Author Topic: Shooting from the ground while hunting (long range) (Read 2652 times)

Huntnfish247365 · « **on:** April 10, 2012, 09:37:00 AM »

When taking long shots with your handgun in a hunting situation, do you use anything to stabilize the gun. I have a Savage Striker and anticipate some shots out to 150 yards and want to make sure I have a good steady rest. I am looking for ideas to help me make an accurate longer shot.

roger460xvr · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2012, 01:33:34 PM »

Quote from: Huntnfish247365 on April 10, 2012, 09:37:00 AM

When taking long shots with your handgun in a hunting situation, do you use anything to stabilize the gun. I have a Savage Striker and anticipate some shots out to 150 yards and want to make sure I have a good steady rest. I am looking for ideas to help me make an accurate longer shot.

I use BOG POGS SHOOTING STICKS....

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2012, 11:27:36 PM »

I have a bog pog set myself but not exactly as i looked at the picture and made my own out of a camea tripod. I dont know how youd shoot something as large as a striker without a rest of somekind. Even a cheap set of shooting sticks would help alot. a set can be easily made out of a couple colapsable tent poles

Huntnfish247365 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2012, 12:03:29 AM »

Do you have a picture of what you made from the camera tripod??? I have tried using two monopod shooting sticks but there was a lot of wobble. I will probably have to build something and a tripod seems like it would be much more solid.

huxley · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2012, 05:19:33 AM »

You can use a harris bipod, if you want to lay down and shoot, if you have a swivel stud on your strikers fore end, and use a rear rest like you would use while shooting a rifle off the bench, that is what I use to hunt with when ever I can, with my encores. If you need to be elevatated, you can use a bog pod, they now have a pistol attachment that works pretty good, I used it down in texas out to 150 yards,I'm working on trying to make it more stable, but it did its job for me,on a zebra and oryx

S.B. · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2012, 06:53:45 AM »

I've made my own out of 5/8" dowel rod, camo duct tape, rubber chair feet, an S hook and two field points for arrows.
Steve

jhalcott · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2012, 10:18:01 AM »

I always use some kind of rest. A walking stick, bipod or tripod is essential to long range shooting. Home made rests MAY be cheaper, but not better. NOR lighter.!CHECK Midway and Midsouth for sticks that do double duty. BassPro sells a "Trigger stick" that easily adjusts. It says on the package that it IS NOT a walking stick though.

manofthe45 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2012, 04:21:35 PM »

I use a bog tripod, but my longest shot on a deer was off a bi pod laying prone before I got the bog. Luckily before my back surgery because that was one long wet day laying prone from before light to almost dusk.

painted horse · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2012, 05:00:34 AM »

When hiking in the woods behind my place I used to carry a "walking stick" I'd made from a sun dried pine limb. It looked like a sling shot with about a 5 and a half foot handle. It was about 2-2 1/2 inches in dia. The "yoke" and, oh, probably the top 1ft (where I carried it in my hand) I wrapped in leather. It made a real nice walking stick but for a shootin stick it wasn't a lot a help. With just one point of ground contact you really couldn't hold it much steadier than you could hold the pistol with a two hand grip..if there ain't a tree handy to lean against I drop one knee to the ground and brace my off elbow on my other knee. Not sayin it works any better, just what I do. Same thing I done while running through the bushes in the military..course that was a rifle..

xphunter · « **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2012, 11:38:44 AM »

Where will you likely be shooting from?
Ground, table, blind (what kind of blind)?

Quote from: Huntnfish247365 on April 10, 2012, 09:37:00 AM

When taking long shots with your handgun in a hunting situation, do you use anything to stabilize the gun. I have a Savage Striker and anticipate some shots out to 150 yards and want to make sure I have a good steady rest. I am looking for ideas to help me make an accurate longer shot.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2012, 02:25:19 PM »

Some kind of rest such as a bipod or walking stick (monopod) really increases accuracy but I am amazed at the lengths guys will go to just so they can use a pistol. By the time they are finished, they would have saved time and weight (as well as made a shot quicker) by carrying a rifle in the first place

But to each their own and you can have a lot of fun practicing. My friend had his .308 encore slung over his back in some brush and up jumped a deer at close range. Of course he drew his 9mm and dropped it with 1 shot. By the time he would have needed to get the Encore set up, the deer would have been long gone.

