Shooting rests for the field?

[BlackPowderGuy (AJHS)]

I know that hunting season is a ways off yet but I've been thinking about my gear setup. Long story short, when I hunt public land, if I am not in a tree, I am in a field chair...to lighten the load, I took a primos monopod shooting stick out with me. Now {this is a centerfire story}, I had my Ruger 350 Legend with me...and off the bench, I've got nice groups, 1.5 inches at 100 yards all day long...but in the field, there was a buck, maybe 100 yards away and I thought I was on him but I took two shots at him and clean missed both times! I thought I had the crosshairs on him, but I assume I must have flinched bad. Part of it, I think, is that the monopod was just not steady enough to hold on a target 100 yards away. Anybody got any experience with a reasonably lightweight rest/tripod to take into the field to get more reliable accurace. {And for the wiseguys, yes, I intend to practice the heck out of shooting off that monopod at distance!}

 

[MrTom]

I can't help with the sticks or a tripod but I will suggest that you go back to the range and shoot and sight the gun for exactly like you're going to be hunting it. Take your field chair and whatever stick rest you decided and re-shoot using those components.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

x2, practice the same way you hunt.

 

[brownisdown]

BUCK FEVER!

 

[Fullbore92]

BUCK FEVER!

Best fever to have!

 

[Ninering62]

I know that hunting season is a ways off yet but I've been thinking about my gear setup. Long story short, when I hunt public land, if I am not in a tree, I am in a field chair...to lighten the load, I took a primos monopod shooting stick out with me. Now {this is a centerfire story}, I had my Ruger 350 Legend with me...and off the bench, I've got nice groups, 1.5 inches at 100 yards all day long...but in the field, there was a buck, maybe 100 yards away and I thought I was on him but I took two shots at him and clean missed both times! I thought I had the crosshairs on him, but I assume I must have flinched bad. Part of it, I think, is that the monopod was just not steady enough to hold on a target 100 yards away. Anybody got any experience with a reasonably lightweight rest/tripod to take into the field to get more reliable accurace. {And for the wiseguys, yes, I intend to practice the heck out of shooting off that monopod at distance!}

Yes, theres no shortage of wisenheimers in here, me included.
As MM stated, a big thing is trying to practice with what & how you hunt, first & foremost.
I'm old school when it comes to things like what you're asking about. Where the general sentiment was learning how to hold, aim & lead your shot, to use whatever is avail, like trees, rocks etc., and never ever have a need to spend money on " fancy " devices like mono pods, bi pods & tri pods etc., that whole stand thing that holds your entire gun for you......yeah, but in my older yrs & state of health, I've looked for smarter, easier ways & things to make my shooting & hunting a little easier on my body. I caught a sale on the Jim Shockys Trigger Sticks Tripod. Its nothing to have to carry ( weight or bulk wise ) & its stood up fantastically having my Paramount slung un top of it & shot off of it. I know how to get done my hunting & shooting with none of the fancy newfangled thingys, but havin a few around nowadays sure has made many things much nicer.
I thought about the MOnopod as well, I could see using one for say - turkey hunting, close range shooting perhaps, but for anything " out there " its not really an ideal thing to use, as you've already experienced. It was put to me like this " using the right tool for the job " is always the best way to go.

 

[ingramjets]

I use a Caldwell field pod for crossbow and muzzy nice and light and easy adjustable works great.

 

[Bphunter1974]

I use a Caldwell field pod for crossbow and muzzy nice and light and easy adjustable works great.

Yes love them

 

[.45er]

Here's a Very light and portable rifle pod I will sometimes carry along. It's about 22" retracted and is adjustable up to 62". The V Head pivots and can be opened to a flat 180 degrees. I also like the built-in carrying strap. It's a monopod but simple.

 

[anonymouscowherd]

Learn how to shoot?

No really, and no offense intended. But shooting from a fully supported bench with rest and bags is VERY different from field shooting.

I'd say get a good 22 with an appropriate scope (close parallax or adjustable focus/objective) and attend an Appleseed and learn how to shoot prone, kneeling, sitting and standing, while using a sling. Field stable positions, especially with the sling. And then practice. And then practice some more.

The proper use of a sling in the field will help tremendously, as will learning to use your body as your shooting bench when kneeling or sitting.

"Over the leather and under the wood...."

And if you are wondering, yes, this is how I learned to shoot properly using single shot target rifles, and a fresh out of the Corps Gunny.

 

[Ninering62]

Learn how to shoot?

No really, and no offense intended. But shooting from a fully supported bench with rest and bags is VERY different from field shooting.

I'd say get a good 22 with an appropriate scope (close parallax or adjustable focus/objective) and attend an Appleseed and learn how to shoot prone, kneeling, sitting and standing, while using a sling. Field stable positions, especially with the sling. And then practice. And then practice some more.

The proper use of a sling in the field will help tremendously, as will learning to use your body as your shooting bench when kneeling or sitting.

"Over the leather and under the wood...."

And if you are wondering, yes, this is how I learned to shoot properly using single shot target rifles, and a fresh out of the Corps Gunny.

