Hunting season is here, and many people come to shoot at our place.

Like all hunters all over the world, we have the good shots and bad shot, and of course some in between!

But, one thing they all have in common.

Not very good at shooting off hand!

They tried shooting off hand with air rifles.

Then they complained their bad shooting was due to the weight of the rifles, which might be true, as those rifles are heavy.

Then they tried a 22 rimfire.

Not much improvement!

I made some nasty remarks about them all and their shooting, which might turn out to be a mistake.

An old friend, who no longer hunts any more, due to age, but likes to come here and just enjoy the fun.

He suggested we all have an off hand shooting contest, with what he called a REAL hunting gun.

I suggested a Sako Long Range rifle in 338 Lapua Magnum - I have made lots of 338 caliber bullets!

No one agreed!

Rifle kicks too much!

Our old friend was having a ball, teasing them and telling them they are a bunch of wimps!

Finally, we agreed on using a Sako S491 rifle in 223 Remington.

And only using factory ammo.

I have lots of Fiocchi 223 ammo, so that is what we are going to use.

Then someone suggested a competition without a prize is no competition, so we have to have a prize!

Our old friend suggested I put up the prize, saying "you will win it anyway! You can beat this lot shooting left handed!"

This competition will take several days, and we have 9 shooters in total.

I have a JAKELE J1 in 6.5 Creedmor brand new in the box here in the shooting room.

And our old friend suggested it should be the prize.

All agreed.

I will post the results once all the shooting is done.

The target is a 7" bullseye we have here.

Shooting is off hand at 100 yards.

10 targets each, 20 shots on each target.

No time limit, as the longer one stands holding the rifle, the harder it becomes!

Brilliant. Winner is foregone conclusion, your offhand shooting is amazing.

Saeed

This offhand endurance contest sounds like a lot of fun and should really show you who the real shooters are.

We used to do it quite often, shooting small cans in the desert with all sorts of rifles.

I have seen some who extremely good at it, and some who are totally hopeless!

Some years back we followed a bunch of buffalo bulls in the afternoon.

Caught up with them in long grass.

They were moving about, which made it difficult to set up the shooting sticks.

We were very close to them, and I had no choice but to shoot off hand when an opportunity occurred.

Shot 3 bulls, as they just kept running around and not running away.

All were shot within 30-50 yards, which really didn’t require accurate shooting as such, except one never saw anything except a small part at any given time!

Only person sure we had three bulls down was one of our trackers.

“Three kufa!” With a big smile on his face!

We were far from the truck, and my friend Nelson decided to cut the tails and carry them.

I remember we got drenched with rain on the way back.

I have pictures somewhere where we all looked like drowned rats!

The competition has started about 2 hours ago.

In fact, I am writing this from our shooting room.

The place is full and some kids are here too enjoying the fun, with ice cream and various cookies are provided.

We had to separate the targets - leaving more space between them, as some of the shooters are so bad they spread their shots over several targets!!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

We had to separate the targets - leaving more space between them, as some of the shooters are so bad they spread their shots over several targets!!

That happened to me during an informal match about ten years ago. I got turned around and kept shooting at the target of the guy next to me.

He said, “I think you’re shooting my target!”

I looked through my spotting scope and saw he was right.

I was embarrassed and apologized profusely.

At least all of my shots were in the black!

Have fun, Saeed!

They just left.

Or rather I kicked them out, as we have guests coming later.

4 hours of non stop laughter.

Our old friend is having a field day, he kept repeating to them “go and learn how to shoot before you try this”

Two ladies turned up too.

A mother of one and a sister of another.

The sister insisted she could shoot better than them - and she never fired a rifle before!

Some were THAT bad!

What we are using.

This might take a bit more time than we thought.

Not everyone turned up yesterdays, but, those who did brought along their wives and kids.

Too many to accommodate in our shooting room.

So we set up special targets for the kids by the pool.

I put double sided sticky tape on the target board, and painted table tennis balls in different colors, and stuck them on.

This form of target is very popular with the kids, they love it when the balls fall off as they are hit.

We had different distances for different ages!

Using air rifles.

This was a "practice" session, as they also asked for a competition??

Next attendees - this is decided on day to day basis, according to time available - the kids will be shooting for a prize.

What that is I have no idea, as the mothers are going to decide, and I have to provide!!??

The mothers asked for a contest too.

Told them that has to wait, as they can have their very own shooting contest, with a proper rifle as the men are using.

Then one said "I don't trust you. You will give us something that kicks!"

Another one said "we will have to make sure all the bullets look the same"

Another one "and we will not shoot any of the bullets he makes himself!"

Well, a simple safari practice has gone and developed its own legs, and running a bloody marathon now!

I have factory bullets.

I will load them into cleaned 308 Winchester brass!

Most will be reduced loads.

A few are going to be full power loads!

I have to make sure this distrust does not stop!

Told the husbands about it, they all in agreement!

quote:

Then one said "I don't trust you. You will give us something that kicks!"

Another one said "we will have to make sure all the bullets look the same"

Another one "and we will not shoot any of the bullets he makes himself!"

Your reputation precedes you Saeed. These women must read AR !