Huntnfish247365 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2012, 01:17:58 AM »

More than likely will be hunting from a blind. This will be in Indiana. I will be using a Savage Striker in .308 win. A pistol in this caliber is legal for deer, however, a rifle is not.

xphunter · « **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2012, 07:42:13 AM »

Ground or tree?
Box blind or metal frame?
What kind of shooting platform (table, frame of deer blind, etc..) that you might have?

Quote from: Huntnfish247365 on April 13, 2012, 01:17:58 AM

More than likely will be hunting from a blind. This will be in Indiana. I will be using a Savage Striker in .308 win. A pistol in this caliber is legal for deer, however, a rifle is not.

Ladobe · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2012, 12:05:23 PM »

Quote from: xphunter on April 14, 2012, 07:42:13 AM

Ground or tree?
Box blind or metal frame?
What kind of shooting platform (table, frame of deer blind, etc..) that you might have?

Quote from: Huntnfish247365 on April 13, 2012, 01:17:58 AM
More than likely will be hunting from a blind. This will be in Indiana. I will be using a Savage Striker in .308 win. A pistol in this caliber is legal for deer, however, a rifle is not.

What's next... what color of shirt will you be wearing? (just yanking your chain "A"

)

Confidence from lots of practice is your best "rest". 150 yards is not even close to long range to me, not with specialty handguns. Your 308 is easily capable way past 150. 300-500 is getting closer to being long range for some specialty handguns, well beyond that for others.

I never hunted from a blind, but used and practiced a lot with lots of options for in the field using my handguns. Walking staffs, bipods, tripods, slings, any handy "lean" and stance. Some work better than others for more circumstances, but they all help if you become confident using any of them. My favorite, if the lay of the land and time allowed it was shooting from the Creedmore position with my specialty handguns. Nothing extra to carry or set up... the"tools" for it are built in.

From a blind (any kind, any place) coming up with a very solid rest is a bunch easier than when out hunting spot and stock like I did. So whatever is easily carriable to your blind that works for you will get it done IMO.

xphunter · « **Reply #14 on:** April 14, 2012, 01:20:58 PM »

Good to see you posting as always.
No since of recommending a rest type that he wouldn't use.

Getting ready to try several different rests systems for sitting, kneeling and standing for shots out to 500+ yards or so in the near future.

Ladobe · « **Reply #15 on:** April 14, 2012, 09:45:03 PM »

Just add up your "points" to at least three to have the best for handgun long range shooting in any field position. A "lean" is a point that can be incorporated into any field poisiton (whether offhand, with sticks, staff, etc). It doesn't take much to constitute a lean, and it doesn't have to be a solid object to make it a "point" IOW. A lean helps kneeling especially (my least favorite field postion for long range). Yeah I know some won't agree, but with very strong hands/arms and five decades shooting handguns I actually shot HG's standing better than kneeling.

Rodent · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2012, 03:07:23 PM »

I hunt using a Striker chambered in 308 and use a set of shooting sticks that make a "X" close to the top. Holds the striker just fine. Been using this method for a few years. I rest my elbows on my knees and try to be sitting on my butt with my back against a tree or large rock. I take shots out to 200 or so with this setup. I practice alot though. A whole lot and probably shoot this pistol at least 50 shots a month. I compete with it in IHMSA matches.

Huntnfish247365 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 18, 2012, 12:13:41 AM »

Thanks for all of the helpful ideas with my inquiry. I hope to squeeze the trigger on one this fall using my striker.

