Hi,
I just went to the range yesterday, and finally dialed my scope on my Savage .243, and figured I would try shooting prone. I had never shot prone before, and had a few problems with my grouping at 100 yards
(about 3 1\2"- 4" on a target that was about 12"x18") Earlier in the day, I was shooting dead on on the bench, so I know it wasn't my scope(I haven't gotten a bipod for my gun yet, so all I was shooting with was a couple blocks, so that might have been the problem)If you guys could give me a few tips on shooting prone, that would be great!
Thanks!
Kenny

P.S. I have been trying to find a good bipod for my gun, but all I have looked at so far is Harris and Rockmount in 9"-13". If you have any good suggestions or tips please let me know.

Ooooh! That's a good caliber. Last month when I was checking out the Howa Custom, the .243 was the largest caliber that it came in. But no deal for me, I really wanted .308.
Anyhow, try using a sandbag?
Harris bipods aren't cheap, but they're good! I've got two - one stays permanently on the BMG - the other stays mostly on the 24" AR-15 varminter.

Either use bags or your hands. Hard blocks will bounce the rifle under recoil, spraying your rounds anywhere.

Hi Kenny. Prone is my least favorite position. For me, Sitting is the best one. Prone pos. on the USMC range was not fun- because you are lying on blacktop (like a single lane road in a rural county) knees and elbows and toes being the contact point. ouch!

I found some links for you with videos from the USMC and USAMU at Camp Perry, Ohio. {Lucky guys get to lay on grass.}

Some of these have diagrams/drawings of how to place your body. Some have very good tips which are aimed at team shooting in a match, but they will be helpful, and will save my fingers from much typing! { The Warwick rifle team site is full of good stuff, including breathing and aiming.

What you'll notice from the USMC team video is that most Military shooters bend their right knee a bit thus raising/rolling your chest off the ground-so that you can breathe better. In case you wondered why the military shoots prone: It's because that way there is less of you sticking up into the wind for the enemy to shoot at.

http://www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk/rifle/marksmanship_tips.html

http://www.ulrc.org.uk/shooting_guide.pdf

http://www.biathlon.net/fundamentals.html

http://www.biathlon.net/utah_005.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGVyJuxGBfc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1gAynTpNzA&feature=related

Thanks for all of the help guys, it has definitely helped, I am practicing already!
The other day I went into a gun store looking for bipods, and found a Rockmount 9"-13" for $60. Is this a good deal, or am I just wasting my money?(sorry I am getting so repetitive)
Thanks!
Kenny

P.S. At that same store, I bought a 6mm bore brush for my .243, went home, and found out that It was waaaay to big for my rifle . Is there something that I am missing here, because on my ammo boxes, It says that .243 is equivalent to 6mm. please help me out on this..........

Hmmmmm, the 6mm brush should be okay. Keep in mind that it's gonna feel tight, and PULL the brush out, NOT push it in. I have Bore Snakes in .45acp, .22, .30, and .50. A Bore Snake would be a good tool to have.
As for your bipod, MidwayUSA has it listed for 47.29 plus shipping, but they are out of stock. So if you'd like, shop around on the internet. If you don't mind waiting a few days and saving a couple of bucks, mail order is okay. From the picture, the Rock Mount looks just like my Harris.

Kenny, I've been a life member of North American Hunting Club since 1994 or so. I enjoy their magazine and email newsletters. They've sent me five test items that I can remember: Smith & Wesson dry lube, fuel filter, shooting seat/rifle rest, gloves, pocket knife. They also have a discussion forum online, I've had to ask questions regarding the free-float handguard on my AR rifle. There's a lot of knowledgeable members there who are more than willing to help anyone.

Kenny:---What Army engineer said about the 6mm bore brush and the .243 caliber are correct.

unless you flipped the label over and actually bought a 9mm brush...

Be sure and run a patch (with a little solvent/bore cleaner) thru the bore also.

Alright, thanks for the tips, I will try to do what you guys have said, and hopefully it works....

