Author Topic: How terrible am I? (Read 2332 times)

timothy · « **on:** July 31, 2011, 01:17:10 PM »

The other day I went out desert bumming with my 6.5" ruger blackhawk 357. I took a total of 15 shots at jackrabbits all from 50 to 75 yards. All together I hit 1 and missed 14 times. As much as i love my sixguns im begining to think I just might be using the wrong tool. Am I expecting too much or would you guys have cleaned up at those ranges? Regardless i just dont think I'll ever be much of a crack handgun shot. I think for my use sixguns out to be kept for big game and targets at closer ranges. What do you think?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2011, 02:25:27 PM »

I would say, practice at them ranges, and you won't have a problem. Myself, I handgun hunt like I bow hunt. I like to get close to my game, out to 30 to 40 yards. I have taken game further, but I also practice at longer ranges. .. If you want to go longer ranges get a scope on your gun. I am assuming you are using iron sights?

Austin from NC · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2011, 06:13:28 PM »

Practice, Practice, Practice and then Practice some more.
Austin

Ladobe · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2011, 06:47:23 PM »

Quote from: Racjarrett88 on July 31, 2011, 06:13:28 PM

Practice, Practice, Practice and then Practice some more.

That's exactly the right ticket, bar none.

Most of my SA's over the years did not have adjustable sights, just a front blade and notched top strap. But with plenty of practice they shot where I looked and pointed them, I didn't aim them. Those I shot the most often and the most rounds through were the real killers at various ranges. One in particular I got pretty good with even at long range, and taking a few game birds on the fly. Still have it, one of those that will probably never go away until I do.

painted horse · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2011, 07:38:38 PM »

Sounds about normal from my neck of the woods...

See the horse in my avatar, well he's about 1300lbs and stands 16hands. If he was standing at my barn, which is 100yds from the house, he'd probably be pretty safe with me shootin at him with a 45 vaquero.

Mikey · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2011, 02:27:00 AM »

Ha! I think you oughta go out bummin' in the desert more often with that Ruger, and do as the others recommend, practice a bunch more. You also did not say what loads you were using but you really have to understand that a 75 yd shot at a jackrabbit is not easy; I think you just need a bit more practice and some more 'bummin' time.......

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2011, 02:30:18 AM »

Timothy, The key, or turning point for a lot of shooters to include myself is to keep the sights (specially that front one) in sharp focus while letting the target blurr out a bit.

The "blurry target", even a 2" steel plate at the 50 yd line or farther, will have a large center to hold the sights on when one does induce a blurr on the target.

I can take this one step farther with my claim that I can shoot my 3-7/8" bbl .45 Colt just as accurately as the same with a 7-1/2" using the same principal.

temmi · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2011, 06:41:39 AM »

Quote from: Redhawk1 on July 31, 2011, 02:25:27 PM

I would say, practice at them ranges, and you won't have a problem. ...
...

+1

Tom W. · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2011, 05:17:08 PM »

So what's new? We've ALL been through that stage and some ( like myself ) ain't a whole lot better. It's just hard to admit....

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2011, 02:23:42 AM »

do yourself a favor. Buy a 22 pistol. Something nice but reasonalby priced like a ruger single six. Now buy yourself a case of 22 shells. Take a box out everyday and dont just blast them up. Actually consentrate on what your doing. Watch your sight picture and pay attention to your trigger work every shot! Id about bet that after that you will be missing one instead of just shooting one.

ole 5 hole group · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2011, 10:42:30 AM »

You might have had an off day. A jackrabbit is pretty skinny and unless you get a full broadside, there’s not a whole lot to shoot at. If your Blackhawk will give you 2” groups at 25 yards benched then you can probably expect 5” at 50 to 75 yards offhand on uneven ground. On a good day you might go 3 for 5 if there’s not a lot of cover between you & them but to do better you need a tack driving revolver and some quality trigger time. Missing a rabbit at 75 yards by an inch, is the same as a mile, when you’re keeping score.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2011, 11:38:58 AM »

A Jack at 75 yards is not an easy target with a revolver. I'd sight in at 50 yards with an accurate load for the gun, then just keep doing what you are doing. It will make you a better shot as time goes by. Besides, I bet you scared the H out of the ones you missed..

