Double Practice Drills

[ozarkrambler]

So now that I've got a practice load and a solid and soft load developed, what are some drills a person should work on? I know getting on the sticks and shooting quickly seems to be a common theme for all aspects of hunting. Are there any recommended, double specific, drills to work on?

How far out should a person focus on training? It seemed to regulate about an inch or so high at 55yds.

Thanks

 

[IvW]

Make the first shot count......

 

[Wildwillalaska]

I would at least see where your rifle shoots at 100yd, and I like to practice shots off sticks at 100yd at least some to know your capabilities and builds confidence in closer. I will also check where my loads hit at 200yds just for the knowledge…in the off chance you needed to follow up at a longer distance…not had it arise in Africa, but useful knowledge.

That said, I don’t spend much time practicing at distances since the mechanics of shooting accurately at 60yds translates out as long as the same mechanics are employed.

For drills, I like to shoot off sticks, and then follow with an offhand and deliberate reload from my belt. I’ll do the same with 2nd shot remounting the sticks. Following a friends recommendation which I found very useful was shooting clays on the back berm of shooting bay, shoot first off sticks and then move. Shot offhand, deliberate reload from belt and move with another shot and move. Helps create more comfort with shooting on the move, and muscle memory of gun to safety and back to battery between moving off-hand shots.

I don’t do awesome with reload speed while moving, so upon second shot I always automatically eject and reload and safe the rifle before I take a step. I don’t rush reloads, but try to move deliberately.

 

[ozarkrambler]

I like the clay target idea....I've got a range out my back door so I can move around and shoot from all different angles and positions without getting growled at.

I'm waiting on the Lee crimp die before I get to deep into the practicing. I've noticed fairly substantial velocity swings on this brass that's been fired several times and that's causing regulation to be inconsistent....I'll go from 4 solids and 4 softs basically touching to 4 inch groups. Velocity from 1950 to 2100. I feel like that's got to be inconsistent neck tension...maybe?

 

[Russ16]

I like the clay target idea....I've got a range out my back door so I can move around and shoot from all different angles and positions without getting growled at.

I'm waiting on the Lee crimp die before I get to deep into the practicing. I've noticed fairly substantial velocity swings on this brass that's been fired several times and that's causing regulation to be inconsistent....I'll go from 4 solids and 4 softs basically touching to 4 inch groups. Velocity from 1950 to 2100. I feel like that's got to be inconsistent neck tension...maybe?

Are you using filler?

 

[Wildwillalaska]

That’s absolutely something…shouldn’t see those kind of velocity swings. Inconsistent neck tension will cause accuracy issues for sure…I don’t know if it would cause that much.

Shoot me a PM of what brass, powder, etc you are running. I do think grabbing some new brass would be a great place to start and anneal what you have if several firings in.

 

[ozarkrambler]

Foam filler...

 

[Russ16]

As for drills. One that I like is I buy those 8 inch sticky targets that are all black and whi your impact. I put four of them on a target backer spaced out in a large square. I shoot the first off sticks then the second freehand, reload from my belt and shoot the last two freehand.

Putting all four of those consistently into the 8 inch circle at 50 yards makes me feel pretty comfortable and lets me practice the reload.

What is really like to do is take he first row at 50 yards and second two at 25 yards but my range is pretty strict about shooting in a single lane.

 

[deewayne2003]

Don't just practice long distance, practice close up as well..... Shot my elephant at 12yds.

I made up a fun game to play, you will need a pair of dice, a shallow cardboard box and some clay pigeons.

On a pond bank or berm place 6 clay targets left to right in a line, then move over a few feet and place 6 more left to right.

With a shallow box(like a flat of beer comes in) sitting on the range bench or truck tailgate, roll the dice into the box.......

If you roll a 2 & 6 - you take aim and shoot the #2 clay on the left and then swing and shoot the #6 clay on the right.

This helped my speed for target acquisition and follow up immensely.