Very well stated & 100% on point.

 

[anonymouscowherd]

The other critical thing that comes to mind is range estimation and really knowing where your rifle shoots

Most of us are terrible at range estimation. This becomes critical at various places based on what round you are shooting, but an extra 3" of drop can mean the difference between a hit and miss or a clean kill and a wounded and unrecovered animal. Measure and note distances when scouting. Heck, add marker flags etc if you can

Knowing exactly where your gun shoots is critical. This means you cant just zero at 100 yards and 3" high and be set to 300 yards. You need to shoot at various distances and note real drop and drift with your load from your rifle. A chrono and ballistics calc can give you a good idea but math is different from the real world.

Additionally, even the slightest misalignment between sights/scope and bore centerline will induce left/right drift when shooting closer/further from zero distance

In short ... you need the trigger time, take the notes and learn from it

 

[Kwali]

I cannot say enough how much I appreciate your wisdom and understanding of the fundamentals as it relates to using a weapon in the field versus at a range. Thank you for sharing your Insight.

 

[bronko220002]

Yes definitely practice. Monopods are tough. I have one but I found that a tripod is much better for stability (even a bipod is better than a monopod). Both my mono and tri are the Primos Trigger Sticks. The tripod is a gen2.
With a mono and bipod you should have the foot farther forward and the top either against the swivel stud on the rifle or your hand and "load it up" by pushing forward. That will steady the vertical motion but only practice is going to help with the left to right wobble.
At the very least I'd chuck that monopod and get a minimum of a bipod. When you load it up like above you should be a lot more steadier. But IMO, if that's the way you hunt and you can afford it, get a tripod. (you can even make one yourself. just look on youtube for a video.)

 

[smokepolehall]

Yup its tough to tell someone else about support n rests while shooting n hunting. I use my padded rail for support while in my climber. My ground blind i use a stool n put my sand bag on top of it for my rest. If i use a natural blind i make sure i have a small tree to support my hand n or forearm on it.

 

[PowderCharge]

I made the same mistake trying a monopod at longer distances. Not on a hunt but I bought one, tried it, and didn’t like it. So I took the top of it off, went to goodwill, and got a $5 camera tripod. Figured a way to mate the two and came up with this little tripod. Still haven’t used it on a hunt. Cause I do a lot of pack hunting and the extra weight isn’t worth it once you practice some of the other tactics mentioned above. I will bring it along if I’m going to be calling yotes in an open field with taller grass. I mostly rely on things in my environment for a rest or shoot off my own body using a sling properly. Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[bronko220002]

Like I stated above I have a Primos Trigger Stick tripod but I only carry it on a hunt if I think i may have an opportunity for a long shot. Back in my younger years I did a lot of 3 and 4 position competitive shooting. The lower you get to the ground the steadier you'll be. Prone better than sitting. Sitting better than kneeling and kneeling better than offhand. In the field, especially in the eastern woods you rarely ever shoot from prone. Out of all the deer and other game I've taken in the 55+ years I only ever shot 3 from prone. Most were shot from a sitting position, a couple from kneeling and a good bit offhand. A lot of times the foliage and terrain dictate the position you need to be in and offhand may be your only option. So you have to practice and develop muscle memory.

 

[Bushfire]

Trees, knees and long grass are cheap rests.

 

[brownisdown]

Somtime when I hunt it is over a long cut corn field here in Indiana.Awhhile back I use to go to a local casino and at one time I won a telescope that had a tri-pod stand for it.Never did use it,but now that my brother and I are planning this colorado elk hunt I figured I might need some shooting sticks.This stand is aluminum and is adjustable in height.I took the telescope off and the basehas a 5/8 diameter hole in it.I went to the hard ware store and found a part that I beleive is a two prong tool holder with threads on the shaft.I found the right size nut and put it on then some gas line hose to cover the prongs from scratching the gun.Took it to the range a gave it a test run and it works really well.Something for nothing turns out to be an item I need and can use.

 

[MrTom]

The stand I hunt from offers 360 degree visability and has four walls that are about 34" high. It has a gabled roof overhead with bench along the sidewalls. I take a folding chair for more comfort and in most instance from that chair I can shoot. I have a sandbag that I can quickly lay atop the 2X6 wall cap as a rest, almost as if I were at the club.

If we get into some chillier than normal weather, I'll get out of the stand after sitting for three hours or so and do a still hunt for a couple hours. The ridge running thru the property runs perhaps 300 yards and two hours just gets me from one end to the other. One sidehill is very open woods with excellent visibilty while the other sidehill is a friggin tangle from hades. There are specific trails the deer use coming out of the tangles so I mosey along to a trail and stand there for 15 minutes, then move along slowly to the next. Whenb I stop at a trail opening, I make certain I have a tree there to hold the gun against if I need to shoot. At the club, I shoot bracing the rifle or pistol against a 6X6 at the corner of the shooting table area. I've already been practicing that type of shot, at least four loads from each the rifle and pistol. Its amazing how many deer I have taken while standing and watching those trails.