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First 'practice session' in the backyard

mikeshaw2

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Minuteman
Jan 16, 2022
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NoVA for now
Set up on the chair top with my barricade bag and popped off a few rounds just now. Suppressors rock

One of these days I'll manage a seriously stable position but it wasn't today!

Aaah well. Few rounds at an appx 2.5" at appx 50yds target before work is a start.

M
 
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Congrats on practicing. What is the stable precision of the rifle? Generally on a barricade, like a chair, you should be at most 3x your prone groups. So say you shot 1moa at prone, a positional position should at most be 3moa. In our practice we generally aim for 1.5-2moa size targets.
 
I just got a 22 suppressor out of jail in January. It's still winter here but it has close to 1000 rnds through it. Even had it at an Appleseed I was instructing at, the instructor shooter ration was 1 to 1 so we took turns shooting the AQT ourselves. Pretty sweet. Should have bought one years ago.

Glad you like yours, have fun.
 
A ladder works well. If you have a tripod you can attach a cheap arca plate to a 2x4 and then you have an adjustable barricade. I used to spend a lot of time in the shop on the tripod/2x4 and a dfat. IMO most people would benefit 10x more from practice if 2/3 of it was dry firing (correctly).
 
Get out a ladder. You'll learn to hate the ladder.

I've already determined that one. Last match I shot had a ladder stage. The bottom rung and my aged back don't agree.

Off a bench, the same rifle should be shooting maybe 1/2" groups. ...but those are in optimum conditions at an indoor range. May be why I'm not winning matches...

A tripod is on the list. I've got a selection of other props to shoot off first. Got a gate. Have a ladder. I have used lumber to build things out of. . Should be OK till I get around to buying a tripod

M
 
This is frustrating.

How DOES one go about eliminating the wobble off an improvised barricade?

?

M
 
This is frustrating.

How DOES one go about eliminating the wobble off an improvised barricade?

?

M
In some instances you just do the best you can to reduce the wobble zone.

Controlled movement....keeping your breathing steady....doing your best to keep your heart rate down.

As well as maximizing the number of points of contact between you/rifle with the obstacle and the ground while maximizing bone support to reduce muscle fatigue. Fundamentals are important even in barricade shooting.

 
In some instances you just do the best you can to reduce the wobble zone.

Controlled movement....keeping your breathing steady....doing your best to keep your heart rate down.

As well as maximizing the number of points of contact between you/rifle with the obstacle and the ground while maximizing bone support to reduce muscle fatigue. Fundamentals are important even in barricade shooting.


Hmmm according to that I was too far forward despite widening my stance

Have to keep working on it

M
 
This is frustrating.

How DOES one go about eliminating the wobble off an improvised barricade?

?

M

Jesus dude, you gotta put in the work and it doesn't happen in a few days.

Test, reflect, change, test.......over and over and over. The same way any other skill is learned.

ETA, you cannot completely eliminate the wobble from most shooting positions. Even prone with a sling has wobble. All you can do is reduce it to where it's smaller than your target and shoot.

You think your shit is wobbly? Try NM shooting standing at 200 yards. Even with a shooting coat the wobble can be off the charts.
 
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Jesus dude, you gotta put in the work and it doesn't happen in a few days.

Test, reflect, change, test.......over and over and over. The same way any other skill is learned.

ETA, you cannot completely eliminate the wobble from most shooting positions. Even prone with a sling has wobble. All you can do is reduce it to where it's smaller than your target and shoot.

You think your shit is wobbly? Try NM shooting standing at 200 yards. Even with a shooting coat the wobble can be off the charts.
It's not like I'm new to this, just new to being able to practice in the backyard. Admittedly, I haven't been shooting many matches in the last 4-5mos so I'm what you'd call rusty AND am having to learn to shoot left eyed.

I'm nor near;y as inaccurate as I thought I'd be shooting left handed but everything does feel upside down and backwards

M
 
Get out a ladder. You'll learn to hate the ladder.
Get out a wobbly ladder. You'll hate that even more. I've come across a specific match that always has a rickety as shit ladder. Even if you lean into it, it still is wobbly. Course of fire was head shots @440 off ten different positions off the ladder.
I totally hated that stage and had a skill check on what I need to work on.
 
Get out a wobbly ladder. You'll hate that even more. I've come across a specific match that always has a rickety as shit ladder. Even if you lean into it, it still is wobbly. Course of fire was head shots @440 off ten different positions off the ladder.
I totally hated that stage and had a skill check on what I need to work on.
you haven't had fun till you've shot off a cargo net hung off the overhead cover.

I missed lots on that stage

M
 
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MUCH less wobble today off a ladder and the top of the tabletop grill. Yay. ...but... almost every shot was high so I think I just figured out why people adjust their trigger weight down. Even concentrating on pulling straight back I still sent most shots high with the trigger as set from the factory.

Not much high, but high enough to miss if i were shooting 'for real.'

Not sure I want really super light, so I'll try adjusting with what I have for a bit.


M
edited to add: cleaned my suppressor today. Ugh. DIR-Teee! Wasn't quite completely carboned up inside, but it was nowhere near clean either! Ugh. May have to invest in an ultrasonic cleaner if I have to do that very often
 
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