That’s the thing… You don’t really need to justify a sport, they don’t really make a lot of sense if you don’t happen to enjoy it.
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Probably a non-wanted question, but...
- Thread starter MikeVV
- Start date
Why is it that some folks think it is so cool to ______________
The same question could be asked of many things that people do.
People will do whatever it is that they enjoy doing, even if others are baffled as to why.
I bet the OP has some hobby or activity that others don't understand.
The same question could be asked of many things that people do.
People will do whatever it is that they enjoy doing, even if others are baffled as to why.
I bet the OP has some hobby or activity that others don't understand.
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Unwanted answer..........why do you care what other people do with their time and money? There are plenty of things people do that I can't figure out why. I'm sure there are plenty of people that can't figure out why I pursue some things I do, luckily I'm not doing it for them nor do I owe them an explanation.
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I do not hunt . pest squirrels yes . Low power is my game , shooting small spinners (down to 1/4 inch) out to 50 and 100 yards.
i am a few days from 77 but shooting bench rest all my life . IT is very hard to score 200 all x's , in fact i have never done that ........ yet.
i am a few days from 77 but shooting bench rest all my life . IT is very hard to score 200 all x's , in fact i have never done that ........ yet.
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I definitely prefer to sight in or tune with a rest, it take me out of the equation. I see the rest as a tool to setup and test the gun. Then shooting offhand let’s me know I missed by miss reading distance/wind or just bad timing.
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I may go back to shooting some Appleseed style with my Daystate Revere for positional practice. If you have never done an Appleseed match, look for one in your area. They are a load of fun and educational. Based on the Army qualification course with distance appropriate targets, open sights and sling assisted shooting. Standing, seated and prone are the positions. Timed 10 shot string on the different targets and score high enough, you get a Rifleman patch.
I shot one with my Ruger 10-22 and open sights at 25 yards on the first day. The second day was to be actual distance training out to 300 with higher power rifles. I didn't have an AR at that time so I only did the .22 portion. During the lunch break they have a history lesson.
If you had a scope they prefered you use irons but didn't eliminate you from experience.
I shot one with my Ruger 10-22 and open sights at 25 yards on the first day. The second day was to be actual distance training out to 300 with higher power rifles. I didn't have an AR at that time so I only did the .22 portion. During the lunch break they have a history lesson.
If you had a scope they prefered you use irons but didn't eliminate you from experience.
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I have had thoughts similar. Metallic Silhouette shooting shooting isn't really that old late 70's. And shooting centerfire hunting rifles. Guys would come out and if they shot 25% they were happy. As the sport grew handguns and small bore got introduced. First time I shot handgun I dont think I knocked down 10 As the sport grew folks started trying everything to knock down more targets. For some it became an equipment race. Then folks coming out for the first time saw the specialized equipment and thought. Today I knocked down X% targets if only I had the equipment like local Joe champion. So they scrape and scrimp practice minimal and finally get the coveted rifle that is capable of winning. Then find out that they only bought a couple knock downs. Got discouraged, sold their equipment for a loss and quit. Today a once popular shooting discipline is close to dead. What most want today is instant gratification. that's why shooting timed steel has become so popular even if you are slow you can hit most targets if you stay under your speed limit. Hey I am not knocking this type shooting at all. It's fun I like it. Shooting from the bench is fun and can be very challenging and rewarding. Your achievements may have to be measured in thousands for the really good guy and gals. Through the years I have taught a lot of youth and ladies to shoot from a rested position and they can do pretty well with the right equipment, instruction and encouragement. And if started from a bench correctly form and process can be learned. Hopefully without a bunch of bad habits. I had a friend that would buy his boys a 30-06 when they were about 8-10 set a milk jug out and have them bang away from a offhand position. Talk about learning bad habits. What ever position you choose to shoot from. Have fun, teach others, be nice and the sport will grow. Or we can act like what what we do is best, our equipment is the only choice and be a jerk to others. And we can watch our chosen shooting discipline die out just like my once favorite metallic silhouette.
