superguide Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 I see alot of guys obsessing about loads,ammo, group size etc-I think there's optimimum accuracy goals and acceptable goals-99 percent of hunters can't shoot as good as the equipment they are using anyway. Here's my question who do you think will kill more deer a guy who can shoot minute of angle groups off a benchrest with handloads or a guy who can hit a volleyball offhand at 200 yards with factory ammo. Both will probably be successful but what I'm getting at is you don't have to be a benchrest champion to be a deer hunter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! good point. I just think most want to be the best they can be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! I know what you mean.Some buddies of mine shoot a lot of 3-D,and put me to shame past 30 yards.They shoot 3 or 4 times a week to my one time a week,but that doesn't make them a better hunter than me.They have pins out to 60 yards,which is almost useless in hunting,but it is fun to do once in a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! I'd say whoever has the least amount of buck fever will do the best. I'm decent off of the bench and do well with a rest of any sort in the field, but can't shoot for crap freehand. Hit a volleyball at 200 yards freehand? Maybe 30% of the time. But I know what my limitations are so if the distance is over 100 yards, I just won't take the shot until I can get prone or get a rest on something. And I can't remember the last deer I missed with a rifle. It has to be 15 or 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! I strive to shoot the best I can off the bench and it has paid off for me very well over the years when it comes to hunting. If I can shoot a 3 shot group at 100 yards that measures about 1/2", that means that I can take shots that most people can't or won't! Also I don't take a shot unless I know it is going to drop and I won't have to chase after anything. I also do not shoot if the shot is over 300 yards! I also do a lot of offhand or semi-rest shooting so that I am covered when I go out hunting. I have seen a lot of the people who shot groups of 3" to 6" at 100 yards and they think it is great for hunting. These people also will start shooting at animals at 2 or 3 hundred yards and to me that should not be allowed. As far as I am concerned, people should practice as much as possible because we owe it to any animal that we make clean and quick killing shots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! my thought on this is this, and i only speak for myself, i have been tought to hit a killing shot on a target of a person at 500 yrds, and that was by what they call the presidents hundred. a us army shooting team there is more to shooting than most people know, how to stand, the value of the the wind weather it be 1/2 of full value, degree of drop at a know distance, to me its knowing your gun and what you know you are capable of, to me i would take a 300 to 400 yrd shot if every thing was right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! I am rather new to actual "benchrest" shooting. Personally, I see it as an activity that is separate from hunting, but with peripheral relationships to hunting. Of course the benefits to hunting are obvious. There is nothing wrong with becoming super-familiar with your weapon and its capabilities. Certainly off-hand shooting should become part of your pre-hunting practice regimen. However, if you find out that you suck at it, you had better tailor your hunting shots to something you can reliably do.....lol. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! I usually hit what I am shooting at, I haven't missed a deer in 4 years I think. I buy factory ammo, my equipment isn't expensive. I make sure I'm sighted in but bottom line is that I have finally gotten a grip on the dreaded buck fever. The last time I missed was simply a result of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dust Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! It's well known that shooting in stress situations (at a live target) causes a huge loss of accuracy. I believe it's around 35%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! Personally I just like to have that confidence in knowing I am going to hit the animal where I want to hit it with whatever situation I am faced with. Practice builds confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! To me I think it boils down to confidence in your equipment. I know my gun and scope "are ON" if I get decent 1" or better groups at 100 yards. I do this off a bench, sand bags, etc. to make sure the equipment is as accurately set up as possible. Off hand shooting will be another issue. Thats practice and practice and practice. I agree you do not need to be able to shoot tight groups out to and beyond 300 yards to be a successful deer hunter. But its nice to be able to... LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffett1 Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! I think getting things set up is a huge part of being successful, but being able to shoot without a rest n the field is also an added bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted September 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! I guess what I'm trying to say is I've seen guys beat themselves mentally before they even start hunting because they can't shoot like the magazine guys. Better practice for hunting is taking your deer rifle out varmint shooting etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted September 27, 2006 Report Share Posted September 27, 2006 Re: Food for Thought!! No arguement here superguide. The operator is the key element going into the accuracy of the weapon. The reason I handload is to load premium bullets and save some $ so I can shoot more for practice wthout it hurting me in the hip pocket. The ammo for my Weatherby rifle cost $80/box of 20 last time I bought factory ammo (8 years ago) and I can relaod a box for about $15 if its that much. I'll bet they charge close to $100/box for that ammo by now. I don't save that much on reloading for my .308 but its probably around 1/3 of the cost of factory ammo. BTW.., I've had all my basic reloading gear for 32 years now so the cost of that isn't even an issue anymore. The only thing I've bought since then was a digital powder scale about 7 or 8 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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