Marksmanship/proficiency of average hunter...

[Mr. Twister]

I can't buy into the magnum guns being too much for most to handle stuff. It's all about putting in the time and practising - No matter what you shoot.

Now, bad practise makes for bad habits. There's a lot of good tips here in this thread. If you're like I and shoot a giant magnamis rifle, and find that sighting it in takes serious effort (pain), try easing into it with lighter bullets or reduced loads. Shoot often and gradually increase the # of rounds fired then gradually increase the loads. Not only will you learn your rifle extremely well, but this will also toughen up the shoulder. Before long, shooting off 50 rounds of full-house loads a session, will be as easy as the 3 or 6 when ya 1st started.

Skeet and trap is also a good exercise...


In any event, practise is where its at. For every poor target I see at the range (.22 or .300 Wtby) I also see a guy that is THERE putting in the time and effort. And everyone here, was one of them, at one point in their lives.

When I see a guy struggling, I offer any service/advice that's willingly accepted. Some want it, some don't; and that's OK too. The important thing is that the individual leaves feeling comfortable enough to COME BACK. Remember, they can see 'good' targets just as easily as we see bad ones and it doesn't take a university degree for them to realise that more shooting is needed.

Taking the time and engaging in friendly conversation, being both humble and offering, goes a lot further than blatant remarks (I found). A 5 inch group at 50 yards will still kill a deer humanely. Yes, there is room for improvement but the most important thing is that this person knows what his/her limitations are IF they're goin hunting. In order to learn that they realise this, one needs to be accommodating and accepting. A role of a caring mentore can go a lot further than that of a strict principal.


That's my dollar for the day and no, I don't expect any change back.

 

[sheephunter]

Ah, now that was a refreshing post...thanks Mr. Twister for bringing a little perspective to this topic. I particularly liked your mentor comment....something that few too many people take the time to do.

 

[Gatehouse]

@&@%&%^@*^#*^

GF has warped sense of humour...

 

[todbartell]

did some practical shooting last night, shooting sitting w/ shooting stix with my 260 Remington.

shooting at a gong about 6" in diameter, here's a pic of it about halfway through my evening

Mostly shot @ 220 yards, took two shots from 280y, missed one hit one. Overall I think I went 12/16 on it - pretty good but I hope to better that in the next couple months

 

[grinrgrn]

go hang out at a gun range the weekend before hunting season and you'll soon realize the average hunter will shoot a 3" group at 100 yards off the bench with factory ammo and a scoped rifle (new or old). Take away the bench and I bet most guys are 5-6 moa shooters

I think you are being too generous?

 

[Silverback]

I think you are being too generous?

I think that you are right, from what I have seen the average hunter is lucky to keep 5 rounds on target at 100 yards. For a couple of years we had a pre-hunting season turkey shoot with people from work and it was pretty sad as to how poorly some of these "hunters" shot, literally some of them could not keep their 5 rounds on the 11" x 12" pistol target at 100 yards shooting from a picknick table with sandbags. But like many hunters these guys might check their rifle before hunting season to see if it is still shooting straight or they might not. One guy wanted me to try his rifle because it wouldn't shoot for him, I looked through the scope and I couldn't focus on the reticle and the target at the same time. The rear focus on the scope was screwed in almost all the way, I backed it out to a normal adjustment and he was amazed. The sad thing is that he had already been out elk hunting with that rifle weeks earlier. I think that the guy that you see on the range in the fall is the above average hunter.

 

[thrush]

Right on

I think that you are right, from what I have seen the average hunter is lucky to keep 5 rounds on target at 100 yards. For a couple of years we had a pre-hunting season turkey shoot with people from work and it was pretty sad as to how poorly some of these "hunters" shot, literally some of them could not keep their 5 rounds on the 11" x 12" pistol target at 100 yards shooting from a picknick table with sandbags. But like many hunters these guys might check their rifle before hunting season to see if it is still shooting straight or they might not. One guy wanted me to try his rifle because it wouldn't shoot for him, I looked through the scope and I couldn't focus on the reticle and the target at the same time. The rear focus on the scope was screwed in almost all the way, I backed it out to a normal adjustment and he was amazed. The sad thing is that he had already been out elk hunting with that rifle weeks earlier. I think that the guy that you see on the range in the fall is the above average hunter.

I have to agree with you the guy that goes to the range is at least trying to get better. I take my kids out and we have fun shoting. they always try to outdo the old man. One day I hope they can. Till then at least it is all fun and boy what a game. and then when it comes hunting time I know one shot will uselly do. For it becomes second nature for them to pic and place the shot. But like what has been sead time and again practice practice practice.

 

[sealhunter]

Is there enough equipment today, to take practice out of it?
Blaistic tables, high powered scopes, range finders, etc etc.
Is it just putting the hairs on the target and click?

