I've often read comments that a leading complaint among guides is that their clients can't make a shot quickly.

In the current Field and Stream, David Petzal suggests that a good field shot should be able to hit an 8" target 18 out of 20 times, offhand and unsupported at 100 yards, in 3 seconds or less. Overtime hits count as a miss.

What does anyone here think of this as a test? Or is there an alternative you would suggest for those of us who can't whang away (oops, someone who isn't loony won't like that term either) at prairie dogs all summer?

I started working on it at 25 and 50 a few weeks ago -- starting with the butt pad against my belt, safety on, electronically timed. At 25 yds. it's very doable. At 50 I need work. (Actually my drill was tougher, since Petzal suggests starting with the gun mounted.)

My advise is forget the speed, shoot as fast as you can and still hit the target, all else if twaddle. It pays to shoot fast as muscle fatigue sets in but not too fast as thats the best recipe I know of for a miss....With practice you will know what you can and cannot do offhand...

Mostly I think the main thing to remember is the second you fire a shot is to reload and get back on target and then see what happened or what you need to do, like shoot again or not...Let this become a habit fire, reload, get back on target...

I suspect 8 inches at 100 is fine for 99% of all circumstances...furthermore it is realistic, but I have to tell you that some of these guys can shoot 1/2" off hand at 200 yards running, shooting fast and blindfolded almost everytime...

When I was teaching at Gunsite, the "school exercise" for the general rifle class was something like this (and Jim, correct me if I've not remembered correctly):

Starting from field ready, standing with the muzzle up and the buttstock at your waist:

3 yards, standing angled 45 degrees to the target: offhand shot to a 4" circle in 1.5 seconds

10 yards, standing facing the target: offhand shot to a 4" circle in 3 seconds

25 yards, standing facing the target: offhand shot to a 10" circle in 3 seconds

50 yards, standing facing the target: offhand shot to a 10" circle in 5 seconds

100 yards, standing facing the target: assume and fire from a sling-supported braced position to a 10" circle in 10 seconds

I've found these times to be valid in the field, and the snap shot at close range in particular to be a very valuable skill to have.

I agree with Ray but maybe with a slightly different reason. I don't really give a rip about the amount of shots over time. I only care about the first shot. If you can make each shot in 5-10 seconds I would be very well pleased. That would be about 5 times faster then the average from what I have seen. I rarely allow a hunter to shoot free hand at 100 yards. That's a high risk shot for the vast majority of shooters when combined with heart rate from effort, excitement, and nerves. About a 50-75 yard free hand shot is max from what I have seen. A rest however slight is always going to be in the works for anything further then 75 yards. I would have to be very impressed with my hunters skills to ever suggest a freehand shot of 100 yards or more. I'm not suggesting it cannot be done. With targets and without pressure it's not that tough. However in Africa for expensive trophy fees I'll make some kind of rest possible every chance that I can.

This kind of shooting practice is interesting to talk about but highly impractical. Lets face it,.... by the time you shoot that rifle 18 times the barrel will be so hot it will take an hour to cool off! High volume practice shooting with your actual hunting rifle is not really practical in long strings like this. Shoot it 3 times or so at a time with plenty of cool down between

If you can manage this for 3-5 shots total,.. your fine with your hunting rifle. For the actual practice shooting lots of long strings get a 22 rimfire bolt action and shoot to your hearts content. If you can shoot good with a bolt action .22 you can shoot good with a 30/06 or a 375HH. It's a matter of steady hold and trigger pull. I have a Ruger M77 bolt action in .22 rimfire which I shoot 1000's of times a year. I have the trigger set to the exact pull as the WInchesters I own and the practice is very nice. It even has a three position safety!

JJ
I agree that the 22lr is one of your best practice tools. Shoot 100 rounds a week, off hand, beginning 3 months before your hunt and you will be ready for your hunt. No flinch, nice steady trigger pull. One additional advantage, in the winter you can shoot at a local indoor pistol range and stay warm and dry.
By the way, I read your report on your "hunt from hell". You have my sympathy brother.
TerryR

Eric,

I remember the snap shot delivery standard was 1.5 seconds.

I don't see the utility of firing a 20-shot sequence and declaring victory in any case. In contrast I am really good at "one-shot groups", and that is what you need hunting!

I just checked Cooper's The Art of the Rifle, and he has 4" at 25 meters with 5 individual shots, and 10" at 50 meters. Time standard is 1.5 seconds for both. Jeff writes the course of fire is 10 shots at the longer range.

I usually practice on a 5" target at 100 yards though.

jim

There are only three speeds:

1. Too slow.
2. Too bloody fast.
3. Fast enough.

Each depends on more variables than time and energy permit me to explicate.

The only part of my SS Ruger Rifle that is stock is the action and even that has a new trigger. It's got a 1" Volquartson bench rest bull barrel and a Volquartson laminated stock. A new trigger and a Weaver V16 (4X16) scope. It will group an 1" at 100 yards from the bench with good ammo. The Barrel is ported as those bench rest guys like to see the holes as they appear in the paper. There is ZERO movement when this gun fires.

It's a long story as to how this gun was built this way and How I ended up with it. Anyhow it's a hella nice rifle for a stinking rimfire!

I have had a 150-yd. range on my property for the last 8-years. Target stations are set up at 21 ft. (Handgun); 50 ft. (Handgun); 25-yds. (Rifle/Handgun); 50-yds. (Rifle/Handgun); 100-yds. (Rifle); and 150-yds. (Scoped Rifle Only). Have had a lot of hunters, target shooters, ex-military marksman, etc., etc. over the years that have shot some pretty inpressive scores.

But, most of it is just a lot of talk. Offhand on game after a hard stalk and in harsh conditions (bugs, heat, wind, etc.), separates the men from the boys.


My most difficult shot on game required a 12-minute wait as the PH and I were laying in a shallow depression waiting for an Impala ram to stand up and get clear of his ladies. My neck was cramping awful from holding prone at an estimated range of 120 yds. After what seemed like an eternity, the girls started grazing around, he finally stood up and had a 300WSM shot in his heart within 3 seconds. Didn't get 10 ft. The PH said it was 12 minutes, but for me it was constant pain after about 3 minutes. Sweat was pouring down my face, a wonderful rock was positioned perfectly near my left hip with most of my weight on it. Couldn't move as the ladies had our position, but the wind was in our face.

Easiest shot was a snap shot at 100 yds. offhand on a wounded Blesbok ram as a JR terrier brought him to bay. I came around a thorn bush, pulled up, and shot. Either I was very lucky or all the practice had paid off...

Trying to duplicate those shots on my range didn't happen, it had to do with the task at hand and pure adrenaline. My hunting buddy is lousy at the range, hates it, but on game he is deadly with rifle or handgun, go figure.