I have them all for no good reason other than liking books on shooting. Only one you really need is David Tubbs first paper back High Power Rifle. He gives more solid information on not only offhand but competiton prep than anybody in clear readable format.

Boats

Thanks again Boats.
I will look for it.

Got both books on Amazon, Russian book was 38 used and Tubbs book I think was 20 for paperback....both great books like they said!!!

SHOOT WELL!!!

Innocent wrote:

I have really been trying to work on using the clock and trying not to take bad shots.

Remember 4 good shots on every bank is a 32, so don't focus on the clock too much.

Mary

The best thing you can do is to have buddy, coach, wife, whatever..Calling your shots, plotting them on a board, and keeping an eye on the clock for you. After a while you will develop an inner clock that keeps you on pace..You should be able to "call" your shot and a coach spotting for you will be able to confirm your "call" My coach(wife) when I got down to the last 30 seconds would tap me on the shoulder lightly..After a couple of matches it became second nature on keeping on time. The plotting board was nothing more than a cork board glued to the back of a clip board with the animals painted on the back and a pile of push pins to mark the shot. The feedback from the coach putting the pin exactly where it hit...or missed. versus where you "thought" it broke was absolutely invaluable. Hope this helps...Dave..Deo Vindice

boats wrote:3 things that help move up in classification

Make sure zeros are correct,centered up on the animals, check on paper before match day not on steel during the sight in period


Boats

Not sure about anyone else but my offhand zeros are different than on the bench.

If I had to pick a single thing that has significantly helped me progress is practicing with a springer air rifle.

J~

Easy way to pick up targets is good spotting. By good mean somebody who can see where they hit and communicate to you simple and reliable. Have seen some terrible spotters though, if not good best avoided. If you can work with someone regular and work out a routine it's the way to go. My regular spotter and I use hand signals, finger on the pin means a good spot, wiggle of the hand not so sure. Waive it off no spot did not see don't use the call. We do not coach each other during a match just spot. Practice we do a lot of feedback and coaching. Spotter should confirm sight setting and proper bank with the shooter before the "ready" call & fill out the score card.

Zeros we always confirm on paper pre match. Shoot a group offhand take the target back to the firing line. Box in the majority of the shots with a pencil then connect the corners of the box making X to indicate center of impact. Make all adjustments from the true center of impact. Centered up makes a difference in scores

Boats

jbolt wrote:

boats wrote:3 things that help move up in classification

Make sure zeros are correct,centered up on the animals, check on paper before match day not on steel during the sight in period


Boats

Not sure about anyone else but my offhand zeros are different than on the bench.

If I had to pick a single thing that has significantly helped me progress is practicing with a springer air rifle.

J~

my zeros are close to the same as off the bench, I can call my misses most of the time, (that would be most of my shots)
I am very careful on my bench technique, and I have pillar bedded and free-floated my CZ 452.

thanks boats and Dave,

I picked up a copy of Tubbs highpower book in paper back and have been reading it.
I can normally call my shots pretty well and a lot of times, and most of the time I am confirming with the spotter.
Sunday we shot a match and I did not have a spotter, On Turkeys, I could see that I was missing in the same place time after time. But I was thinking it must be me something I am doing or not doing. But I was pretty sure I was breaking good shots. Eventually I decided to hold on the breast and you know what 3 in a row, to finish them out. Too bad I did not trust my hold, enough to make the adjustment before that. It is all part of the learning curve I guess.

Mike

Mike more than once my spotter has said "stop what you are doing? when I miss in the same spot twice in a row. Last time it was my BPCS rifle, hat hitting the tang sight on recoil did not return it to battery before the next shot. He caught one then two elevation errors stopped me until we figured out what was going wrong. Two misses could have been 5

Silhouette is really a two man sport; competing on your own is a disadvantage.

Boats

I think that..................... if your off-hand 0 is different from your bench 0, you need to take a good look at your bench shooting or your follow thru in off-hand There is NO reason the 0s should be different.

Jerry have to differ on zeros offhand vs bench.

Rifles recoil different depending on how they are held. Smallbore prone you can throw shots high or low with sling adjustment alone. Left of right with cheek pressure. You can mimize bench zero differences by resting the rifle in front if the trigger guard only rest in your shoulder just like shooting offhand, still a minute at least difference most rimfires.

My offhand rifles rarely shoot from the bench always zero on paper offhand by running a large group, throwing out the flyers and making adjustments from center of impact. Same center of impact thats going to develop in a match on steel

Boats

I use the same technique as Boats. And it works for me.

"Smallbore prone you can throw shots high or low with sling adjustment alone"

I thought we were talking about silhouette. No one mentioned slings. If you put your front bag close to where you support your rifle the recoil should also be the same. That would hold true for both SB and HP.

For all you belly shooters, if you have your rifle free bloated you shouldn't pull your shots to the sling side

Offhand a silhouette rifle is supported 4 ways forearm, cheek, grip, and shoulder, When it recoils all come into play. If it was possable from a bench to duplicate all and most important how hard the forearm hold is in theory groups should be the same. In pratice they are not. Close yes same no. Rams with a 1 moa rifle and only 2 1/2 inches to work with half a minute off zero will cost targets in a match.

Thats my experence anyway.

Boats

Boats, I can't think of anyone that 'grip' there SB and very few that 'grip' their HP rifles. Most rest the rifle on their fingers or palm I don't even 'grip my 300WM. I have never been 'bit' by the scope. I guess this could go on forever but I still believe a person can very closly duplicate their off=hand hold with their bench sight-in. If we are argueing over less than 1/2 minute difference we both are wasiting our time.