Prone position handgunning

[jlwilliams]

  I was watching an old WWII training film on DVD.  They had a course where they shot so many pop up targets from prone at 50 yards, moved on, engaged a couple more knealing at 25 yards, then a couple more point shooting at close range while standing.  Neat film. 
 
  After watching it it occured to me, I never practice shooting a handgun from prone.  I never see anybody at a range shoot anything but standing or sometimes from a bench supported.  Now, prone has the same advantages with a handgun as it does with a rifle. Stable, smaller target presented (in a defensive situation) and better cover/concealment (cover for defense, concealment if hunting).  All that and I never practice shooting from my belly.  I practice offhand and I often take a knee at the range.  But never put my belly in the grass.  Kind of overlooking an important one there.
 
  I have noticed at the range that I almost never see anybody shoot rifles from the ground either.  I figure that the demographic at my range tends toward older guys who don't want to get all the way down on the ground.  That's fine, but none of the younger guys do it either.  There is a spot at the end of the nches where you can, but no one does. 
 
  My question is:  how many of you guys practice shooting a handgun prone?

[Brett]

I occasionally shoot from a sitting position (on the ground not on a chair or bench) but have not tried completely prone.  Just haven't seen a need for it.  A sitting position, back against a tree, with arms braced against knees is useful when squirrel hunting.

[Keith1]

I shoot mostly prone both rifle and pistol at long range targets. My shooting is not done at a formal "range" but on my daily walks in open country here in Wyoming.
I suppose that I am considerer "old" at 71 years and I learned that type of shooting in the Marine Corps many years ago.
Regards, Keith

[jlwilliams]

I shoot mostly prone both rifle and pistol at long range targets. My shooting is not done at a formal "range" but on my daily walks in open country here in Wyoming.
I suppose that I am considerer "old" at 71 years and I learned that type of shooting in the Marine Corps many years ago.
Regards, Keith

  Interesting.  You learned it in service years ago, and I just saw this in an old military training film.  As prone pistol work seems less prevalent today; I wonder if it is still taught in the service today.  Maybe the current wisdom doesn't envision a pistol being used in that way.  Hopefully someone with more recent service can chime in and tell us what the current pistol training is in regards to this.  I'd also like to hear from more guys who served years ago; did you all learn this?  When?
 
  I recently read a piece on law enforcement shootings.  In almost all cases of officers being shot over decades in NY city (where the piece was researched and written), they had failed in the heat of the moment to make use of cover that was available to them.  Granted, that was determined after the fact by investigators not under fire, but the point remains.  I wonder if the emphasis toward shooting while standing in practice translates to people remaining standing to shoot when they should go down and shoot.  Also, I have no idea how much of this un used cover was corners of buildings or the like.  Food for thought.
 
  My main interest in this is longer range shooting and hunting from a ground blind.  I'll be practicing my prone handgunning this summer.  Last year my state opened handgun hunting for the first time in years.  Lots of restrictions, but the new reg has increased many folks' handgunning enthusiasm around here.  Maybe this summer's practice will come into the fall's hunting plans.  We'll see.

[Ladobe]

My favorite long range handgun position is Creedmore.   With all the specialty handguns I've owned long range IS long range.   A method I picked up many years ago when I first started shooting IHMSA, but it works very well in the field as well and is as solid as off a bench.   I use it for any 6"  barreled handgun whether it be specialty, revolver or pistol.   Used to have/use a Ken Light leg guard, but found it wasn't needed in a hunting situation even with revolvers.   Easy and quick enough to get into as long as you have a clear FOV from ground level.

[ole 5 hole group]

 Shooting prone in the outdoors seems like a great idea until you have to do it.  On the high powder ranges the grass is cut and you’re on a hill of sorts lying on a mat.  Now in a lot of hunting situations you have tall grass, brush that bites and small rocks that message your elbows. 

I’ve done some long range shooting from elevation on antelope prone, which was no big deal but trying to sneak on a herd is no fun at all with cactus and other unfriendly vegetation.  Once you get within the range you’re comfortable with you still need to find a semi-open area to take the shot from.  Now if you got ankle, knee and elbow pads you’re in better shape.