Well good news, I will be 13 in a week, and hopefully, I will get a few bucks for my birthday. I have saved up $30 for a bipod already, and found a harris bipod on midwayusa that has a pivot, so It can turn left and right(I figured you guys already knew that, but thought it was pretty cool) for $84.95+shipping.I may even get That 30-06 I was talking about earlier........

Kenny, I bought a stripped lower AR-15 reciever today. When I pick it up after waiting period I'm gonna build it up with the pins and springs, put on a Hogue rubber pistol grip and a butt stock. Nice grips make a world of difference I think. Haven't decide yet which upper I'm gonna mate this to. I have an extra AR-15 A2 upper and also a 50Beowulf upper. Everything will have it's own complete lower soon, I'm planning on buying another lower reciever this summer.

Army_engineer:--- Dude! What wer U thinkin'? Get back to that store that sold the AR thingy , get a refund, then buy a REAL gun!

I woulda thought that Army basic training would have cured you of wanting to shoot/hold aluminum alloy and plastic ammo wasters!?!---

Out of the kindness of my heart...(free of charge-no tip needed) I'll post a link to a man's firearm...enjoy!

http://www.searcyent.com/classic.html

http://a-squareco.com/Rifles.html

The Classic Double's a beautiful rifle, but how am I supposed to afford that? Plus, I could probably afford to fire only 20 rounds per year in that baby.
The A-Square's almost just as bad! Only a fraction of their chambering rounds are affordable!
Gotto love the AR community, parts aplenty and ammunition a fraction of what Nitro Express costs.

What,,,yaa mean that 10 rounds of A-Square ammo in .416 Rigby @ $99.99 is a bit steep? Or the Norma African PH ammo in .470 N.E. 10 rounds @ $189.99 ...?

I'm looking in the Cabela's catalog after reading your post--- I guess the ammo companies think that we all won the lottery or a bingo game. This is why (among other reasons) I think that having a reloading press is a good idea. It is also a huge reason that on these boards (and other places) I always suggest that people buy a .22 rimfire (S,L,or LR pref.) because they are affordable and fun to shoot.

{ I'm still wishing that the guy in the red suit from the North Pole brings me a Beretta SxS .375 H&H Double Rifle! Saw,touched and actually put one up to my shoulder at the NRA convention in Anaheim in the '80's...sswweeet!}

I pick up as much brass as I could when out shooting. We don't have reloading equipment yet, maybe one year. But I'm gonna take all the brass to scrap yard and see how much $$ I get back. I also bring back plastic bottles and aluminum cans, no bottles. Bottles are too heavy and recycling centers rip you off. Bring in 200 pounds of glass, they give you 5 bucks. No thanks. I can find 5 bucks in loose change by looking under seat cushions everywhere I go. I've got plenty of 50 BMG shells too, I save every one fired because it's single-shot bolt action.

Back to shooting prone...

The Coast Guard shoots a Basic Rifle Marksmanship Course that requires you to sight in prone, shoot prone slow fire, and then shoot prone rapid fire. No scopes, just iron sights.

You are "dialed in" with a standard military sling, cinched in so tight that if your support arm isn't numb, its not tight enough.

Its a 1000" course (about 27.5 meters) at a bull that is about 1.5 inches for the five ring.

Ten rounds in 5 minutes prone slow, then ten rounds in 50 seconds prone rapid with a magazine change.

Then ten rounds rapid in 50 seconds in the sitting position with a magazine change.

Then ten rounds in ten minutes standing slow fire in hasty or parade sling (lets the blood flow back into your arm).

The Combat Rifle Course is MUCH more fun...

on the topic of brass, how much do you think they would give me for about 150 spent shells?
just wonderin
Thanks,
Kenny

quote:

Originally posted by leatherneck448:
on the topic of brass, how much do you think they would give me for about 150 spent shells?
just wonderin
Thanks,
Kenny

Good question. I tried to get ideas online on what scrap yards are paying. I think it's about 1.60/lb, maybe a few cents more than aluminum. I'm gonna gather up all my brass and take a yard trip one day soon.
150 shells have got to be close to 2 pounds, depending on caliber. I'm bad at guesstimating.

