The hunting season is only a couple of months long so I spent the rest of the time plinking and pesting to improve my effective range. I use a one-inch target as a reference as it represents the kill-zone on pests, squirrels and rabbits.
You see a lot of nice groups from people target shooting in ideal conditions. I'm curious what kinds groups people can achieve in a hunting situation without a bench and a rest.
So what is the range at which you can take an off-hand shot with a high degree of confidence (80% or better?) that you will hit what you are shooting at?
My personal effective range is between 2 and 25 yards. I can expect to hit a one-inch spinner, off-hand, 8 out of 10 times (or better) anywhere within that range.
When I’m hunting or pesting and using a tree for a rest my effective range is 40 to 50 yards in calm conditions. Much beyond that bipods and shooting prone is required and that is not practical for me due to mobile targets, ground cover, ticks and old-man sore joints.
Pesting birds at long ranges with my Panthera is great fun but I admit that I need a lot more practice at reading the wind. A hit on a grackle beyond 100 yards is more of the bird's bad luck than any skill of mine - it's always a surprise to both of us
Cheers!
You see a lot of nice groups from people target shooting in ideal conditions. I'm curious what kinds groups people can achieve in a hunting situation without a bench and a rest.
So what is the range at which you can take an off-hand shot with a high degree of confidence (80% or better?) that you will hit what you are shooting at?
My personal effective range is between 2 and 25 yards. I can expect to hit a one-inch spinner, off-hand, 8 out of 10 times (or better) anywhere within that range.
When I’m hunting or pesting and using a tree for a rest my effective range is 40 to 50 yards in calm conditions. Much beyond that bipods and shooting prone is required and that is not practical for me due to mobile targets, ground cover, ticks and old-man sore joints.
Pesting birds at long ranges with my Panthera is great fun but I admit that I need a lot more practice at reading the wind. A hit on a grackle beyond 100 yards is more of the bird's bad luck than any skill of mine - it's always a surprise to both of us
Cheers!