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Post by ozark on Nov 24, 2007 13:48:07 GMT -5
A few years ago I sit up a practicing range that friends found helpful and interesting. First, I made a fourwheeler trail that meandered in a circle through thickets, woodlands and up and down hills. I then inflated balloons of various colors to about 8 inch diameters. These were tied to branches, tree trunks or just anchored to the ground. As you walked this route there would be several balloons visable. The hunter was allowed ten shots during the course but a coach would point out the target at different ranges. Once a target was pointed out the shooter had to fire until the balloon was popped. Some shooters fire the total ten rounds at the first target and left the balloon inflated. The shooter was given one full minute to make the first shot. We had seven shooters go over the course and no person got ten balloons. It was a fun thing and it sure opened some eyes about how easy it is to miss a deer under hunting conditions. One shooter popped 8 balloons using a 22.250.
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Post by Kevin B. on Nov 24, 2007 20:51:51 GMT -5
I'm intrigued by this.
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Post by ozark on Nov 24, 2007 21:18:59 GMT -5
As you moved around the course a coach was behind you. Normally there would be several balloons in sight but the coach would say: "Hold it." and point to a balloon and say: "The Pink One." The shooter was continually tense and never knew when the command to HOLD IT would come or where. Here in the hill country there was never a problem having a safe back stop. All legal deer rifles were allowed and Arkansas said any center fire rifle. I followed along behind the two on a four wheeler and got some good belly laughs. There were two semi-automatics and they didn't get far after the first miss. One full minute is plenty of time to rush to a tree to use as a rest. The man who won dropped into the sitting position for every shot. Wet dirty butt was worth it to him. I provided a trophy for the winner and hot dogs for all the participants at the starting point. Allowed only one team on the course at a time.
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Post by Kevin B. on Nov 25, 2007 15:01:36 GMT -5
Ben, that sounds absolutely great! Now THAT is exactly the type of shooting practice that I need more of. I shoot alot from a homemade bench in the interest of checking load accuracy, but my shooting technique while hunting is probably atrocious. I would love to go through a course like that with my ML2 and 10 reloads of powder and bullet. I missed a nice little 4 or 6 point this year due to poor markmanship. I'm glad I missed cleanly, instead of punching through the gutbag!
I was thinking a month or so ago about setting up a hundred yard range through thick brush, or even not so thick brush, and shooting for groups from a bench, to see how brush REALLY effects poi and bullet integrity. I'm still going to try it. But I like your idea better. January is gonna be my "shoot a whole bunch more" month since deer season will be over. Thanks for the food for thought.
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Post by ozark on Nov 25, 2007 15:51:13 GMT -5
Kevin if a bullet contacts a twig or any other object the course of the bullet will be altered. A ricochet so to speak. If contact is made with a twig a foot or so before reaching the target there will be little difference in impact on a deer. But if the bullet contacts a twig near the shooter and some distance from the target it is likely to be a complete miss. There has been much experimenting on brush bucking bullets and all changes course when contact is made with some outside source. The bullet may retain its orginal shape or that may be altered but IMO there are no bullets that will plow through brush and retain original course. Looking through a bush it looks like it is ninty percent air. But the bullets seems to contact a branch if there is a chance. Ben
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