shoot better without rest

Hey gang,
I have been practicing with my Ruger GP100 with a reflex sight. I was shooting off a Primos trigger stick and was not getting very good grouping at 40 yards. So I decided to just bring the gun up and shoot without a rest. At 40 yards I was shooting 6 shot groups into a 8" shoot and see target and keeping 5 of 6 shots in a 6" circle. Anyone else have the same experience? I was real discouraged with my shooting off the rest and was considering not hunting with my revolver. But after this weekend, I think inside of 40 yards, I should be good to go. Still have almost 4 weeks to keep practicing.

I shoot my contenders well off of a rest but not my revolvers. I do much better off hand with them.

IS THE PRIMOS 2 LEGS OR 3? FOR HANDGUNS 3 LEGS ARE A LOT BETTER. I SUSPECT THAT COMMERCIAL SHOOTING STICKS ARE GEARED FOR THE RIFLE SHOOTERS MARKET. I HAVE ALWAYS PREFERRED AFRICAN STYLE 3 LEGGED SHOOTING STICKS WHERE THE BARREL RESTS/LOCKS IN TO THE "V". THE USA COMMERCIAL SHOOTING STICKS ALL SEEM TO HAVE A "U", WHICH MAY BE OK FOR RIFLE SHOOTERS, BUT I FIND TO BE TOO WOBBLY FOR REVOLVERS.

45Man, it was a single leg. I may look around for a different type. but, if I keep having the same results off hand, I will probably just stick with that.

Try NOT resting the barrel of the revolver......but instead rest on the small part of the frame in front of the trigger guard.

I will try that next session. Thank you

Kyode X2. Best standing rest are heavy Bog Pod tripods. If you can find an old PSR rest for the Bog Pod, that's the best.

Try a tri pod, or a PSR, sitting on the ground with my elbows on my knees helps things big time, even better if your back is up against a tree.

hitman-Thank you





Racksmasher- Thank you for the tip, I will try that.

Benny8: A MONOPOD IS ALMOST USELESS AND A BIPOD IS ALMOST AS BAD, A TRIPOD WILL GET YOU A SOLID REST.

Thank you 45man!

A tripod approach is stable and fixed. The two-legged and single leg approaches are for rifle hunters. As was said in earlier posts, sitting with your back against a tree and resting your arms over your drawn up legs and across your knees, is also very stable. Just make sure the revolver does not rest on the tripod or on your knees. Your wrist and hand can but the firearm should not. Just my two cents worth. When in doubt find a rest.

I would just keep practicing off hand. Imho if i couldnt shoot offhand i would have taken 4 or so animals in africa instead of 12. I agree with lynn thompson, that if you cant shoot offhand you lose opportunities. Just keep practicing offhand. Ive never regretted doing so. I havent taken a rested shot in years.

TRADMARK's COMMENTS ABOVE GOT ME TO THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS BETTER FOR OFF HAND HUNTING SHOTS: OPEN SIGHTS, SCOPES OR RED DOTS. I HAVE SEEN TRADMARK SHOOT AND I THINK HE PREFERS RED DOTS. I HAVEN'T GONE TO RED DOTS YET AND ON MY HUNTING REVOLVERS, WHERE I MAY HAVE TO SHOOT OFF HAND OR OFF OF A FIELD REST, I PREFER 2X SCOPES. OF THE 3, OPEN SIGHTS, IMHO, COME IN LAST BECAUSE OF TOO MANY "LIGHTING" ISSUES. SO WHAT IS BEST AND WHY?

45MAN, for the sake of discussion I'll chime in although my experience pales in comparison to yours and other notables on this forum. My history is handgunning for whitetails in the south, so that's my frame of reference. I hunt with single shots, revolvers and autos with iron sights, red dots and scopes. Each gun and sighting system has it's advantages and disadvantages. If I absolutely had to kill a deer tomorrow, I'd pick a gun with a variable scope, because it works in a wide range of situations. If I were hunting in close quarters, where moving targets were likely, I'd pick a gun with a red dot sight. Which red dot sight is a whole discussion in itself which I won't get into. If tomorrow I wanted to spend the day knocking around the woods and maybe shoot something if I see it, then an iron sighted revolver would be with me. Bottom line, glad I have good examples of each and can pick and choose.

45MAN, i would say i overall like the reddot but i keep up my iron sight skils. I use it on all my belt guns. I do use scopes but, for me, theyre a bit limiting. For others Its the way to go. I had always been an iron sight guy, but when i got good with my log barreled casulls and started to utilize that extra range with the redot and it also helped me with running shots and i am
Working to translate that to my irons. Last trip to africa over half of my kills were moving or running. I just work at it. I am
A huge lynn thompson fan and i take his words seriously and it has served me well as well as those that i have taught and brought into this. Im just reiterating what he said and taught me.

Thanks Tradmark. I will keep practicing off hand. In NH where I hunt, my shots are under 40 yards. Off hand was surprisingly more accurate, but I will also take others advice when using a rest. I have more time to practice before the firearm season opens. Thank you everyone who chimed in. Sincerely appreciate all the tips.