I have been practicing shooting off my bog pod and I have found that I prefer to rest my offhand on the "V" to shoot. On the TV programs I see that they many times shooters grab the sticks and the rifle together but I don't like this as much.

Is their a problem with my style?

Geoff - I think you have the absolute right idea. It's one that is working for you, so I would say it's the way to stick with. Everybody has their own thoughts on what fits/feels best, but it comes down to what works for each of us. Don't think there is a "right" or "wrong" way. Let the results make the choice for you. I really like the Bog Pod.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Especially with rifles that aren't free-floated, resting the forearm (or worse, the barrel on any rifle) on any hard object (tree branch, shooting sticks, etc) can cause the rifle to shoot to a different point of impact than off of a soft rest (i.e. hand, shooting bag, etc.).

I've done a little experimentation shooting at 200 yards and found that my p.o.i. was about 6" higher when shooting off a hard rest, at least with that particular rifle (BLR .308) than when cupping the rifle in my hand (which was resting on a support).

I think others have written about this here before.

Does anyone else cringe when they see bubbas on T.V. taking shots from shooting boxes while resting their rifles on the wooden window sills?

In most cases this is simply a "what ever works for you" sittuation for most types of rifles. As Judge says, any rifle will shoot differently if rested on a hard surface, than it will while holding the foreend. This is especially true if one is shooting a double rifle.

In the case of a double rifle, the rifle must absolutely must be held by the forehand, with the rest of the rifle touching nothing but the shooter's shoulder, face, and hands. This is because the double rifle depends on the recoil arch to regulate. A double rifle has to be shot as if off hand, and allowed to recoil as if held off hand, or it will not only shoot high. like the single barrel rifle but the barrels will not shoot together properly.

IMO, this is the cause for more than half the wounded animals shot on bait. The shooter is often resting the rifle on a makeshift crotch stick stuck in the ground inside the blind, causeing the rifle to shoot high, and off POA to one side or the other.

My advice is to hold the rifle, and rest the hand,and elbow, especially if the range is long,for a single barrel rifle, or at any range with a double rifle!

I place my hand into the V and hold the rifle normally.

Guess this must be the way I do it. It's unconcious on my part. Seems I'm holding the forearm as well as the sticks in an attempt to steady both. The sticks aren't hard in the sense of shooting of of solid surface and my hand is cushoning the forend as well as steadying the sticks. the The boat you see traveling along the top of my barrel is the Murulle Navy preparing to launch into the Omo River and retrieve the unfortunate Anubis baboon I'm about to pop.




Rich Elliott

I use Stoney Point tripod shooting sticks and at one time a UK shooting stick that had a free swinging heavy cloth rest. The Stoney Point is a "harder" polymer rest material. I've tried the wooden shooting sticks and just don't like them. I don't take a shot without my sticks whatever position unless absolutely necessary. There is no question that the rest material used to zero the rifle is critical. I use a benchrest set up to zero and test loads but prior to safari adjust zero off shooting sticks. I rest the rifle stock in the "V" and hold her firm.

Hint- use a second set of sticks to support your shooting arm elbow. Makes a huge difference.

Will have to try that... Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Rich Elliott:
Guess this must be the way I do it. It's unconcious on my part. Seems I'm holding the forearm as well as the sticks in an attempt to steady both. The sticks aren't hard in the sense of shooting of of solid surface and my hand is cushoning the forend as well as steadying the sticks. the The boat you see traveling along the top of my barrel is the Murulle Navy preparing to launch into the Omo River and retrieve the unfortunate Anubis baboon I'm about to pop.




Rich Elliott

Perfect!

That picture is as classic as Walter's hands! I thought that perhaps the Murelle Navy was balancing your rifle barrel for the shot!! I mean, come on, 5-6 guys and a canoe all balanced on your rifle barrel? That's quite a feat! The last time I saw something like that was in "Night At The Museum". Gulliver's Travels also comes to mind. . . . Saeed: We need a photo contest showing strange pictures like this.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
That picture is as classic as Walter's hands! I thought that perhaps the Murelle Navy was balancing your rifle barrel for the shot!! I mean, come on, 5-6 guys and a canoe all balanced on your rifle barrel? That's quite a feat! The last time I saw something like that was in "Night At The Museum". Gulliver's Travels also comes to mind. . . . Saeed: We need a photo contest showing strange pictures like this.

quote:

Originally posted by Rich Elliott:
Guess this must be the way I do it. It's unconcious on my part. Seems I'm holding the forearm as well as the sticks in an attempt to steady both. The sticks aren't hard in the sense of shooting of of solid surface and my hand is cushoning the forend as well as steadying the sticks. the The boat you see traveling along the top of my barrel is the Murulle Navy preparing to launch into the Omo River and retrieve the unfortunate Anubis baboon I'm about to pop.




Rich Elliott

My question on this technique is about holding onto the rifle to tame recoil. This method seems like it would be fine for a rifle that doesn't recoil much but I like to really hold onto the big boys.

quote:

My question on this technique is about holding onto the rifle to tame recoil. This method seems like it would be fine for a rifle that doesn't recoil much but I like to really hold onto the big boys.

This was a .30-06. I don't think I've ever used sticks with anything bigger than .37 H&H and my .375 H&H is magnaported. No muzzle rise.
Rich Elliottt

I have always rested my hand wrist in the V of the shooting sticks... If one needs a little more stability just have your PH lead against you as you prepare to shoot...

Rich never knew pigmies were so small they could walk on a rifle barrel....

Mike