Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact
NitroExpress.com: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR

View recent messages : 24 hours | 48 hours | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days | 60 days | More Smilies


*** Enjoy NitroExpress.com? Participate and join in. ***
You are not logged in. [Login] Main Index · Search · Active Topics
New user · Who's Online · FAQ · Calendar

Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles
Previous topic Previous   View all topics Index   Next topic Next   Threaded Mode Threaded  

Pages: 1
NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Shooting positions while working up loads for DR
      #26530 - 19/02/05 08:38 AM

Gentlemen, I NEVER shoot a double rifle [or any other hard kicker] off of a bench when developing loads. There are no benches in the field. Not only is it hard on your body the rifle recoils differently effecting the results.
I shoot iron sighted rifles kneeling at 25, 50 and 100 yards. I also shoot sitting at 100 yards.
After I find the right load I shoot standing at 25 and 50 yards.
With scoped rifles I do all the load testing sitting at 100 yards. Then when I have the best load I shoot it standing and kneeling at 25 and 50, and kneeling at 100.
I do not even test or zero my long range rifles from the bench, I shoot them prone off of my pack.

Benches..... we don't need no stinking benches.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
JudgeG
.224 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 39
Loc: Georgia Coast
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: NE450No2]
      #26532 - 19/02/05 09:53 AM

Tony:

Not all of us are professional marksmen capable of shooting charging gorillas in urban environments. Quit tootin' your own horn!

I, unfortunately, need the bench to sight in my rifles... then I "confirm" with a couple of shots by using sticks or resting my left hand against the supports of the shed covering the bench... then a few off hand, too. Since my bench shooting, particularly with heavy rifles is done with my left hand (and not a sand bag, which is under my hand) supporting the rifle and no rear pad, I find I'm pretty darn much in the ball park, i.e., the gun recoils as if I was holding "free". But make no doubt about it, a 500 grain bullet at almost 2300 fps, will get your attention from the bench, no matter how you hold it!

If we make it to DRSS together (I guess you got Rusty's e-mail), I will shoot my .450/400 against yours, off hand, for a beer? Two shots in 3 seconds? I think I know what the results will be, but what's the price of a Blue Ribbon?

--------------------
JudgeG
Old and getting older, I hope. But once I was young.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: JudgeG]
      #26535 - 19/02/05 11:28 AM

JudgeG you are on.
Make it for a wee bit of single malt.
I hope you get to make the hunt, it should be a great time.
It is all a matter of practice. Since I have started shooting double rifles my off hand skills have gone way up.
After all you never know when the Gorilla will be comming for you.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
k80
.333 member


Reged: 07/05/04
Posts: 314
Loc: San Antonio ,Texas, U.S.A.
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: NE450No2]
      #26537 - 19/02/05 12:13 PM

I am impressed that you have
such skills. We mortals must
still rely on proven methods.

Ken
San Antonio

--------------------
Ken
San Antonio

Welcome to South Texas

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3729
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: k80]
      #26543 - 19/02/05 02:49 PM

Quite bizarre, NE450No2. I am sorry that you will never know the true accuracy of any of your double rifles.

The entire rest of the world bench-shoots for accuracy.

...and you should be quite thankful that the gentlemen who regulated your fine-shooting doubles all those years ago saw fit to employ a bench to do so!

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Astor
.224 member


Reged: 06/12/04
Posts: 23
Loc: Ontario, Canada
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: Marrakai]
      #26606 - 21/02/05 01:10 PM

Marrakai -I agree with you. The only way you will ever be able to gauge the accuracy of ANY rifle is to shoot it off a bench. Granted, the shooting of a double off a bench requires a different set of rules (hand holding the "splinter" on top of the bag and bagging the rear of the stock (the Brits regulate from a standing bench) so the recoil dynamics are as close to the actual field/hunting sceanrio as possible. I consider my self to be an "above average" shot (I have shot a number of military matches out to 1000 yds) but shooting off hand for regulation/sighting purposes - I don't think so!!!

