I killed a nice 9 point today with my 454 Casull with EcoTech sight, and the question is how much effect have you seen from how you hold the pistol? Last year I rested the barrel on the foam of my climbing stand and missed at about 25 yards. This time was careful to shoot how I practice - standing and shooting the gun free hand. (Right where I aimed at 25 yards)

VERY important. I have 2 revolvers that shoot the same place from sandbags as they do off hand but you do not want to just rest the barrel by itself. My other revolvers need to be sighted in from Creedmore or off hand. They will not go where aimed if sighted from the bench.
The only way is to sight AND shoot the same way when hunting. If you are going to shoot from a pad on the stand, just sight in that way but you will not hit right off hand.
The grip can have a large effect too. A S&W can get tricky because of hold sensitivity. I also have trouble with a Bisley grip. A good two hand grip, off hand seems to tame them best.
I did the same thing you did once and missed. Now all of my hunting shots are off hand even to 100 yd's. I don't trust resting one part of a revolver.
If you use shooting sticks you must sight from them and do all hunting with them because every gun and caliber will act different. Some can tolerate a change while others go nuts. Hard to find out when shooting at a deer.
Congrats on the deer, you shoot good enough so just keep it up.

The only time I see a difference in point of impact is with open sights. If I shoot my open sighted handgun off hand, my accuracy is much better then if I shot from a rest. I have no idea why, but that is what I experience. Now if I take one of my handguns with a red-dot, My point of impact remains the same no matter, if I shoot it from sand bags or shooting sticks or off hand.

But I never rest the barrel on anything, I rest the yoke of the revolver on the rest or shooting sticks.

Congratulations on your buck.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
The only time I see a difference in point of impact is with open sights. If I shoot my open sighted handgun off hand, my accuracy is much better then if I shot from a rest. I have no idea why, but that is what I experience. Now if I take one of my handguns with a red-dot, I point of impact remains the same no matter, if I shoot it from sand bags or shooting sticks or off hand.

But I never rest the barrel on anything, I rest the yoke of the revolver on the rest or shooting sticks.

Congratulations on your buck.

I only have one revolver with a red dot, and that is exactly what I have found as well. Doesn't seem to matter what it is resting on, you just need to put the red dot where you want the bullet to go. I also find my Smiths to be grip sensitive.

"yoke"? Is this the piece where the ejector rod and spring are? My pistol is a Freedom Arms and that is where it was resting. I figured since it is attached to the barrel the effect would be the same. I'm just not sure if it is the contact or a differance in my grip. Thanks for the input guys.

I think Redhawk meant the frame in front of the trigger guard. By resting the frame and using a firm 2 hand hold it is the same as off hand.
My most accurate bench shooting is with the end of the muzzle on a bag and the grip on another. I can't hold still enough for testing with a frame rest. I can't test loads if I wobble as much as I do off hand!
My worst offender is my SBH with a 10" barrel. It will not hit the same place if sighted from bags. Depending on the boolit used it can miss deer. Recoil just changes too much.
My BFR's, even the .475 will hit exactly the same place but it will shoot high if I just rest the barrel. Putting the frame on your pad might correct it, I never tried it when hunting. I have no rails on my stands. Best bet is to practice from the stand.
Anything you do to change the recoil will throw you off. The more recoil the gun has the worse it is. Shoot a .475 with one hand and it hits higher then if you get both hands on it. I tried that once when a deer came on the wrong side. I just stuck the gun out with one hand, held as tight as I could, aimed a little low and still overshot the deer. No way to hold that barrel down! The same can happen with both hands if you relax too much. Pressure must be firm and consistent.

I can't shoot open sights from bags because the sights will be a few inches too close to my eyes. I need to get them out as far as I can. Creedmore gets them as far as possible.

I agree with bfrshooter, consistency is the name of the game with handgun shooting and that applies to consistency of grip as well as everything else involved.

Yes bfrshooter you ar right, I use the frame in front of the trigger guard.

Consistency in your form/stance and how you rest the gun are key elements in achieving repeatable points of impact. I learned that the hard way back when I was 19.

I was shooting a Smith M27 with 8 3/8th" barrel that I had for a couple weeks, but I had basically only shot it from the bench. Well, when I took a shot at a 40 yard coyote, the POI was off enough that I had a stunned but wounded coyote on my hands. In trying to regain his feet, the 'yote turned towards me, and the 2nd shot -- thanks to a generous vertical target -- quickly ended the ordeal.

That first shot was about 5" from where I thought it should have been. WHen I tried to check the zero using a similar shooting stance, my results were also several inches off. When I returned home, I shot it from the bench and was in the 10-ring.

I quickly figured out my problem, and through some trial and error I came up with a system that suits me perfectly and allows shot-to-shot consistency when it comes to points of impact with revolvers.

No, it's not rocket science, but you do have to pay attention to details...

If at all possible,try to shoot with your off hand backside resting beside a tree,this will steady a good hold and will help you..Only use the tree with your hand or wrist against the tree dont let the revolver touch anything..of course this is woods hunting/shooting..but random plinking in the woods under hunting situations with unknown yardages is a great way to learn your shortgun...or use a small dove stool with a small pillow or jacket on top and shoot with your arms resting across it for a real steady aim while sitting...or across the hood corner of your truck or car,great rest for sighting in..I always try for some type of rest with a rifle so why not use a similer rest with a shortgun while hunting if you have the time and place to set up..just learn your style and what works for you,a shooting /hikeing stick might could help off hand shoots if practiced?I have been shooting as far back as i can rememeber,I cut my teeth on a chrome colt single action army in 38spl.& 7inch barrel way back when i was a pre-teen...I think i have shot a shortgun everyway except upside down...My advice is allways sight it in pretty close cause you dont want to miss a easy close shot/easier to fine tune...Then go out to a gravel pit type area where you can shoot long range and see what you can do/make adjustments/etc.,some place where you can tell where the bullet strikes if missed,a river will do this also,you can throw a old dry stick or something that floats and try to hit it on the move,you will get good in no time,a still target willbe apiece of cake after shooting at moving targets all day,Find your best accurate range,just like with a archery bow,Hope this helps..oh yea shoot up a lot of ammo,dont be afraid of shooting a whole bunch of ammo..if you want to get good with your weapon,shoot it alot and you will be ready when the time comes,it will also help break a new one in and a lot of practice can go along ways with being confident & you will know beyond a shadow of adoubt that your sights are dead on...real good excuse to take up reloading,you will save a small fortune over buying factory ammo and can find your weapons best load that it likes the most for greatest accuracy....a 22lr. is the cheapest target outfit to shoot a lot of practice without alot of cost..Hope this helps and good luck

Try to find a copy of this magazine,its got it all in it from the best of the pros..

I think this is a cool looking little round for a single shot thompson,I would love to have a 300 whisper...

Iam gonna try and get a Ruger blackhawk this year in 45.LC and 7 1/2 in.barrel...Thats my new years resolution for shooting fun this summer...I know where a nice old ones at thats still nib,the shop owner wants 400.00,i dont know what they sale for nowdays...the blackhawks have gone up over the last 10years...should be able to find a excellent one used for less?Once i go to shooting its gonna be used anyway from there on out...

quote:

Originally posted by bmash:
"yoke"? Is this the piece where the ejector rod and spring are? My pistol is a Freedom Arms and that is where it was resting. I figured since it is attached to the barrel the effect would be the same. I'm just not sure if it is the contact or a differance in my grip. Thanks for the input guys.

Silly man ,Thats the orange part of an egg!!!