HunterShooter events were designed to encourage hunters to practice their shooting on the range in a manner more in line with their shooting in the field. Too many hunters that at least bother with a formal sight-in session (and too many skip even this preliminary step) fail to attempt shooting other than slow fire from a bench rest.
I’ve seen this play out poorly many times. Here’s an example shared elsewhere.
When I helped with gun club-required membership weekend hunting sight-ins, I would see folks shooting 100-yard one-inch groups – sometimes the rare tighter groups. If they looked like good sports, I would ask them to play a game with me.
After their sighting-in I would have them stand ready with a round chambered and safety on and when I said “start” they had 10 seconds (actually lots of time) to shoulder up and fire one shot offhand at their 100-yard target.
I have done this about a hundred times. Only six times has anyone hit an 18×18-inch target with the first shot!
All are shocked! Actually, about 40 percent miss the entire four-foot square backing board. Then the learning curve comes into play, assuming a deer or elk gives you a second chance at 100 yards – oh sure. I ask them to try again. About 20 percent are on paper. By the third shot they settle in and 95 percent get on the sheet of paper. After this little drill, most get quite a kick out of seeing the effects/results from the bench to the real world of their shooting. A high percentage then stuck around to finish the remainder of their box of hunting ammunition firing from kneeling and standing positions.
– Jim Shults
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2018/1/17/a-few-techniques-about-sighting-in-your-rifle/
George Harris
May 20, 2018 @ 19:05:47
Good article! Once they know the rifle is right then they can work on field skills. One of the best ways to do that is with the 8″ paper plate to determine what their max distance is from improvised field positions. Even 10 out of 10 hits won’t guarantee success in the field but it goes a long way toward showing the shooter what they are really capable of in making an ethical and effective shot.
The practice usually improves ability and increases the likelihood of making the shot when the time is now!
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