Are you enjoying use of the Garmin Xero ? I really rate mine. Great little unit.

Offhand was my favorite position on the National Match Course and I practiced it the most. Also practiced with an air rifle in the garage. You can't be rock solid; there will be movement. Key to me was to limit the movement as much as possible to vertical, as opposed to horizontal or God forbid, circular. Then, you touch off the round as it's coming into the target from 6 o'clock. I liked gusty wind because I was pretty quick on the trigger. It hurt my scores, but generally not as much as everyone else.

The reason to practice offhand more than any other position is that is where there is the most points to make up.

quote:

Originally posted by 30.06king:

quote:

Then one said "I don't trust you. You will give us something that kicks!"

Another one said "we will have to make sure all the bullets look the same"

Another one "and we will not shoot any of the bullets he makes himself!"

Your reputation precedes you Saeed. These women must read AR !

Are you enjoying use of the Garmin Xero ? I really rate mine. Great little unit.

No they don’t read AR.

They have first hand experience!

The Garmin chronograph is fantastic.

It is on permanent position on our shooting table.

Got our first VEGETARIAN!

One shooter actually managed to MISS his target with all 20 shots!!??

He has officially been declared a VEGETARIAN!

And he has to eat a vegi burger when everyone else is enjoying a great juicy ribeye steak!

People here are not very friendly, one lady asked "I wonder what else he is not good at??"

VEGETRIAN = American Indian work for lousy hunter.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Got our first VEGETARIAN!

One shooter actually managed to MISS his target with all 20 shots!!??

He has officially been declared a VEGETARIAN!

And he has to eat a vegi burger when everyone else is enjoying a great juicy ribeye steak!

People here are not very friendly, one lady asked "I wonder what else he is not good at??"

The kids have shot all my table tennis balls!!

Those were left over from previous kids shoots.

Just ordered 2 large jars from Amazon, each has 60 balls.

I have spray paint here and will paint them once they are here tomorrow.

At the weekend I promised to do my trick shooting for them.

I use a Ruger 10/22 for this.

One is having the rifle upside down over my head, looking through the scope.

The other one is I stand facing away from the target, bend over and point the rifle back through my spread legs and shoot.

The kids think I am some sort of magician!

Saeed, That sounds like great fun but I don't think that I could that "...bend over and shoot..." trick.
I have always enjoyed shooting with Children. Now, I have grandchildren and we have fun. Good old 10-22. Brian

Shooting is fun period being whatever position but offhand is the best challenge
Dollar on Saeed to win…

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
Saeed, That sounds like great fun but I don't think that I could that "...bend over and shoot..." trick.
I have always enjoyed shooting with Children. Now, I have grandchildren and we have fun. Good old 10-22. Brian

Not sure I explained it right.

One bends over, points the rifle between the legs pointing backwards.

Not difficult at all.

You explained it well. I just can't bend over and do that. I just fall over. I have witnesses. I'm not a magician! brian

quote:

At the weekend I promised to do my trick shooting for them.

I use a Ruger 10/22 for this.

One is having the rifle upside down over my head, looking through the scope.

The other one is I stand facing away from the target, bend over and point the rifle back through my spread legs and shoot.

The kids think I am some sort of magician!

I’m afraid if I tried this trick the kids would think I was some sort of clown! I’d likely have to have help to get unfolded

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:

quote:

At the weekend I promised to do my trick shooting for them.

I use a Ruger 10/22 for this.

One is having the rifle upside down over my head, looking through the scope.

The other one is I stand facing away from the target, bend over and point the rifle back through my spread legs and shoot.

The kids think I am some sort of magician!

I’m afraid if I tried this trick the kids would think I was some sort of clown! I’d likely have to have help to get unfolded

They already think I am a clown!

And they all want to be like me!!??

The Fiocchi ammo we are using is useless!

It is not very accurate, and the cases cannot be reloaded.

They have managed to punch the flash hole off center, which makes them unusable in a resizing die.

How they managed to do that is beyond me.

Takes some special talent I suppose!

I was asked about the magnification I use for off hand shooting.

Strange this, as while hunting I set my scope to the lowest setting - 2.5-8X.

And I generally do all my off hand shooting at its lowest setting.

Here at the range I use the scope at 10X - this one is 4.5-14X.

I can see the targets better, although this tends to magnify the movements.

We have had some shooters taking so long to shoot, complaining of wobble, that they don't fire a single shot and have to rest their arms.

Had a similar experience before.

A friend brought his friend, who was a body builder with muscles you cannot believe!

He refused to shoot the 577 T.Rex.

So I thought of seeing how well he could shoot off hand, seeing all those muscles.

I shot a 308 Winchester to show him how, off hand.

Then he tried.

After 5 shots he gave up.

He said his muscles hurt???

He could not keep that rifle straight at all!

I think it boils down to practice.

And what position you use your muscles at.

Oh, they have given up on the prize.

We are only partially through the contest, and no one shows any promise of beating me.

Only shot 3 targets. with all 20 shots in.

Best of those useless lot had 13!!

One had one big fat ZERO!

