Thread: Another practical shooting test for Hunters

Originally Posted by ebf

@BW, do a google search for images when guys use the "game changer" bag.

Attachment 136603

You can do the same with a daypack.

The idea is to fill any voids between your body and arms to have better support.

If you can get bone on bone support, for me that is the first choice. If the position does not allow for that, look at ways to support your elbow rather than having it float in space.

Hope that makes sense.

Yes, that is interesting. I've yet to see anyone try this with a day bag, and I doubt these little bag things in the picture would ever see use outside of very niche competitive shooting groups.
It appears at first glance to be unfeasible to balance a day bag on top of your thigh to support your elbow while kneeling or sitting, and somewhat difficult to hold a day back between your supporting arm and chest while standing. Perhaps if your day bag was uncharacteristically light and was fitted with appropriately design straps to secure it to your body in those positions, it has the potential to work, but under most circumstances, I don't see the advantage in training for such an unlikely eventually, much less having shooters try and compare their ability to do so. Personally I wouldn't rate using a bag to support my limbs as any improvement, as there is already sufficient limb on limb support for in my sitting and kneeling positions. I would certainly use aids to support the rifle of course, if available.
@ebf, I teach shooters to avoid knees on elbows in the kneeling or sitting position as it poses inferior stability (due to the obviously small contact areas and inherent wobble) compared to placing the muscle behind the elbow joint on the knee, or the elbow on the thigh behind the knee, or better yet aim to achieve 'muscle on muscle' contact. Unless the shooter is too old and/or inflexible (not meant to cause offence).

But that's just my subjective opinion, and what I teach based on my experience. At the end of the day, if different techniques work for you and get rounds where you want them, I certainly don't discourage it.

Originally Posted by -BW-

Yes, that is interesting. I've yet to see anyone try this with a day bag, and I doubt these little bag things in the picture would ever see use outside of very niche competitive shooting groups.
It appears at first glance to be unfeasible to balance a day bag on top of your thigh to support your elbow while kneeling or sitting, and somewhat difficult to hold a day back between your supporting arm and chest while standing. Perhaps if your day bag was uncharacteristically light and was fitted with appropriately design straps to secure it to your body in those positions, it has the potential to work, but under most circumstances, I don't see the advantage in training for such an unlikely eventually, much less having shooters try and compare their ability to do so. Personally I wouldn't rate using a bag to support my limbs as any improvement, as there is already sufficient limb on limb support for in my sitting and kneeling positions. I would certainly use aids to support the rifle of course, if available.
@ebf, I teach shooters to avoid knees on elbows in the kneeling or sitting position as it poses inferior stability (due to the obviously small contact areas and inherent wobble) compared to placing the muscle behind the elbow joint on the knee, or the elbow on the thigh behind the knee, or better yet aim to achieve 'muscle on muscle' contact. Unless the shooter is too old and/or inflexible (not meant to cause offence).

But that's just my subjective opinion, and what I teach based on my experience. At the end of the day, if different techniques work for you and get rounds where you want them, I certainly don't discourage it.

You asked for an example. I gave you one It is something we use in competition, both PRS style as well as hunting comps... Come to a GPRE event and you will see it used very frequently when shooting from compromised positions. Using items (whether that is a specific competition bag, a daypack, or a folded jacket) to fill "holes" in a shooting position is a lot more common than you seem to think. The day pack does not require any specialized straps to be used in this way.

What style of shooting to you teach BTW ?

Originally Posted by ebf

You asked for an example. I gave you one It is something we use in competition, both PRS style as well as hunting comps... Come to a GPRE event and you will see it used very frequently when shooting from compromised positions. Using items (whether that is a specific competition bag, a daypack, or a folded jacket) to fill "holes" in a shooting position is a lot more common than you seem to think. The day pack does not require any specialized straps to be used in this way.

What style of shooting to you teach BTW ?

That you did! touché. I would love to take part in a few more competitions, however there doesn’t seem to be much on offer in the manawatu/rangitikei/Horowhenua area, or if there is, I’m just not in the loop and I can’t find it! Also, my finances don’t support as much shooting as I’d like to do, in terms of buying new guns appropriate to the type of comp.
I do service rifle mostly, and dabble in a bit of pistol. My teaching is within the military arena, and involvement in military shooting competitions, where positional shooting is cornerstone.
If anyone knows of places to practice and compete in my area I’m all ears.