This is exactly why I want to find a steady way to rest my gun in the field. I can shoot fairly well off a table, but it's a bit too cumbersome to fit in the blind or treestand with me.

How delightfully arrogant of you!

And then some.

Good-bye....

I shoot for groups when I'm testing - always five-shot groups. However, I feel that the first shot is the most critical, and maybe a follow-up shot. However, shooting well off of the bench doesn't necessarily correlate to good shooting in the field. We used to set up targets in the woods around a tree stand at various distances. That is good practice IMO.

Wait.........what? I thought we were talking here.
I was speaking in generalities......."you"........... Not pointing fingers.

Ease up, Hause. Remember, you've cast a few stones my way. A good game of catch requires that I throw it back to you.

;-)

And I fully agree. Which.........is shockingly similar to what I've been saying. In so many words.

"Groupings on paper are a tool to reflects ones basic understanding and application in fundamentals of marksmanship. It is not a direct correlation of ones field shooting ability. But, aside from blind luck or point blank engagements, if you suck at fundamentals.........you suck at field shooting.
Fundamentals is fundamentals, regardless the location
Position/Breathing/Sight Alignment/Trigger Control
Jack any one of those up and things will likely not go your way. On the bench........in the field.........with a rifle........with an handgun.........the ability to control all 4 will only increase your accuracy and precision.
On the bench............or in the field."

THIS!
I would add that IF your field shooting positions and your max distance still allow you to keep the bullet in the vitals under pressure you will be successful hunting game.

1 round in 5 targets is ok.
5 rounds in 1 target is not.

Ah ha!!! I figured it out!! The point of contention is appropinquity!

Easily solved with group hugs.

:-)

Now you are being mean...I had to look that word up.

Agreed.
After load development is done, get off the bench and practice from field positions.

After zeroing and or load development I'm done with the bench and paper. Onto steel and field rests

Call it what you will, it illustrates the fact that the ability to print tiny groups on paper from the bench does not directly equate to success in the field.

This^^^

Yep. Bring on the steel!!!

True.
It is a different skill set, but the point is if you do not have the basics down for good bench shooting, your shooting will look even worse from field shooting positions at the same distances.
Now, IF your weapons capability combined with yours is still good enough in field conditions to always keep your bullet in the vitals at whatever your max range is, then you may be content with that.

I am not really content with that.
I want to have the capability to place my bullet in a specific place in field conditions on game.

I agree, I have a friend that outfits for pronghorn out west. He was talking, last fall about a guy that was great when sighting in before the hunt. But once they got on a buck, he had to drive his shoulder into the guys back, to stop him from shaking. The guy just fell apart, once an animal was put into the mix.
I'm not trying to high jack this thread, or begin a dispute. I'm just adding my two cents, if they're worth anything.

Last Friday and Saturday I was helping a friend with an Alumni LR shooting school (Rifles).
When we did a man on man challenge, the pressure of making the first shot on the target, caused some people, who would normally make that shot to rush things and miss.
Stress or pressure can make the wheels fall off of the bus for some folks, while others do just fine.

As we have all agreed, a bench shooter does not automatically equate to a field shooter.

But, by golly...........I can/have taken individuals with a solid foundation in fundamentals........and with a little work and training...........turned them into amazingly deadly field shooters. From some of the most off the wall positions you could ever imagine.

1,000 yards is child's play.

Breath.........Relax..........Aim..........Squeeze............

That is unfortunate.

I apologize that we somehow got crossways with each other in this. It was never my intent.

Would love the chance to converse in other, possibly less intense, subjects. If you so choose.

I like this rest!

My self imposed limit is 50.yds. I sight in on a.rest. Looking for a group as small as possible. I like to know my gun and ammo will do the job better than me. Then its free hand practice using a tree or rock to brace on in what I call hunting conditions. If I missed then its on me knowing my gun and ammo are doing there job.

I like mine to be on me if I miss as well.

5 pages of opinions..... only 5 recommendations. ... lol

I didn't list the front rest I use for my bench work , since most would never purchase one.
Everyone else in the talking about different kinds of field rests pretty much covered most everything I use.

Yeah, I was quite surprised at the direction this thread went.