HFT shooting tips - standing

[Corvid_hunter]

I don't shoot Field Target or Hunter Field Target, but I do like watching this guy's videos.

Shooting & Country TV | Gary Chillingworth | How to take shots from different positions: standing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjWS28pGLig

 

[Motorhead]

Shooting OFFHAND in a competition setting one needs to personally tweak what stance, balance points on rifle yields the least wavering / wiggle.

While AKA: text book techniques are well & fine on perfectly flat ground and no wind .... Reality requires adaptation and a personal touch if wishing to be successful at this most difficult shooting position.



Scott S

FT Competitive shooter ....

 

[qball]

Good video for beginner/newbies like me. Thanks for sharing. 

 

[Soloshot]

Excellent demonstrations for the hardest skill to own. What worked for me was to place front foot to not cause side cramps (move it approx 60 degree to target instead of a lock tight 90 deg) and adjust length of pull to improve fit while standing. Off hand scores improved so the tips work!

 

[SqrlHntr]

Body type plays a big part as well. Being a smaller frame without much counter balance, I lean way back like a biathalon shooter to get the balance point over my hip as much as possible. Theres also a sling to consider, but thats prob another vid by itself.

 

[Deleted member 38071]

Regardless of body type and personal particulars in stance, deliberate practice is the Most important factor. 

At this juncture in my abilities I'm having a bit of trouble with a consistent follow through. It's causing some shots to move left of my intended point of impact. During practice I make sure to address this issue, along with a couple more in an attempt to keep from making these mistakes during a match.

 

[steve123]

I haven't found the "answer" yet for offhand, lol.

My body type doesn't work well for offhand or kneeling but especially kneeling, I'm not flexible, less than anyone I've met. Even though I use many of the techniques as the guy does in the video, no matter what I try I'm not remotely comfortable which makes me wobbly or torqued in some direction. I remember when I was lifting weights with my son for a couple years that really helped for my offhand, even my heavy rifle was easy to hold up back then so strength made up for other deficiencies.

I know when I try "really hard" not to settle for an "ALMOST" that I score higher. That can mean I'll have to put the gun down for 20 seconds or so then try again, and maybe a couple times. I also try if possible to aim for something I see near the middle of the KZ, like a splat or shiny spot for example. Though sometimes I'm in the proper mood and sometimes not, what I mean by that is that its a better mental state when for whatever reason am knocking them down most of the time??!! I prefer to dial the magnification down to 12x or so as well.

Practice makes a huge difference if I'm able to discipline myself which has always been another problem, lol!

 

[AirShot]

I shot competituon for many years and my offhand shooting was not good ! With the increasing number of offhand shots increasing and my interest in silhouette shooting I needed to learn !! Along with finding the correct stance for my body type learning to fit your rifle to your body is of the utmost importance!! One should not feel the weight of your rifle....in other words the rifle ineedsvto be supported without using your muscles! With my hip thrown forward and my elbow tucked into my hip, I do not use muscle to support the rifle. When in position the rifle will just sit there for as long as needed without tiring. Yes it is difficult to master the stance and it will take practice to get it down. I practiced for almost a full year, shooting at least 25 shots each day, sometimes just practising the stance itself!! The following year I won a total offhand match and also win a match sponsored by a group that used the risk/reward system of FT. I was able to win 7 state matches due to not missing any offhand shots! Getting your rifle stock setup to fit, perfecting your stance and balance will lessen your wobble and you will develope a pattern to your wobble. When my offhand shooting improved so did my other scores improve....a bunch....yep it took a year of practice, serious practise, but, the ability to improve my shooting skills thru offhand practise allowed me to win a world spring gun match. I know lots of folks feel it is not worth the trouble because there are only a few offhand shots, but, learn the offhand stuff and watch all your scores improve!!!