Rifle Training for Hunter

[willidru]

I've been looking through threads and training classes and it seems most are tailored to tacticle or benchrest type of training and instruction. While I'm sure many of the taught methods are similiar, does anyone know of a shooting instructor or school that caters more to ehancing shooting skills for a hunter?

[NorCalFocus]

Apple Seed Project. That teaches marksmenship with a sling from all positions.

[Stumpfenhammer]

I recommend Apple Seed for everyone, but it is not hunting specific. Magpul Core does 1-2 hunting specific precision rifle courses a year, as does FTW Ranch.

[tanks]

Gunsite offers hunter training classes I think. Also, a few places in Texas. That being said other than normal marksmanship skills the other skills you would need would be shooting off-hand with a sling (hasty sling, not the Appleseed or competition style), and shooting off of shooting sticks.

One other thing would be to lean forward in order to handle recoil for larger calibers. If you stand upright with the center of gravity neutral instead of forward, then the recoil will push you back.

[willidru]

I recommend Apple Seed for everyone, but it is not hunting specific. Magpul Core does 1-2 hunting specific precision rifle courses a year, as does FTW Ranch.

I googled FTW, this is the one in Texas?

[Stumpfenhammer]

I googled FTW, this is the one in Texas?

Yes. Another thing, hunting-specific classes in my experience are actually a little less useful than a precision rifle class (except for the ones that are a precision rifle class with a hunting flavor). Any good precision rifle course will take you miles ahead of even a seasoned hunter who has not had one. But for those classes you need a rifle with a heavy barrel, and some way to get your cheek weld optimized. If you have such a rifle (e.g. Remington Sendero) you can get a Kydex cheekpiece like this one, which I've hunted with: http://www.bradleycheekrest.com/Brad...stable_c11.htm You'll also need an optic with MOA or MIL hashmarked reticle.

Some will say that you need a detachable magazine and a heavy flat forend for long-range classes, but you don't...it's a nice-to-have but you'll figure out how to make your rifle work for you and can determine it's limits as well. Heavy barrel and a stiff stock are needed though.

Some schools will rent you the whole setup, which is a good way to do your first PR class, and the skills you learn on the loaner rifle will be applicable to your hunting rifle as well.

This school is in Apple Valley, CA so you could save the cost of out-of-state travel: http://www.maxordinate.com/lr-precision-rifle

I've seen other PR classes listed in here for California as well.

[NorCalFocus]

Yes. Another thing, hunting-specific classes in my experience are actually a little less useful than a precision rifle class (except for the ones that are a precision rifle class with a hunting flavor). Any good precision rifle course will take you miles ahead of even a seasoned hunter who has not had one. But for those classes you need a rifle with a heavy barrel, and some way to get your cheek weld optimized. If you have such a rifle (e.g. Remington Sendero) you can get a Kydex cheekpiece like this one, which I've hunted with: http://www.bradleycheekrest.com/Brad...stable_c11.htm You'll also need an optic with MOA or MIL hashmarked reticle.



Some will say that you need a detachable magazine and a heavy flat forend for long-range classes, but you don't...it's a nice-to-have but you'll figure out how to make your rifle work for you and can determine it's limits as well. Heavy barrel and a stiff stock are needed though.



Some schools will rent you the whole setup, which is a good way to do your first PR class, and the skills you learn on the loaner rifle will be applicable to your hunting rifle as well.



This school is in Apple Valley, CA so you could save the cost of out-of-state travel: http://www.maxordinate.com/lr-precision-rifle



I've seen other PR classes listed in here for California as well.

They also ran a high angles course in NM last year. Which would be helpful if your planning on hunting in steep areas.

[tanks]

One other thing, what kind of hunting are you planning on doing? The classes are different for each. For example, here is a Safari hunting school that some friends of mine attended and praised.

http://www.safarishootingschool.com

[willidru]

Great info, thanks for the help. Sounds like a PR may be a great start.

[ElvenSoul]

If your using a guide they will want you to be able to shoot off sticks!

https://youtu.be/6mr4WU3N64k

[ElvenSoul]

If your using a guide they will want you to be able to shoot off sticks!

https://youtu.be/6mr4WU3N64k

[ElvenSoul]

I allways thought this as one of the most useful of all videos on YouTube

https://youtu.be/C8Ux_MKKihw

[ElvenSoul]

How to use trekking poles as shoot sticks

http://andrewskurka.com/2014/myog-diy-hunting-shooting-sticks-bipod-trekking-poles/

[ElvenSoul]

Never forget the fence post or tree hold

http://www.huntinggearguy.com/tips/shooting-positions-hunting/

Those Colorado Quaker Trees have helped me more than once. Make sure the scope and barrel are not touching the tree.

[ElvenSoul]

Never forget the fence post or tree hold

http://www.huntinggearguy.com/tips/shooting-positions-hunting/

Those Colorado Quaker Trees have helped me more than once. Make sure the scope and barrel are not touching the tree.