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: Astor]
      #26619 - 21/02/05 05:43 PM

Well I guess I must disagree.
Just today I shot 3 different double rifles, a 470 Chapuis, a 470 William Evans, My 450 No2 and a 500 Jeffery Bolt rifle.
All rifles were shot by me off hand at 25 yards and I also shot the Evans sitting. All the rifles would shoot 2 shots almost touching at 25 yards. As I shot these rounds from "a field position" I "could" expect "similar" results in the field in Africa.
One of the other shooters shot the Evans double, he was thinking about buying it, off the bags at 25 yards.
The rifle did not shoot very tight groups for him from the bags. He thought the rifle did not shoot good. After I shot a few rounds off hand and 2 sitting, he realized the rifle shot fine and that he needed more practice.
I think that if more big bore shooters would give up the bench and shoot from field positions, they would do much better when hunting.

When hunting Dangerous Game you will not find any "stinking" benches.
Get close, shoot off hand, use the Force.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: Marrakai]
      #26620 - 21/02/05 05:53 PM

Marrakai
I have killed a coyote at 271 yards and a kudu at a little over 300 yards with my 9,3x74R [with scope]. A caribou at 150 yards with my 450/400 3 1/4". Deer at 85 yards and hit a walking elephant bullat 120 yards, twice, then brained him at about 60 yards with my 450 No2.
I have hit several animals from point blank to the distances listed from off hand or kneeling.
No benches were available.
I just do not worry how my big bore rifle shoots off a bench. So I do not waste time testing it there.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3729
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: NE450No2]
      #26627 - 21/02/05 11:42 PM

In reply to:

I have killed a coyote at 271 yards and a kudu at a little over 300
I have hit several animals


You're my hero, NE450No2!

You are, however, a little confused. Nobody here, least of all me, has ever suggested one should practice for hunting by shooting from a bench. Quite the contrary, in fact! Might I suggest you re-read your initial post. Your rather zealous point was to do with "developing loads", and further, to "test or zero (your) long range rifles".

Each to his own, of course, but I think every (other!) member here would be compelled to agree that testing for accuracy, or accuracy potential, is best done over a bench. To argue that this is not the case is, indeed, quite bizarre!

As to "Get close, shoot off hand..", yes we all do, in the hunting field, most often! But rather than use "the Force", I prefer to use "the Sights"!!

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: Marrakai]
      #26649 - 22/02/05 01:22 PM

I guess I could shoot my double rifles in one of those contraptions that hold the rifle and are bolted to the bench.... But what good would that info do me???
What I need to know is, can I,with this rifle and load,hit that animal, from a shooting position I can assume at this location?
In other words when the PH says "Can you hit him from here?"
I need to know how to answer. Shooting off a bench does not get me there.
I test and zero my rifles from the position I will shoot at that distance.
Give it a try, with a little practice you might like it.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3729
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: Shooting positions while working up loads for DR [Re: NE450No2]
      #26658 - 22/02/05 09:54 PM

I'm having myself a good chuckle over this thread, NE450No2, we agree on every point except one: the importance of the 'steenking' bench!

As an ethical hunter, one needs to know two things:
1. the accuracy of the rifle
2. the accuracy of the rifle-man
Regrettably perhaps, the former can only be determined from the bench. The latter is undeniably best determined from shooting offhand, or from any other useful field position.

Here in the Northern Territory, we are fortunate indeed to be able to practice for hunting by stalking and killing buffalo and boars, offhand!, however the value of shooting paper targets is not lost on any of us, nor the enjoyable social intercourse and friendly competition provided by a day at the range.

In reply to:

I could shoot my double rifles in one of those contraptions that hold the rifle and are bolted to the bench


This would probably be a good way to wreck one of those contraptions that hold the rifle and are bolted to the bench!

BTW, you are the only person I have encountered who believes that, when shooting from a bench, "the rifle recoils differently effecting the results". My own experiences are at odds with that assertion, as were those of Graeme Wright, Jack Lott, and every double rifle regulator who ever lived. I for one am very pleased that my doubles were regulated from the bench, rather than standing off-hand!

"Give it a try, with a little practice you might like it."

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Pages: 1


Previous topic Previous   View all topics Index   Next topic Next   Threaded Mode Threaded  

Extra information
0 registered and 150 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  CptCurl 

Print Topic

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Rating:
Topic views: 3090

Rate this topic

Jump to

Contact Us NitroExpress.com

Powered by UBB.threads™ 6.5.5


Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact


Copyright 2003 to 2011 - all rights reserved