Proper shooting technique

[jpsmith1]

Is there a 'proper' technique to handle T/C pistols?  I've had great success shooting off of a bench and off of a bipod, but now I want to go mobile.  Obviously, the weight and bulk prevent true offhand shooting without a solid rest, but what happens if you're forced to take a shot without a ready rest.  I've been fooling around with holds and find that holding it like a mini-rifle works well.  Right hand on the grip with left hand supporting the front.  With my left elbow on my knee, it feels just about rock solid.

What do you guys do?  I'm not really a 'stand' hunter, I'd far rather take to my feet and sneak.

[slave]

I often use a monopod as a walking stick / rest. Works great for longer shots. I just can not get relaxed if I use my left hand on the forearm. Even with the front heavy 15" 460 S/W I will use my rest or hold it  two hands on the grip. 

[MePlat]

 "Obviously, the weight and bulk prevent true offhand shooting without a solid rest." 

Sorry but you are wrong.  I have several Encores with full bull barrels that are at least 15 inches long with the brake and I most always shoot offhand.  You have to experiment with your gun since your hand size may be bigger or smaller than mine.  I never hang on to the foreend.  Why do you?
With my strong hand I hold it just like a revolver.  With my weak hand I place the index and middle finger on the bottom of the trigger guard just in front of the spur and the ring finger and my little finger I spread them enough from the index and middle to comfortably place them over the fingers of the stronghand BELOW the spur.  I then balance the weight of the gun on  the  index and middle fingers of the weakhand and the strong hand.  Then I aim just like I would with any gun and squeeze the trigger till it fires.  My strong hand takes all the recoil and the gun will recoil away from the weakhand if the caliber has enough heavy recoil and mine do.  I have never had my fingers mashed using this technique and have taught it to other shooters.
I also use a scope mainly the Bushnell 3200 elite 2-6 power scopes with them setting alot of the times on 6 power when shooting offhand.  That means no support of any kind.
This thing of not being able to shoot Contenders or Encores offhand is an oldwives tale that many believe.  Forget it and get out and try it.  Will it take a little practice?  Yes;   most pistol shooting does and if you are not willing to practice maybe Encore or Contender  shooting isn't for you.
Gary Reeder has a good technique to holding Singleshots if you would care to go to his gun and pornography site and post a question to him on it.

[jpsmith1]

I guess I haven't practiced enough with my contender.  I'm a pretty fair hand with my wheelguns and actually plan on taking my Ruger Bisley elk hunting in a couple of weeks.

As I said, I've gotten great results and I know that the gun shoots better than I could hope to shoot it realistically.

Would returning to open sights help me get started?  I'm currently running a Swift 2x scope on a Super 14"  I've also got a Burris 3x-9x, but forget about that one.  I think I have the opens in a drawer somewhere.  I can handle a 10" with very little problem, the bigger ones just seem too heavy for me to stabilize properly.

Maybe 12" is a good happy medium?  Anyone in a trading mood?   

Edit to clarify...

[xphunter]

I don't practice as much as meplat from a standing position and depending on the circumstances I would need to pass on certain shots if I did not have a rest.  The key to anything is good practice, especially from field rests, not just sending rounds down range.
A pair of shooting sticks may be a good investment whether you are using a revolver or a TC.  Center-grip XP's (and other center-grips) are easier for some off-hand since not all of the weight is forward.

[jpsmith1]

I am truly humbled in the presence of greatness.  By using your technique, MePlat, I am actually able to hold the gun steady enough to shoot.  I haven't yet sent rounds downrange using your technique, but I've been dry-firing and plan on putting a few round together and hauling it to the range for the true test. 

Thanks again.  You may have saved the gun from the trading block.

[Lloyd Smale]

tell you what works for me for off hand shooting a contendor. I use a long rifle lenght cheap black synthetic sling on mine and let it out almost all the way. Sling the gun around my neck and ajust the sling so when i push the gun out in front of me the sling stops it just where I pick up a full scope picture. The sling does wonders for steadying up the gun like that. It works good that way out of a tree blind too.