Range Report Tried prone position for first time

[stello1001]

Hello all,

As title says, tried prone position for the first time ever. When I go to the range, I'm normally sitting down and shooting off a bipod and rear bag or bag and bag. Well, today, I'm not at the range. I'm at my hunting lease and wanted to check zero on my rifle. I focused on a ton of dry fire. I cleaned and cleared an area on the bed of my truck and set a deer corn sack on the open tailgate. I dug the rifle into it and immediately noticed that shooting from the prone position provides a heck of a lot more stability. I felt pretty rock solid. I finally sent one downrange and could not be happier. DEAD ON!!! The only reason why I wanted to check zero was because I tried doing so last week from a less stable position and was not happy with results. My only question and concern is, how the heck do you guys enjoy shooting prone for extended periods of time? I was only like that for maybe 20 minutes and my neck is killing me. Because it was my first time, I'm sure I may not have been 100% positioned well. But I will say that my position felt rock solid and my result agrees vs how I shot last week. I will post pics of my shot and shooting setup lol. Any tips or advice you guys have, I would appreciate.

 

[JMGlasgow]

Try raising the rifle up to a more comfortable position. I like to be up on my elbows.

You also may need to reposition your scope farther forward to get proper eye relief.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Excellent advice.

The taller you are, the more likely moving the scope forward will help. I'm 6 1/2ft tall and my scopes tend to end up with the eyepiece lens being about even with the rear end of the bolt or upper.

Another approach, especially when the scope and mounting doesn't allow the scope to go far enough forward, is to increase the LOP by adding butt-pad spacers, and/or slip on recoil pads. I had to add 2" to the end of my M59/66A1 SKS stock.

Greg

 

[stello1001]

If I were to move scope forward (assuming I did not have adjustable butt stock for LOP) and I found it very effective for my prone shooting, wouldn't this throw me off when shooting from a bench? From a bench or hunting from a blind, my setup is good.
And thank you both for contributing. Any more advice anyone has is welcome.

 

[NineHotel]

Trucks are a bit shaky in the wind to shoot out of the bed of. Carrying around a bag of deer feed to shoot from - probably a better solution out there

 

[stello1001]

Trucks are a bit shaky in the wind to shoot out of the bed of. Carrying around a bag of deer feed to shoot from - probably a better solution out there

I incorporated both into my shooting lol. The truck and the deer corn. But both yesterday and today have been dead, wind wise. Kinda makes me wish I was on my boat in lake corpus Christi. I zeroed my dad's rifle today same way I shot with mine and it worked out well!

 

[JMGlasgow]

Eye relief from a bench or a shooting blind position will be easier to adjust to in those positions. Prone you're pretty much locked in once you get comfortable.

 

[pell1203]

Is shooting off the bed of a truck considered shooting from “inside” the truck? I believe in many jurisdictions this may actually be illegal, or at least open to interpretation I’d prefer to avoid.

Anyone know for sure what the rules regarding this typically are?

 

[stello1001]

Is shooting off the bed of a truck considered shooting from “inside” the truck? I believe in many jurisdictions this may actually be illegal, or at least open to interpretation I’d prefer to avoid.

Anyone know for sure what the rules regarding this typically are?

Not in my neck of the woods...

Thank you for contributing to my thread.

 

[pell1203]

No need to get snarky... Just trying to help. Apparently this activity is illegal in the state of Washington. I have no idea where you are. Carry on!

stello 1001, my apologies for above comment if your prior reply was not meant to be snarky. Sometimes difficult to decipher intent via written word.

 

[stello1001]

No need to get snarky... Just trying to help. Apparently this activity is illegal in the state of Washington. I have no idea where you are. Carry on!

stello 1001, my apologies for above comment if your prior reply was not meant to be snarky. Sometimes difficult to decipher intent via written word.

Apology accepted...
Sometimes it's just difficult to know if someone is trolling or is really trying to provide some sort of useful info as well.

 

[bfglowkey]

Let's Invent a troll emojii !

 

[ezekeial]

Once mentioned i was shooting out of truck bed, and warden gave his not so polite observation it was illegal (Wi). He got pretty irritated. Was just trying to stay out of the ticks. When going from bench to prone at 600 yds (both on bipod/rear bag), noticed a .5 mil drop and had to adjust the stock out considerable. Likely because i was sitting at bench made for taller people.

 

[Spblademaker]

Did you just post a one shot “group”? ?

 

[stello1001]

I don't call that a group, maybe others do??

 

[5pins]

Doesn't shooting out of vehicles only apply when actually hunting?

I remember shooting out of the bed of a pickup truck with a panting dog in the front seat. I could see the crosshairs moving across the target.

I'm not very good in the prone. I have found having the scope forward and a good cheek rest helps a lot.

 

[ezekeial]

5pins-That was what i thought. Before you could not even lean a loaded rifle against a truck. Believe that got changed recently, but pretty sure you still can not have a loaded rifle in the truck. The wardens interpreted this to include the open bed of the truck. Unfortunately there does not appear to be a distinction just for hunting season.

Am getting better at prone, but alot of adjustments for a bellied old man.

 

[stello1001]

I can legally hunt or shoot out of my moving vehicle here in texas. Not that I'd ever do it. I'd probably bring the vehicle to a stop, then shoot.

 

[ezekeial]

Well apparently i am still confused. We can have a loaded rifle in the open bed of a pickup, but still can't shoot from in or on a vehicle, including the open bed of a pick up. The clarification issued did not distinguish between hunting/shooting. Am guessing there may be some sort of handicapped permit, but am not sure.

The 8 foot bed of my pick up was very handy for trying different distances at the range.

 

[VVhoisJohnGalt]

Getting back to your original question on comfort etc from your neck hurting...truck beds are pretty short and hard surface.
I have issues getting proper feet position in anything but long boxes off bipod...
Also toss a shooting mat in there would make life way more comfortable.

Or you could just plop the rifle on the corn bag on the tail gate and just free recoil it from a kneeling position to check zero...