Larry

Mohawk · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2011, 02:48:44 PM »

I second what Bigeasy and Mikey said. I have no problem with using a "duty" revolver to take a whitetail deer. The "range" is not for lethality of the bullet, it is the range at which the sights lose their usability. In short, can a .357 kill a deer at 75 yards? Absolutely! But I would never take that shot. That's just me. My one test shot with my .38 Spl deer load was at a magazine published by the local electric company. 8"1/2 by 11". The bullet hit at the top of the front sight. At my deer a year later I aimed at the same point and impacted where I knew it would be. Dead Deer. And this is at 25-30yds. To me at my limitations, 75 + yds is way too long for a jackrabbit sized animal. With practice for sure, but not in my time allowances for that much practice. Especially, a load that would be that precise at that distance.

pastorp · « **Reply #13 on:** September 11, 2011, 06:19:16 AM »

Timothy,

When I was in my prime I could kill Jack rabbits at those ranges almost everytime, but as I age my eyesight is not what it used to be.

You didn't say how old you were. If you have perfect eyesight then practice lots. If your eyes are failing get a scope or a shotgun.

Regards,

Dee · « **Reply #14 on:** September 11, 2011, 06:35:13 AM »

I put a red dot on my Browning 22 Buckmark. With a rest, I don't miss much.

chefjeff · « **Reply #15 on:** September 11, 2011, 08:17:07 AM »

As stated above, maybe you should consider an optic. Not such a joy to carry,but should improve your accuracy and confidence.

Rodent · « **Reply #16 on:** September 16, 2011, 08:06:24 AM »

Well, I reckon how terrible you are depends on if they are in season and whether you are going to eat what you kill or not.

RB Rooson · « **Reply #17 on:** September 16, 2011, 08:54:57 AM »

As many have said "it is practise, practise, practise".....!

Short story:

Started Cowboy Action Shooting in 1998, thinking I knew how to shoot and how difficult could this be? Five years later, in 2003, I realized that I had learned ALOT about shooting (speed and accuracy) - neither of which I was very proficient at. I took a break from the competitions in May of that year and just stayed at home and practised every other day on metal swinging metal targets about the size of a softball from 10 yards. 300 - 400 rounds night after night for 3 months. Never varied the distance, never bothered to vary the target size.

After two months I started backing up to 15 yards (was getting abit bored) and continued the last month for 45 feet. Must have shot over 13,000 rounds during that time. Returned to Shooting Matches in September of that year. Found out that I could hit any target that they put out there with my pistols.

Won my class in the next nine (9) Matches and comments were made that I must have attended some type of professional training.....Nope, just practised incessantly for 3 solid months.

Moral: anyone can do it if I did. I am not special in anyway whatsoever.

Secondly, many (especially guys) think they are good shots.....most are not. Cowboy Action Shooting will force you to use three (3) different guns: pistol, rifle and shotgun.....under pressure and at a multitude of varied targets. It simply taught me how to shoot, when I thought I already knew......!

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #18 on:** September 16, 2011, 09:25:19 AM »

Quote from: timothy on July 31, 2011, 01:17:10 PM

The other day I went out desert bumming with my 6.5" ruger blackhawk 357. I took a total of 15 shots at jackrabbits all from 50 to 75 yards. All together I hit 1 and missed 14 times. As much as i love my sixguns im begining to think I just might be using the wrong tool. Am I expecting too much or would you guys have cleaned up at those ranges? Regardless i just dont think I'll ever be much of a crack handgun shot. I think for my use sixguns out to be kept for big game and targets at closer ranges. What do you think?

You can see a rabbit at 75 yards? Without a rest I would be hard pressed to hit them with a scoped .22 free hand.

briarpatch · « **Reply #19 on:** September 16, 2011, 05:14:39 PM »

Let them stop running and your score will go up.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #20 on:** September 26, 2011, 06:49:50 PM »

For those that do not know, Jack rabbits here in the southwest get as big as Cocker Spaniels. They are considered varmints and with a hunting license can be hunted year round. They are stringy and during much of the year are wormy. I only know of one person that actually ate Jack rabbits.

pathfinder · « **Reply #21 on:** September 29, 2011, 02:28:58 PM »

I've noticed as my eyes have degraded that I've needed to sharpen my stalking skills when hunting with the bow or handgun. Depending on the quarry I'm probably and inside of 35 yard hunter now. Don't mind crawling on my belly to get a good shot, even on a Grouse. I figure a "hail Mary" shot (beyond easy) is just wasting ammo.

