Stand on yur hind legs and shoot like a man... How far is too far off hand?

About 4 yrs ago, I was hunting a field and there were 2 nice buck, I figured a 10 and an 8 pointers, they were following 3 does but 1 especially nose in her tail, the biggest one followed the doe in the bush and the other one continued walking slowly and I made my choice on the 8 pointer he was closer but still at 250/260yds. I was out in the open in a recently cut corn field, this was as close I could get.

I kneeled and shot him broadside, he jumped 6ft in the air kicking back legs and head towards the bush, I stood up and as he stopped, just at the woodline, he looked at me and I took another shot. First shot was low in the rib cage but took the heart tip off and second hit him top of spine and stopped in the off shoulder. He made 30ft and stayed down :D .

Mesured at 245yds, I was feeling very good and was eigher to try some 140gr ballistic tips reloads. That was the first deer I took with my Tikka 7MMRM, turned out he was a 9 pointer :D . Lucky shot? Perhaps, I practice a lot at 100yds, not as much at 200yds+.

I like the rifle, it fits me good and is dead on target, 2" high at 100yds, I am no sniper, I knew I had to hit the vitals and was confident I could hit a plate size target to be deadly when the grouping is +- 5/8" at 100yds (bench) with this rifle :D .

Good discussion
 
I can't think of a time when I haven't used some kind of rest when shooting at animals. I do practice at 100 yds freehand and am confident at that range, but it isn't my first choice. If a rest is there I will use it.
 
Mr.4x4 said:
Id agree that 100 - 150 is max for me. If in doubt I grab a tree.... poet
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Dude, you are a breath of fresh air around here! What a howl! LOL :D

150 yards and less I will let fly as I am comfortable most of the time to that range. Usually if I can I will drop to one knee or sit. If a tree is available I like to lean into one, but that has only happened twice that I can remember.
 
Claybuster said:
Our rifle range has a dueling tree set up at 200 yards with 8" plates. I can't hit them off hand often enough to reliably claim 200 but from 100 it's not a problem so 100 yards or so is what I'm comfortable with. I can hit the plate at 200 reliably if resting against one of the posts that holds up the range roof.

Maybe it's the influence of years of shotgunning but I find more success in hitting longer targets with the rifle if I'm moving laterally and touch the trigger just as the reticle crosses the target. Trying to hold steady on a stationery target is a lot tougher. Anyone else find the same?
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I agree with Claybuster on this one. I find I'm better shooting offhand if my reticle or sight picture is crossing the target when I squeeze the trigger... and I'm not a good wingshooter by any means.

As for standing stationary offhand shots, I'm in the 100ish yards club too...
 
I got a doe off hand this year at 100yds. As soon as I pulled the trigger I knew it was farther than I should be shooting without a rest. Turns out the shot was perfect, but it didnt feel right.

75yds for me. Maybe I can get out to 125yds or so with some practice.
 
Pie plate size, same as the general rule for bow hunting.
Keepp 'em inside a pie plate, and that's your range.
However, I haven't seen too many animals running around with pie plates or targets strapped to them!!:D
I shoot and compete offhand most of the year, and can hold my own on a silhouette or rifle rodeo course.
It also depends on thhe rifle I am using at the time.
If I can use some sort of rest while hunting , however, I do.
If I can drop to one knee instead of shooting offhand, I do that.
The point is, every hunting shot is different, and a person should try to use every advantage they can with their chosen firearm,to minimize the "what if" caveat!:cool:
Cat
 
Johnn Peterson said:
You're a better man than 'most'. 275 yds/M's, offhand, Moose was trotting, you were 'calm'???????????????? What do you usually shoot for a group, offhand, @ 275, yds/M's?
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I practice a lot offhand, everytime I am at the range and thousands of 22 in my yard (acreage).

I always take some 100, 200, and 250 offhand shots. I say 60-70% of the time I am in the moose kill zone at 250 )the black on my targets are equal to a moose kill zone roughly)

That day, when I say conditions were perfect, I mean I was zoned. Sometimes you know you can't miss and this was one of them. I watched that moose run straight away from me for over 150 yards and just before he went in the bush he started to run broadside. I scoped him and I felt great about the shot, so I took it.

Could I do it regularly, likely not. But that day, I knew mr moose was going down. I have had much easier shots where I didn't feel near as confident as that one.
 
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About 100yds is good for me, but up to 200 I'll try to hold gun on him & if the shot feels good I'll take it! I always look for a rest thou...maybe it's age
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Age , I don't think so, its what we all want , a clean kill.
The shot , a very small percentage of the entire experience of hunting big game, get it right:runaway:
 
I'd say 200 yds.

Our Milshoots have two stages where it is 100 yds off-hand - both slow-fire and snap. These are 50+ year old technology, unmodified, iron-sighted guns, and I'd say the vast majority of shots would hit a deer's vitals. With a scoped modern rifle, and correct use a sling, most of those shooters (myself included) should be just as good at 200 yds.
 
80 yards

I know that works because I have done it. But I always seek a rest if I can, shooting prone resting my rifle on my daypack or seated, resting my elbows inside my knees.

I've practised offhand at 50 yards and know that I wobble too much.
 
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A scope does not increase a shooters accuracy ability X2. Especially offhand. It does make it easier to see the target. If a scope is cranked up too high it may be counter productive.
 
Hang a clay bird at 100yds and take a shot, I bet most average hunters and shooters wouldnt touch it with less than 5 tries. Also I bet there is a lot of people who take that 100-150yds off-hand shot are actually only shooting 60-80yds.

I've tried, thats how I know I cant hit it first shot every time.

Of course there are those who could hit the clay at 150yds or better....
 
A lot depends on what you are shooting at, how much time you have to make a shot and is it only going to be a one shot. I would have trouble hitting a pie plate at 100 yards standing because I am a bad shot, but give me a running coyote 100 plus yards and I bet he will run into my bullet because of my bad shooting.
 
I dislike offhand shots and will always take a rest of some sort if it is available. That being said, I practice offhand shooting a lot, and any game animal inside 150 yards is toast! I have taken a few out a bit farther offhand, but don't feel comfortable with those shots. A rest is always a good idea. Regards, Eagleye.
 
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