Just a pro tip if you are going to be taking more shots from a tripod - reduce your center of gravity. You have entirely too much "stuff" between the apex of the tripod and where your rifle connects. The further you are away from that apex the less stability you will have. Your stock isn't set up for it - but what would be ideal is a section of arca rail mounted a few inches in front of you mag well that clamps into an arca clamp on your tripod. Now your rifle is balanced over the apex and the tripod is doing most of the work. There's no reason you can't be stable for a 400y shot on a game sized target from a tripod with proper equipment. Thanks for sharing! Enjoying the videos
A self level head is the way to. As @Zeponcester08 said, keeping as close to the apex is critical. So try a self levelling head coupled with an arca rail. Let us all know if it makes a difference?
Real life shooting situations. Thanks so much for showing how difficult shooting at distance in the field really is . Props to you for showing the bad shots along with the good .👍🏼
Maybe help explain to the viewers if you asked a right handed shooter to get down and shoot on one knee nine out of 10 times they would put their right knee down when I saw this years ago. I tried the experiment and asked different people to get down, including myself as a right handed shooter I went down on my right knee, leaving me no stability. You’re really giving it all on this series of videos. Love it every minute.
So many variables in hunting. Hard to practice them all. But it is so valuable to practice prone , bipod ,tri pod , kneeling, sitting,standing, Leaning into a tree. Resting on a stump. Hunting you never know what situation you might be placed in. Practice Practice Practice! I truly enjoy your videos.👍
This is great to learn from. I come from whitetail hunting and very few people use bipods tripods and such and miss many times. But when you do deer drives you don’t get as many standing shots 😂
There you go, really appreciate the honesty. There are so many factors on the hunt that reduce our effective range. Lack of a solid, comfortable shooting position is one of the biggest limiter for me on hunts. You did a great job of conveying that reality. Keep it up.
Bipod and a rear bag, tripod and rear sticks. The more we can stack the deck in our favour the more constant the results. This is a really good series. Thanks for your efforts.
Good video, and quite well done. I do think "Backfire's" statement still stands solid. Keep on posting this interesting challenge, and please try one shot with a shorter timelimit than you are comfortable with.
Your follow through may need work for this kind of shot, you are bringing your head up way too fast. You are obviously a skilled shooter, but I think you could still improve. This has been a fun series to watch!
I've been in this situation. I always carry light wt shooting sticks to stabilize the buttstock so I have 5 points stabilizing the rifle - tripod, rear stix. Sux to carry all of it but I'm glad I have it all when I do.
I rarely can shoot prone off a bipod here in utah- been waiting for this change. Its all about knowing your limits depending on your shooting circumstance.
This is how I hunt on public land. A camp chair or standing, tripod with either the Y saddle or clamp. No way to shoot prone where I am. So, the butt stock is soley against my shoulder, like this video. I practice dry fire with that at home. At the indoor range I go to, the tables are narrow. So, I use a bipod and my shoulder, which is a close approximation. Even with that, having practiced that to know what I need to do, I have a .64 inch spread for 3 shots, which is the most I am going to shoot at a deer or mule deer. Also, where I hunt, 250 yds to maybe 300 yds is the longest I am going to see. My 7 PRC 175 gr will do just fine with impact velocity, which is more important to me than ft-lb energy.
I have labeled this particular phenomena (shooting high off a tripod) “Riding” the trigger pull back. When the rear of the rifle (specifically the toe of the stock) is not supported on a bag or monopod it’s very easy to ride the trigger pull back and miss your aiming point vertically. And as you can see, it don’t take much, just a fraction of an inch of downward movement when your pulling the trigger) to be off target by many inches at distance. I have noticed issue dozens of times and have the ruined target hangars to prove it. Like you say, you have to practice from ten positions your gonna shoot from in the field.
