Mike,

I absolutly agree that shooting of a bench is not relevant training for a hunt. And thus, I only shoot off a bench for sighting in a scope of for trying out loads. Most shooting I do is off-hand and snap shooting, sitting on the ground (or on tree stumps) with my elbows on my knees for support, and kneeling on one knee. Often, I will walk towards the target, either straight or at an angle, and shot on command when ordered (usually by my wife!). I try to make things as close to the CQB shooting I did back in the military as I feel that is rather simular to hunting shooting in many ways.

And I always cycle my bolt with the rifle still in a shooting position.

Up here in Norway we have 1 liter milk and juice cartons made of paper. I often fill these with water, and set them at various ranges, where I try to shoot them as fast as possible. I feel this is rather good practice, and hits or misses are of course visable immidiately.

The 5 gallon jug sounds like a good idea. I'll try it out!

Erik