I enjoy the challenge. I don't take the shots I did when I was younger, but seem to be more patient and even a little more successful. I pass on a lot more shots these days but when I do squeeze the trigger it seems to be a done deal. Getting old sucks but hunting is still mighty fun.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #22 on:** September 29, 2011, 02:54:09 PM »

+1 on getting old sucks, the arms are getting to short to see the sights well.

S.B. · « **Reply #23 on:** September 30, 2011, 04:21:56 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on August 02, 2011, 02:23:42 AM

do yourself a favor. Buy a 22 pistol. Something nice but reasonalby priced like a ruger single six. Now buy yourself a case of 22 shells. Take a box out everyday and dont just blast them up. Actually consentrate on what your doing. Watch your sight picture and pay attention to your trigger work every shot! Id about bet that after that you will be missing one instead of just shooting one.

I agree with this thinking 100%, also, one heck of a lot cheaper to shoot.
Steve

Fire Fox · « **Reply #24 on:** September 30, 2011, 09:32:39 PM »

I would say you are not terrible at all but just need practice and experience. I have hunted exclusively with a handgun for over 40 years and still have bad days. I have seen many good hand gun shots in competition go to pieces in a hunting situation. Good results seem to be a combination of practice, common sense, knowing your limitations, and be in a slow hurry. Hunting with a hand gun is suppose to be hard and most people that do it do so for the excitement and challenge. Hunters with rifles, shotguns, bows and other devices have similar problems. However, the more more difficult the weapon, prey, and distance ( short range or long range) is the more practice and skill needed to perform the task.I do not know of any one that started out exceptional without hard work. You will find that you need to listen to all of the suggestions given and find what works for you. Looking back on my youth and beginning I practiced a great deal but had problems with getting to excited and forgot everything when the moment came. One of my older friends gave me advice that practice is great to improve muscle memory and to remember that I could fall apart with excitement after the game was dispatched and I still get very excited after.My dad always told me to get in a slow hurry in order to size up the situation, to make a clean dispatch, and be sure of my point of aim. If you concentrate on the sight picture and location on the animal when the gun goes off then you can many times call your shots. Make sure you don't aim at the animal but a certain spot on the animal. This may be part of your problem as well as technique. I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me over the years.

P.S. Remember with a hand gun you have to be willing to pass up shots. Many times if the game gets away before you are ready to shoot then it is better than having to deal with a wounded one. Don't rush the shot too much.

bubbinator · « **Reply #25 on:** September 30, 2011, 09:58:04 PM »

Timothy- you mentioned "going to the desert" to shoot-which brings to mind a wide open space that-other than dust puffs- gives you no quality feedback on what you are doing. Given your local-I'd get a large target backer base-wood frame/appliance box/etc. and put a clean white backing-paper/poster board-you get the idea. Put a 4" visible target-marker/rabbit-whatever-on it. Back off 25 yds. Get a GOOD rest with nothing touching the barrel-get the most steady sight picture you can manage- and carefully press the trigger, making the gun firing surprise you-do not anticiapate it-surprise! A box of cheap ammo spent like this will tell you a story. Certain things you do make bullets hit in certain areas not at your point of aim. There small handout cards from gunshops, info on line about handgun shooting that will explain the groups you shoot-especially if you take care in paying attention. I am now retired, but as a State Police FBI trained Firearms instructor for over 15 yrs and a handgun hunter/ shooter since 1970 my biggest aid to accurate shooting was good targets that give you feedback on mistakes. Good luck.

rugershooter · « **Reply #26 on:** October 17, 2011, 02:48:18 PM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on August 02, 2011, 02:23:42 AM

do yourself a favor. Buy a 22 pistol. Something nice but reasonalby priced like a ruger single six. Now buy yourself a case of 22 shells. Take a box out everyday and dont just blast them up. Actually consentrate on what your doing. Watch your sight picture and pay attention to your trigger work every shot! Id about bet that after that you will be missing one instead of just shooting one.

This is the way to go you can pratice alot more with a .22lr for alot less money. This will get you in shape for those longer shots in the dessert