Lonegun1894 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2012, 01:06:00 PM »

Although I have a Contender, I have had my revolvers MUCH longer, and have gotten used to finding a branch, tree, etc to lean against or use as a rest, carrying a simple usually Cedar (which we have plenty of around here and is very light when dry, or just shooting offhand or kneeling as has been mentioned. I have used the creedmore position at the range with very good results, but have not had an opportunity to use it hunting yet. I cant speak for the factory made rests, even though many seem well made, as I've been cheap and just used my staff/walking stick.

xphunter · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2012, 01:27:44 PM »

With this set-up 150 yards is a piece of cake:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j4/xphunter_2006/PSR2.jpg[/img]]

Quote from: Huntnfish247365 on April 10, 2012, 09:37:00 AM

When taking long shots with your handgun in a hunting situation, do you use anything to stabilize the gun. I have a Savage Striker and anticipate some shots out to 150 yards and want to make sure I have a good steady rest. I am looking for ideas to help me make an accurate longer shot.

bulletstuffer · « **Reply #20 on:** April 22, 2012, 04:19:28 AM »

The picture above says it all. To get bench rest type accuracy the front and rear of the weapon must be supported and solid. That being said you don't need that type of accuracy to to shoot critters but it sure goes a long way giving you confidence to make a good shot.

Good luck,

Bulletstuffer

xphunter · « **Reply #21 on:** April 22, 2012, 04:23:56 AM »

Connecting on steel out to 600 yards and maybe further should not be an issue with that set-up.

jem44357 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:45:53 AM »

This is what I made. It is lighter/cheaper than anything I found to purchase and more versatile.

It is a cheap $10 shooting stick inserted into a camera tripod, it was a perfect fit, with some camo tape. I guess it would be a quad-pod. It can also extend far enough to shoot standing. The benefit to this system is I can remove the shooting stick for a combo walking/shooting stick. It extends out far enough for me to use when I use my .22 Contender for squirrel hunting which is what is in the pic. BTW I can install the camera stuff and use it for that also. As you can barely see in the pic the short carry strap hooks into the front sling swivel/stud. As I pull down and line up on target everything tightens up as if it were one piece for a rock solid sight picture. I can use this on all of my guns that have a front sling swivel and stud. It even works for my shotguns. It can also extend far enough to shoot standing.

If anyone is interested send me a PM and I will track down the names of the components. I had the tripod and I think they are obsolete but I see them on e-bay. I see the sticks at all of the sporting goods stores.

I know this one does not look like a hand gun but it can be and I do shoot it sitting down. It's my Encore 20 ga. Turkey gun. I made the mono pod out of things gathered form my "good stuff not worth throwing away" pile. It swivels around the barrle and is extendable to a highet prefect for a shooting from a kneeling position. When it is folded along side the gun I can still sight and shoot. It also slings vey well you do not even notice it. I am certain I could shoot accurately with it on my Encore in pistol from.

Jim

sscoyote · « **Reply #23 on:** April 23, 2012, 11:10:04 AM »

I have found the most portable, versatile, and stable position system i've ever used is a tall Harris bipod/soft-sided stadium seat along with an Accu-Shot monopod attached to a sling swivel stud on the bottom of the pistol grip for prone. I shot this coyote using the stadium seat system from the sitting position seen below--

xphunter · « **Reply #24 on:** April 23, 2012, 04:32:11 PM »

Very nice Steve!

sscoyote · « **Reply #25 on:** April 23, 2012, 05:56:24 PM »

Thks. Ern. Have you tried the Accu-Shot monopod yet? It is one slick gizmo, that actually works. It allows me to use the tall Harris from prone with a lightweight bag like Holland's. I've shot out to 700 yds. with that rig above with a good bit of accuracy.

xphunter · « **Reply #26 on:** April 24, 2012, 04:38:36 AM »

With the Bog Pod and their PSR, I feel that I can extremely accurate with a SP. Combined with a stadium seat, it should be amazing what I can consistently do.
I have not tried the accu-shot monopod to date.