 

[Gatehouse]

Is there enough equipment today, to take practice out of it?
Blaistic tables, high powered scopes, range finders, etc etc.
Is it just putting the hairs on the target and click?

It's not *that* easy, but all that stuff makes it simpler.

 

[thrush]

Hunters make new toys ! Toys don't make the hunter !

 

[Morpheus32]

Is there enough equipment today, to take practice out of it?
Blaistic tables, high powered scopes, range finders, etc etc.
Is it just putting the hairs on the target and click?

Most people don't even take the time to get into the ballastics or do the homework. I know a number of hunters that go to Canadian tire, buy whatever ammo is cheapest in their caliber and off they go. They don't even confirm their zeros.

Heck I had a guy once who I set up his scope and roughly bore sighted it for him. He thought that was good enough since he did "take very far shots." I stopped him and did some education.

There are some people that believe in "chasing rounds" fired in the general direction of game to move them to an advantagous position. I have met a couple of people that advocate and practice this despite the insane and dangerous logic to it. I have also seen it first hand by a tresspasser on my Aunt's farm. He did not see me all Ghillied up and I scared him something fierce.

You can have the best gear, all the best ballistics, scopes, etc, but if you don't practice, I guarantee you, you will not perform when the time comes. There is a reason that practice makes perfect and no amount of technology or smarts are going to allow you to shoot in field conditions proficently without practice. The best shooters I have met are the quiet ones who labour away ensuring they are good to go, paying close attention to detail and testing themselves to know their limitations. In most cases it is not can you make the shot, the skill is should you take the shot.....that requires analysis of conditions range, position, wind, the animal, ammunition etc.

As noted here, I will do whatever I can to help a hunter on the range. Our club in Shilo use to have hunter zeroing day and I would assist with zeroing, scope set up and even brought my computer and chronograph. Unfortunately, very few took advantage of it...

 

[Camp Cook]

I totally agree with what is being said but I will add a slightly different twist to this.

I shoot and work up loads a lot I am constantly trying to better the performance of my rifles/cartridges...

My son who started learning how too shoot when he was 5 years old is now 23 and has been going to University for about 5 years now he doesn't have the time to get out to the range like I do.

So basically before a hunt we head off to the range 2 -4 times and he practices at the different ranges with our rifles that I have been working on for months/years.

He is an excellent shot that can constantly put the bullet into the same kinds of groups that I expect from these rifles so even though he doesn't get the practice like he should get due to the equipment being worked on he has never missed a game animal.

Came close once with a high shoulder hit on a mule deer buck but it was only 20 yards away and he was a little taken back on the deer popping up out of nowhere.

 

[sealhunter]

I agree with the post about your son.

I think there is a certain "like riding a bike element"
If you learn and are taught properly, I think most, even without lots of practice can do well (but at some point in the past there obviously was lots of practice)

My Dad never shoots skeet or trap, and the shotgun comes out opening day and goes away closing day. He shoots as good or better than I do at birds.
He has a rem 1100 he bought in the early 70's. As my pumps, semi's, O/U's came and went, he always had the 1100. He says that he knows how to use his gun, and things like range and lead aren't things that he thinks about anymore. Says it's instinct now to know where to point and whether to pull the trigger.

 

[Levi Garrett]

If Your a ####ty shot, become a better hunter!

 

[Longshot]

I guess my question would be how many hunters have had some type of formal marksmanship training?Not like your dad teaching you,but like a course or some competitive time in the military.Basic marksmanship in the army barely produces guys that can hit a target at 200m.Sad really but true.It is getting better.

 

[Gatehouse]

I guess my question would be how many hunters have had some type of formal marksmanship training?Not like your dad teaching you,but like a course or some competitive time in the military.Basic marksmanship in the army barely produces guys that can hit a target at 200m.Sad really but true.It is getting better.

Not too many.

I had to teach myself to shoot, no mentors. I expect that most hunters got trained by thier dads or uncles, which may or may not be a good thing.

I've always wanted to do the "hunter" course that they have at some of the US schools like Gunsite etc. Even though I shoot alot, I am sure I would learn something.

 

[sheephunter]

I've always wanted to do the "hunter" course that they have at some of the US schools like Gunsite etc. Even though I shoot alot, I am sure I would learn something.

If your mind was open to it you sure would! I'm guessing there's a lot you don't know!

 

[Camp Cook]

Myself I couldn't be bothered with a hunter/shooting course I can out shoot most of those instructors already so theres not much they can teach me...

 

[Gatehouse]

If your mind was open to it you sure would! I'm guessing there's a lot you don't know!

I'm guessing there is a lot most of us don't know. Yourself included.

 

[sheephunter]

I'm guessing there is a lot most of us don't know. Yourself included.

Speaking for myself...there is tons I don't know and after having taken several shooting clinics plus receiving private instruction from some of North America's top shooters, I'm a tiny bit smarter......smart enough to know there's a lot left to learn anyhow!