Saeed,
Looks like you will manage a clean sweep, without having to try any harder than usual. Sounds like everybody is having fun, which is great.
Interesting comment about the Fiocchi brass with off centre flash holes. I once bought some Barnes stamped 300 WM brass, once fired and sight unseen. After receipt I examined the cases and about 80% had off centre flash holes. Actually I could deprime them OK with a FL die so I reprimed them and attempted to work up some handloads. The results were absoulute rubbish and no way could I get any useful load from that brass. I probably loaded them another three times before giving up. I actually ended up selling it and recovering my initial outlay. I didn't sell to another handloader but a guy who custom made clocks. He was making clocks with empty brass positioned on the clock faces to mark the hours !

Targets for the kids.

They are instructed to shoot specific colors, 10 points for a hit.

Minus 5 for hitting the wrong one!

They use a tripod to rest the rifle on.

Foregone conclusion..I remember seeing Saeed shoot a crocodile and a buffalo on one of his safari videos a few years ago..have not seen anyone ever so quick

They are shooting now.

Tomorrow I am busy so no shooting.

Saturday is a break too, with a shoot for the kids by the pool.

This time air pistol shooting.



This is what they will use.

Very accurate pistol, and they will shoot at 10 meters.

Older ones will shoot on their own.

Little ones get a little help from me

And a BBQ, which is always in demand here.

Our chef is on holiday, but that is not going to bother this lot.

More volunteers than we can use.

Sounds like they need shotguns loaded with No. 4 buckshot!

Maybe they’ll have more luck with the air pistol.

Target shooting is fun and it’s great that you’re letting the kids do it!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Sounds like they need shotguns loaded with No. 4 buckshot!

Maybe they’ll have more luck with the air pistol.

Target shooting is fun and it’s great that you’re letting the kids do it!

Talking shotgun.

Sometime ago a friend brought his girlfriend here.

She was a lovely girl, but totally ignorant of shooting.

I told him to keep quiet while she was making herself a coffee.

I put empty cans in the tunnel, some behind others but scattered.

Then I told her I can shoot one can, bounce the bullet off the tunnel wall, and hit others.

Git a skeet shotgun and fired at the scattered cans.

All of them flew off!

“OH MY GOD!”

All she said!

She wasn’t even blonde!

Sun not up yet.

I am setting the tables for breakfast as many of them are coming.

They want to fly in paramotor as well!

I will post pictures.

We did go to the desert - our usual Saturday mornings.

Families came along to enjoy being with the camels.

Our shooting buddies decided to do something else.

They did go to the desert, with their air rifles - the air rifles are heavier, and apparently because non of them is doing well at the competition, they thought they will spend the morning practicing with heavier guns to build their muscles!!??

They have refused to tell us what their scores were, which tells me they have not fared very well!

No shooting today, as we are making 303 bullets.

Quite a few people like to shoot these old rifles, with open sights, and I am out of these bullets.

We should be able to finish all the contest by next week.

Despite the fact that I shoot much faster than any of them, they are asking me to try even faster shooting.

This is great coming from some, who take so long to shoot, that others are making fun of them "if you were trying to shoot a tortoise walking away from you, it would be a 100 meters even before you AIM!"

The area we go to is where they have a cycling track of over 150 kilometers.

They also have man made lakes for picnics.

Saeed great pics

Look on the Photo Forum.

Lots more pictures.

quote:

No shooting today, as we are making 303 bullets.

.303? Round nose, spitzer like No Miss bullets? I used 150 gr TSX a couple of weeks ago in my .303 in SA, they might have been a bit too hard, shot thru everything except one kudu shot front to rear. I bet yours will do just as well, or better!

I was at a gas plant in Algeria years ago and there was a camel herder nearby.

We'd drive by and feed the camels sheets of notebook paper. The guys said they would throw wood pallets out there and the camels would eat those too. I guess they're able to eat and digest just about anything.

We feed the camels carrots they love them.

If everything goes to plan, we should have all the results by end of Wednesday!

Some shooters have finished their targets, others have not.

And by the way it looks, non of them would win any prize!

BUT!

They are having bets among themselves.

Each one would bet against an opponent.

Not in this contest, but a future one.

Apparently it is going to be one on one.

I suggested a proper big game caliber.

Let us see what happens, as they all have to agree on the caliber.

My apologies for the delay.

One individual hasn’t finished shooting because he was on duty in the neighboring Emirate.

Promised he would finish Saturday afternoon.

He knows the results of everyone, including me.

He has 6 targets to shoot, and was asking what is the prize for second!

Told him it is ONE BIG FAT ZERO!

My rifle is safe, no one even close!

Our old friend - we have no idea how old he is, his passport says 82 - is having a ball!

He has a farm in the desert and has invited everyone for a “mischew”

This a whole goat or lamb, suitable spiced, put in a large pot.

A hole is dug in the sand, big enough for a fire and to take the pot.

Once the fire is settle, part of it is taken out.

The pot is placed in the hole, more fire is placed on top.

Generally cooked at least 12 hours!

Absolutely delicious!

The meat just falls apart.

We are looking forward to this, probably in September.

All finished.

I will post the results tomorrow.