Advanced Marksmanship Help with difficult shooting positions.

[wadcutter]

Could someone please offer me some advice with regards to field shooting in difficult positions.
I shoot long range in high canyon type country where it is common to shoot from uncomfortable positions and it is very rare that I can get straight behind the rifle.
The photo below shows a typical set up for a shot. The other photo shows the type of country that I shoot in.
Any advice that would improve my technique would be welcome.

 

[chosen_karma]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

I cringe at the thought of mentioning it, but you could use a solid, fully adjustable, bipod or a daypack as a support perhaps, I realize the prone will be the most stable for the long shots, but in your case either a yoga class, a different shooting location or one of the above items MIGHT help. I have a ruck with a aluminum frame that I mounted a cradle for my rifle that works well in a supported seating or kneeling position depending on the angle, I am org from Montana, so I feel your pain ! JMO Good luck, wish I was there!

 

[wadcutter]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

Thanks mate.
I am using a Harris bipod in the photo.
Just thinking I could get better control of the rifle and trigger.

 

[peteyen86]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

Hey Wadcutter,
Maybe in a seated position with shooting sticks or tripod like 96C is using in this link. Looks pretty good.

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showgallery&Number=1523281

Hard spot to be in though, if you dont mind me asking where abouts is this location your in?


Cheers

Pete

 

[wadcutter]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

Pete,
It is up Bendoc way.
Shots are over 900 yards so need to get a very steady rest.
I prefer to get as low as possible to the ground.

I have to pack in for a few hours to get there so don't want to carry too much crap with me.

 

[gyr]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

I normally use a back pack and when possible, a little rest for the butt of the stock.I´d rather be behind the rifle leaning on a rock, than shoot from such a wide angle as in your picture.

Being low is great, but shooting "sideways" does nt work well for me. As long as you can get a rest, i.e a rock, place your pack there, try to lean on the rock yourself and rifle with 2 contact points ( front and back of stock), and your firing hand wrist or elbow supported, even in one of your legs if you are in a siting or kneeling position.

 

[gyr]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

IN your pic, I would ( and this is only a subjective opinion on what may work for me) put a backpack where you have the yellow gps/ anemometer or whatever it is, try ( little rocks allowing) to be prone, even if I had to bend my knees and lift my calves over my butt, or lay my shins on the rock behind.

Well I dont know if I have explained myself.....

 

[High Binder]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

Personally, I find that any position I can get into where I don't have some specifically uncomfortable object poking me is the best I can hope for. Objects like sharp rocks and sticks screw me up more than anything else because I can't get comfortable thus stable. I also machined spikes for the ends of my pod legs which are way more stable in environments like the the pic you posted.

 

[wadcutter]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shot In The Dark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Personally, I find that any position I can get into where I don't have some specifically uncomfortable object poking me is the best I can hope for. Objects like sharp rocks and sticks screw me up more than anything else because I can't get comfortable thus stable. I also machined spikes for the ends of my pod legs which are way more stable in environments like the the pic you posted. </div></div>
Good advice fella's. Thanks.
The spike idea sounds like an interesting modification to the Harris bipod. Do you have any pictures of them?

 

[High Binder]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wadcutter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shot In The Dark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Personally, I find that any position I can get into where I don't have some specifically uncomfortable object poking me is the best I can hope for. Objects like sharp rocks and sticks screw me up more than anything else because I can't get comfortable thus stable. I also machined spikes for the ends of my pod legs which are way more stable in environments like the the pic you posted. </div></div>
Good advice fella's. Thanks.
The spike idea sounds like an interesting modification to the Harris bipod. Do you have any pictures of them? </div></div>

I'll get some pics and upload them for you tomorrow. I have several different spikes that I made (I was a machinist for 6 years) all designed by me for different terrans I would/could encounter.

 

[UKDslayer]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

Besides the aforementioned shooting sticks, I would think it would be more comfortable to just "build up" a forward rest with your ruck and shoot sitting than that awkward (?lateral prone) position.

 

[Natty Bumpo]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

I don't know how long you've had that rifle; but, isn't it time you took the price tag off?

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

Three dowels about 10"-12" long and maybe 5/8" in diameter lashed together and splayed can make a tripod rest, with the rifle sitting in the upper crook. Maybe some rubber crutch feet on the dowels, whatever. A lanyard loosely attaching the tripod to the rifle in some way, in case you need to get up and move fast. A beanbag rear bag can help provide mildly adjustable rear support.

Criminy, with all that real estate, I've just got to believe you can find a 'better lie' if you look about some.

Greg

 

[Quickoz]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

Wadcutter, thats some nice shooting country you have there. What are you going after??

Greg, this is australia mate, I wouldnt be surprised if thats the best he can find.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

An adjustable set of sticks, and a full pack, can be your very best friend:::

Sometimes, a leg in the back from a friend helps get you stable. You can get a lot of practice in on level ground with a couple guys helping each other out.

I guide a lot of hunters each year.... one of the things MOST hunters are very poor at, is telling their guide/friend/spotter, what they need to get more stable, BEFORE taking the shot. IF they can't, they will usually take a "compromised" shot.... and suffer the results...

 

[HellsCanyonArmory]

Re: Help with difficult shooting positions.

Wadcutter, I've hunted colorado at 11.5K ft, Multiple areas of Idaho, and quite extensively in cascade wilderness of Washington. While prone is an ideal shooting position, I VERY rarely get to use a prone position. I have the Harris bipod that is their second shortest model (extendable legs obviously).

I've found that I can almost ALWAYS find a position where I can sit on my ass and either extend or shorten the bipod legs to allow a better rest. The most popular shooting platform I've used has been throwing my pack (Badlands 2200, with a flat padded back) on a rock outcrop and throwing my bipod on top and has allowed me some extremely stable conditions...

I was lucky with this shooting position, we belly-crawled up to the rockoutcrops that allowed me to lay my bipod on them and lay behind the rifle to make an easy 348 yd shot on my bull elk.

IMHO no matter how steep the terrain, you can always find a better shooting platform than the one you illustrate, although most of the time it requires me sitting instead of laying. Just my .02

Mike