Shooting prairie dogs – the prone guys can’t see very far compared to the guys shooting off tables. 

With a pistol/revolver it’s the same except you’re not steady at all compared to using a sling/bipod with a rifle.  Resting your elbows on the ground doesn’t make for a real good rest if you’re shooting 50 to 100 yards.  If I feel the need to sneak and take a handgun shot from prone, I’ll have a small pack with me for a rest, as that works a whole lot better than just elbows.

If for some reason I can’t stand after a short stalk, I, myself, prefer to sit or shoot from the rice paddy squat – seems like the sights don’t move as much.  After switching to red dot sights everything is easier.

[Bitterroot Bob]

Ditto on the Creedmoor,
I use that position to test loads, guns, etc. It is absolutely rock solid and, unless it is raining, my favorite. I'm not too sure that I could get my head back enough to see sights on my belly, and there would be no support for the handgun in the prone position.
 
Bitterroot

[Ranch13]

I shoot prone quite a bit testing loads. Have on occasion (several actually) shot antelope from the prone position with a handgun.
It takes some getting used to but once you get on to it it's as solid or better than a bench.

[RevJim]

 I've taken many handgun courses where we trained to shoot from prone. We had mock up simulations of shooting under a car, behind a wheel, behind a curb,etc. In a SD situation, it can be a great defenseable position, same with a rifle of course. It is LOUD when you shoot close to the ground thoughm but for Sd, I think it should be mastered as well. I have only shot a few game animals from prone in the field, as said, it is difficult to find the right set up. I've shot creedmoor too, and in a SD situation, say you got knocked down,etc, your legs make a fair bullet sponge, it can keep you in the fight. Get mad, stay mad, finish it.

[bilmac]

We never shot from prone in LE training. That goes back about 30 years now. I think the reason is because it limits mobility too much.
I have noticed too that no one at the range ever shoots any way but off the bench. The bench is OK to perfect your equipment, but it is not practice. In the field I probably take 75% of my shots offhand, 15% prone and 10% sitting. So, I kind of practice that way. Some people call that plinking and is only done for fun. I call it practice and I do it for fun. Helps to be a reloader I guess.
I find that sitting with a backrest, elbows on knees the steadiest position for me to shoot a pistol, and it has the advantage of getting your bullet path up out of the grass.

[williamlayton]

I f I was out in the hills somewhere and decided to shoot prone that is where you would find me after the spring thaw.
Hell, I can't get up hardly when sitting on the floor with the grandkids--I have to find a wall or something to crawl up against.
I have a story that illustrates this but it would encompass a couple of pages.
Blessings

[mcwoodduck]

A couple shoots I have attended has prone as part of the course of fire.
either to shoot under something, like a car, or staring on your back like you have been knocked down.  Some of it was single handed, some of it was two handed.
Sume was supine (on your back)
After doing it I went home and practiced.  I moved the coffee table out of the way to open up the living room and put on a holster.  Emptied the gun and all mags and then proceeded to lie down on both back and front and practiced drawing, aiming and while doing it I watched where I was covering with my sights and practiced reloading from the belt.  and even rolled around to figure out what I would do if pushed down on my belly and had an attacker from behind and how to get the gun out and on them quickly and safely.

[bilmac]

Practice is good

[mcwoodduck]

Practice is good

Do it dry before you go with live ammo.
 

[Keith1]

I made 2 prone shots today in a left cross wind that was gusting between 20 and 33 mph. One was at 186 yards and the other was at 214. I was shooting at white rocks that were about 4 inches in diameter. I was using a 14 inch Contender chambered in 7mm Waters. Both shots missed with the 186 yard shot being about 4 inches left. The wind must have let off at the shot. The 216 yard shot was a very little high and windage was right on.
Due to that tricky wind I was very satisfied with my shooting today. That is the kind of practice that I like.
Regards, Keith

[sscoyote]

I shoot prone whenever possible using a tall Harris bipod and Accu-Shot monopod with a lightweght rear bag. I've shot out to 700 yds. using this system now with a good degree of accuracy--