Thanks for the info.

Man, I had the best birthday of my life on the 5th!rundown of the I got to shoot 8 different guns(not including my own) and also got to shoot everything from Barbies to full spraypaint cans(kinda bad taste in your mouth if your downwind ). Heres the rundown of the guns I got to shoot.

Pistols:

H&R .22 Revolver(with the worst trigger EVER)
Browning Buck Mark Comp Pistol
Ruger P89 9mm
Hi-Point 9mm
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum Revolver

Rifles\Carbines:
SKS(that thing is FUN!!!!!)
Hi-Point .40S&W Carbine

Shotguns:
Winchester 20 Gauge Pump Gun

Oh, and I also got a bipod and a pair of electronic earmuffs
All in all, it was an awesome 13, and I dont think that much could top this........

Thanks!
Kenny

Kenny, happy belated birthday. I am glad you had a great one. Always remember, treat all weapons as if they are HOT (loaded). After firing, maintain them as required. Run some oil down the barrels, especially the SKS ASAP (corrosive ammo). Rub oil lightly all over, barrels, receivers, anything metal to keep from rusting. Firearms will last you a lifetime. Firearms are not to be shown off or missused, if you see anyone doing so, do not participate.
Now, more on shooting fun: We toss empty propane cylinders in the desert and shoot them with tracers. They still catch fire, oftentimes taking off in the air! We have water spray containers on hand, in case the cylinders catch anything on fire. Recyclers rove the area and pick up anything of value, so we're not litering so to say.

Happy 13th Kenny.

Hey- did that H&R .22 have a 9 shot cylinder? I had/have one called the 929. About a 4 inch barrel. Can be shot either single action (pull back hammer,pull trigger) or double action (pull trigger all the way back, and it c**ks it,rotates the cylinder and fires it. Black plastic stocks. Just about one of the worstest (not a real word-but that 929 isn't a real pistol!) things I've ever spent $100.oo on! (about 1980 price new).

Didn't matter whether I held it one or two-handed, single or double action fire... Never did get a "group"; it was more of a 10 inch stray spread between each bullet strike. Truly an example of the old saying; "Yaa get what ya pay for." {The ex-wife has it now,,,and I'm not going to ask for it- }

BTW---Glad you had fun, but like army engineer warned, (and as I said the first time I ever answered your post...be careful!) Also clean up the stuff you shoot at. I have to disagree with A-E on this one. Clean-up the area because

A) It's good sportsmanship;

B) There are unfriendly Forest Ranger (and in California they actually call desert lands "forest") and Park Ranger types both Federal and State employees---who really DON'T like humans in the outdoors and hate gun-owners. Many of them are the types that beleive that only them and 4-legged critters should be allowed out of cities.

They can and do close off areas that people used to shoot at and they give "pollution" and trash as the reason why they restrict Americans from public lands*.

Instead- shoot at stuff that is fun such as gallon milk or water jugs. When you hit them you'll know it. I used to put at least 3/4 full of hose water in them. (The water goes on the ground and you can claim to helping prevent ground fires- Be sure and put a cap on them. After you're done shooting, then retrieve the busted jugs, and other stuff and take it home with you.

* A-E if you are reading this, I'm thinking of some places like N on I-15 then NW on #138 before it goes up to #2...closed. Several areas on Lytle creek area..closed. I was chased off my dad's unimproved property in the San Berd. Mtns. by a S.B.Deputy-(miles from anything by the way) we had been shooting .22's. Used to hunt rabbit and empty cans way south of Corona (southwest of Matthews lake) and not hurting nobody or anything, myself and a buddy were escorted out of the area by a Riv.Cty. deputy and a "Park Ranger" because it was now "closed".