James Eagleman with Barber Creek shooting on RU-vid recommend turning a single leg back towards you so that you don’t get the muzzle rise and proves it in a couple of videos. Showing you that in that position. What happens is the tripod rocks backwards raising your shot. My grandson started laughing how you get off the rifle so quick on that shot. He’s made a request for the shooting bottle for his birthday. He can’t wait to get out and wants me to order one of these deer targets or elk targets also
West coast blacktail and elk I've never had luxury of nice setup for long shots. It's wing shooting,5 sec or less or they disappear in the trees. 200yds and in. Would not try anything further. One shot, no winging it in the wind
Have you tried clamping the rifle onto the tripod at its balance point?… I think it’s more stable and feasible for stationary ambush settings. Kneeling is pretty rough, sitting or even standing with a tripod is more stable… Another position that is difficult but happens frequently in the field is offhand kneeling on one knee elbow resting on high knee. Very marginal stability but happens all the time.
Prone and bench practice is ok. But everyone needs practice all positions. And if you’re not setting up rock solid you have to be able to drive the rifle and command the shot. It’s a completely different shooting method
Try putting your pack on your knee and fill the void between your knee and your armpit to support the back of the rifle. I took a cow at 330 off a Vanguard 4' bipod from kneeling like that and it was very solid. Thanks, this is fun content.
You need to practice keeping your cheek welded to the stock and spot your impacts/misses. Also a shooting stick for the rear support, standing, & the rifle locked in with two points of contact would definitely make you more stable.
Appreciate your honesty with this one. Not that you want a critique, but man do you snap your head off the gun quick. A better follow through and your making that shot.
I know you like the idea of the quick attach bipod tripod set up but you may want to put another attach point way closer to the magazine well for the tripod the further back you get your rifle in a tripod towards the center of gravity of the rifle the more stable it is. I shoot off a tripod alot night hunting with a thermal and I would bet if you move your rifle further back you will be way more confident in the rifle stability you dont really need to induce much body support on the rifle and kind of "get off " the rifle some and let the tripod do the work and get on the trigger without moving the rifle
I have found that when shooting off a tripod it really helps to put your backpack under the stock of the rifle. Sit on your butt and suck the pack to your chest and its like shooting off a bench especially when you're on a side hill shooting cross canyon. Works incredibly well.
You really need to go into the mountains. Hike with your 12 lb rifle, top a sharp ridge and shoot within 2 minutes…. Make sure the day is windy, better yet snowing…. If you do make a reasonable shot, time yourself how long it takes you to get to your animal… Make sure you have to cross blow down timber, rock slides going down the mountain and up the other mountain…..cross that mountain stream at the bottom…. You are a flat lander, there was not a hill in the back ground when you are driving. KEEP YOUR SHOTS UNDER 400 yards. Montana Fish and Game did a study on wounding loss during rifle season. It was found that for every 100 big game animals taken in possession, another 15 to 30 were lost to wounding. Want to know why many big game populations are declining, add wounding shots to wolfs, weather extremes and disease. Act to preserve the sport you love or you will lose the privilege.
Your tripod was too tall. You were sitting up with your butt barely perching on one heel. I would also ditch the center post. They are ALL wobbly, even RRS. I would also recommend going to ARCA. Your main problem is the lack of stability at the back of the rifle and that’s primarily because you weren’t stable. You can use your pack or the leg of another tripod for rear stability.
Tis but a flesh wound. This one got away. Just a tad too high. Really enjoying the series, even more so now that I know you aren’t cherry picking good shots for the episode.
I would say your follow through needs a little work. Seems like you are coming off the trigger to quick and head is popping up. You might also want to watch some PRS videos about shooting off a tripod. Normally a tripod is used more toward the center of the gun not in the place a bipod would be.
@elevationrifles just trying to give you a subtle tip. It's very easy to sit here and see exactly what's going on front the cameras clear point of view.
Can i suggest putting an arca rail on your rifle and getting a better tripod and go to a class and learn how to use it properly and how to shoot properly invest in skills not gear
You always seem to lift your head up way to soon stay in the shot see it hit the target or at least try to. Let your trigger finger dwell after firing. I know you’re an expert and all but I’m not and all this stuff matters and makes a difference. Also viperflex quad sticks fixes rear rest and leads to much easier standing and kneeling shots.
Here's my resolution, if you shoot better with the bipod use the bipod. If your using the tripod and you don't fill comfortable with it then don't shoot. And I'm not being a smart ass just the way I feel.