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Mike,
I bristle at this question because no matter what the hobby, no matter what the subject, the question is always stated as an elitist statement hidden in the guise of a question. One person's irritation is posed as a question, not as a method to find understanding but to reinforce their own bias and then that differential is used to bash those that are of a non-conforming opinion to the OP.
I am NOT saying that this is your objective but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a......
I bristle at this question because no matter what the hobby, no matter what the subject, the question is always stated as an elitist statement hidden in the guise of a question. One person's irritation is posed as a question, not as a method to find understanding but to reinforce their own bias and then that differential is used to bash those that are of a non-conforming opinion to the OP.
I am NOT saying that this is your objective but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a......
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I like shooting groups from a bench so I know what the rifle is capable of and that it is hitting exactly where I expect it to. Eliminating myself from the equation is critical. That gives me confidence in my equipment. My day to day shooting is a mixed bag of standing offhand, prone, kneeling, sitting and benched. Benched evaluates the gun. Everything else evaluates the monkey at the trigger.
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I had (upto know) only one chance to shoot at a bull elk, it was big enoug (6x6) and I miss the chance of shooting it becase I was carring in my left hand a bipod. Off hand I could have take it easilly it was running but close enough. I learned that your guide has to carry the bipod. You need to be ready to shot.
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Umm I think it’s to more show the capabilities of a said gun. Also, maybe you are a natural as even benched there is a lot of technique to being able to (this is KEY) repeatedly and consistently do it. To do that ain’t so easy even benched.
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Actually, this question is full of disrespect now that I read it over again. Right from the start the tone set seems to be to make anyone who does this type of shooting feel like less than a good shooter.
"Why is it that folks think it's SO...cool, wonderful, amazing, astonishing, etc.,"
"Nothing's been proven, very little skill involved..!?"
"Please counsel me on crutched shooting,"
I also noticed after the OP the poster never comes back to respond to any of the great answers given by other members.
This type of post and attitude does nothing to further the shooting sports...
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Yeah, let's wrap it in the guise of "I'm looking for an answer to broaden my perspective" when it's really all about personal validation. The walking like & talking like tells me ITS A DUCK!!! If, as the OP states, there is no skill involved then why isn't he out there winning all the competitions? With that offhand skill he has shooting off a rest should translate to him being a shoo-in as a winner in most, if not all, competition.
EDIT: Sorry! I woke up crabby. Wife immediately started in my ear before my 1st cup of coffee OR my 1st trip to the head!
EDIT: Sorry! I woke up crabby. Wife immediately started in my ear before my 1st cup of coffee OR my 1st trip to the head!
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There’s a lot of assuming occurring in this thread. The man said “I tried it once.” I think this is key above all. Mike if you’re able to do this consistently at 72 years of age then you apparently have a Nuriel ability (or some sort of training) that would probably make you a great competitive bench rest shooter. Try shooting those some sized groups at various distances in different temperatures and wind conditions. Man if you’re still producing those groups why not compete and win some money? You may be good for the sport.
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The man also said the was no skill involved. Called it crutched shooting and said nothing has been proven when doing it...that is not assumption, it's reading exactly what was written.
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We only go around once so do anything that makes you happy as long as it doesn't harm others.
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Don't get me wrong, I hate being a troll and I apologize if that's how I am coming off. I personally shoot from a bench to remove my own defects from the solution to see what the actual gun is capable of. I shot long range PB competition for a few years and I had to learn how to get out of my own way. It was difficult to get consistent groups from a bench and impossible to get good groups offhand at first. Once I understood what my gun was capable of, I was able to refine my technique and reduce group sizes.
The bench is a tool, nothing more. It allows for better groupings further out and allows actual, real time feedback with wind at distance. Frankly, poor offhand shooting groups or pesting misses can be attributed to heartbeat, breathing, muscle twitches, etc. but when isolating all input except for the finger squeeze on the trigger, the feedback being true and absolute, one can understand and correct for variations in one's own habits and ergonomics.
Then a person can take that information to the field and shoot offhand with the gathered knowledge and get better groups as well as lower losses in pesting.
I do not think of bench V.S. offhand, I see them as tools such as a hammer and chisel, neither is adequate on it's own and needs the other to create art.
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