prone bypod Field position is to place my left hand tucked under my right armpit so that the web between my thumb and index finger is holding the rear Sling and Sling swivel or if your stock has it the hook designed into alot of tactical rifles.
I push the butt pad into the shoulder with the left hand keeping consistant pressure from shot to shot is important. All the while I preload the front bypod legs best I can. I have shot out to one mile this way on a couple of occasions with good success (3 for 7) so it really does work well. There is a great article on how Terry Cross can shoot tiny groups from this position some where here.
Its hard to explain correctly so I suggest finding that article about Terry. Look here: http://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/gunweek046/
RussT
My prone bypod Field position is to place my left hand tucked under my right armpit so that the web between my thumb and index finger is holding the rear Sling and Sling swivel or if your stock has it the hook designed into alot of tactical rifles.
I push the butt pad into the shoulder with the left hand keeping consistant pressure from shot to shot is important. All the while I preload the front bypod legs best I can. I have shot out to one mile this way on a couple of occasions with good success (3 for 7) so it really does work well. There is a great article on how Terry Cross can shoot tiny groups from this position some where here.
Its hard to explain correctly so I suggest finding that article about Terry. Look here: http://www.accurateshooter.com/guns-of-week/gunweek046/
RussT
Im gonna start practicing more. See if i can get down to sub moa. any tips?
stinnett1981 said:
???
First tip: Examine why you want to shoot without a sandbag/sandsock. It's sorta like "hey guys, I want to shoot standing position, but only on one leg." Okay, so to get better, you need to practice. Like with anything.
Tip #2: Toss the bipod too, and use a sling, like the Palma and Highpower crowd.
Reason for trying is because of hunting purposes. Sometimes when rabbit and ground squirrel hunting I shoot prone on a hill next to a bunch of timber I own. Its amazing how many rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and other creatures of the wilderness you will see if you just sit at one spot and be patient. I enjoy squirrel hunting in a few of my tree stands instead of walking through the woods searching for squirrels. Anyway.... my point is I dont bring a sandbag when hunting from a prone position. That is why I asked if there is competitions shooting with a bipod only. Anybody else tried hunting this way also?
broncman said:
Thats impressive. I have shot .3 5 shot groups at 100 yards with a bipod and rear sandbag. Of course not consistently! Normally .5. Im gonna keep practicing without the sandbag at all distances. Im gonna be doing coyote hunting after whitetail season is over!
Thousands and thousands of dry fire practice will help you beyond belief, but you must practice the right way to reinforce the skills in order to make a real difference down range.
Scoped rifle, bipod, with or without rear bag
1 Get straight behind the rifle, shoulders square to your target, apply slight forward pressure to the bipod legs.
2 Remember this dry fire, cock the weapon, find a small 1/2 inch target, while looking at the target, at the bottom of your exhale before inhale, pull the trigger straight back, THE RETICLE SHOULD NOT MOVE, if it does even slightly your NPA(natural point of aim) is off, readjust your body position while still conforming to straight behind the rifle, shoulders square to the target.
This is uncomfortable at first, your neck will hurt, but after many thousands of times of dry firing you'll learn what it takes to shoot from the prone position. Today I can drop behind my rifle and see a hole appear in my target at 100 yards, even with a 338LM
Scoped rifle, bipod, with or without rear bag
1 Get straight behind the rifle, shoulders square to your target, apply slight forward pressure to the bipod legs.
2 Remember this dry fire, cock the weapon, find a small 1/2 inch target, while looking at the target, at the bottom of your exhale before inhale, pull the trigger straight back, THE RETICLE SHOULD NOT MOVE, if it does even slightly your NPA(natural point of aim) is off, readjust your body position while still conforming to straight behind the rifle, shoulders square to the target.
This is uncomfortable at first, your neck will hurt, but after many thousands of times of dry firing you'll learn what it takes to shoot from the prone position. Today I can drop behind my rifle and see a hole appear in my target at 100 yards, even with a 338LM
Learning to load the bipod is IMO critical, or at least made a tremendous improvement to my prone shooting, search on snipers hide you'll find ALOT of info in regards to shooting prone w a bipod. I have a very heavy 20 tactical, usually when I bring it to the range I'll shoot 50 shots at a 300 yard high power target just to unwind after practicing on the irons. Over the last two years or so, Ive gotten it so that out of a box of 50, around 40 ish shots are inside 1moa. When I first started I was shooting around 3 moa average. At 100 yards off bags, thats a 1/4 moa rifle. Im very happy with how far Ive come with it and saw my biggest improvement once I got a good technique with forward pressure on the bipod. Granted, its no big accomplishment around these parts to brag about being able to shoot 1 moa at 300 yards with a scope, but it makes me real happy when I look at my old targets 
I built this with bipod shooting in mind, went with uh, a heavy krieger barrel for stability
Left hand always goes inside the butt hook on the stock, a mcmillan a5. The butt hook is somewhat flat and what has worked best for me is balling a fist under there with the rifle rested on pointer finger/thumb and pinky on the ground. This way, flexing the fist can give you a little vertical change and is very stable on the ground.
I built this with bipod shooting in mind, went with uh, a heavy krieger barrel for stability
Left hand always goes inside the butt hook on the stock, a mcmillan a5. The butt hook is somewhat flat and what has worked best for me is balling a fist under there with the rifle rested on pointer finger/thumb and pinky on the ground. This way, flexing the fist can give you a little vertical change and is very stable on the ground.
I often carry an empty military wool sock in the field. When I setup a shooting position I fill the sock up with sand ( I live in the high desert, we have lots of sand! Use small pebbles, dirt, even hay, straw or weeds!). If a fast shot is required, I don't have time, but usually there is time. It's also light to carry if filled with crushed walnut, or corn cob, or bedding material. It doesn't replace a firm eared rear bag, but it does improvise and improve that steady hold......sometimes.
Otherwise lock those joints.....muscles are a wonderful benchrest when applied in a good support position.
Best Regards......Eagle Six
Otherwise lock those joints.....muscles are a wonderful benchrest when applied in a good support position.
Best Regards......Eagle Six
I bought one of these for my rifle for hunting purposes, that way I am never without a rear bag;it is attached to my rifle.
http://www.skdtac.com/BALS-MK-2-Sniper-Bean-Bag-p/bal.602.htm
http://www.skdtac.com/BALS-MK-2-Sniper-Bean-Bag-p/bal.602.htm
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