Does Anyone Regularly Practice Shooting at Close Range with Air Rifles?

[Ezana4CE]

I expect a field target shooter to shoot from 10 yards out, but how about the rest of you? Do you practice shooting from 10 yards? 15 yards as well as 25, 50, and 100 yards?

I ask because when I hunt I swear I have the weirdest luck with animals coming in very close to me. I’ve called a pair of coyotes almost within pissing distance. ’ve had a beaver swim within feet of me sitting on the bank. I’ve had a couple of hogs walk right towards me (often in brush, but one can out of the brush). I’ve head a squirrel run overhead (I nailed him) and some run down a tree next to me. I generally suck on these shots because I generally don’t practice shooting close-range and I rarely expect them to come so close.

Anyhow, back to the topic. If you do practice shooting at close range and shoot well at close range, what tips can you share with the community that may help others in a similar situation?

 

[Solo1]

Know your holdovers by practicing or using an app like chairgun but its best to know thru practice

 

[Linehauler73]

I don’t but really should. Those are actually tough shots as many of us have no idea just how low we will shoot at really close range.

 

[PasadenaMike]

The toughest shots are the close ones I was practicing when i shot field target but stopped soon as i stopped FT

 

[Billm]

Until I got into PCP’s I usually shot my airguns between 6yds and 40ish yds.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I don’t but really should. Those are actually tough shots as many of us have no idea just how low we will shoot at really close range.

@Linehauler73 What has made them tough for me is the animals are often moving and the practice shots are usually taken at static targets. So knowing the holds is one thing, but having to think about a hold that you don't practice using regularly at a moving target is a real challenge for me.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Know your holdovers by practicing or using an app like chairgun but its best to know thru practice

@Solo1 I concur that learning and knowing through practice is best. I've never used an app. I'm generally not practicing on moving targets. Maybe I should start.

 

[duchunter007]

@Solo1 I concur that learning and knowing through practice is best. I've never used an app. I'm generally not practicing on moving targets. Maybe I should start.

The shortest target that my buddy and I have set up is 18 yards, and we shoot a lot of varying distances with spinner, field targets, and steel out to 162 yards. Plus, we have 35. 50, 75, 100, 150, for paper targets.
We have a nice shooting range!

 

[Solo1]

@Solo1 I concur that learning and knowing through practice is best. I've never used an app. I'm generally not practicing on moving targets. Maybe I should start.

You should try an app i gives you a ton of info without wasting a ton of lead. You can find out about optimal projectiles for your gun and energy needed without a lot of testing

 

[duchunter007]

You should try an app i gives you a ton of info without wasting a ton of lead. You can find out about optimal projectiles for your gun and energy needed without a lot of testing

I use the Chairgun app, and it works great!

 

[FL22]

Is there something wrong with using a compact laser sight on a side or bottom rail? Especially when dusk/dawn and at night for close range.

What am I missing?

 

[pan60]

Is there something wrong with using a compact laser sight on a side or bottom rail? Especially when dusk/dawn and at night for close range.

What am I missing?

I was think about that for my MINI

 

[ctshooter]

Is there something wrong with using a compact laser sight on a side or bottom rail? Especially when dusk/dawn and at night for close range.

What am I missing?

I don't think using a laser sight for hunting/pesting is legal is all places.

 

[MileHighAirGunner]

Is there something wrong with using a compact laser sight on a side or bottom rail? Especially when dusk/dawn and at night for close range.

What am I missing?

I would suggest checking the hunting regulations for the area before using a laser sight for any hunting application. Especially if a license was required and on public land. It’s not legal to use a laser sight in some states/provinces. I know here in Colorado it would definitely be illegal to use a laser sight for all types of hunting. I don’t think it would even matter to the authorities here in Colorado if you were shooting invasive or pest animals on private land. If caught I believe they would at minimum fine you and/or revoke your hunting rights. Wouldn’t be worth the risk for me.

 

[MileHighAirGunner]

I don't think using a laser sight for hunting/pesting is legal is all places.

Definitely not legal here in Colorado.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Is there something wrong with using a compact laser sight on a side or bottom rail? Especially when dusk/dawn and at night for close range.

What am I missing?

@FL22 I have not intentionally used one, but I imagine a laser would spook many types of animal, especially at night. I remember when I used to accidentally turn the laser on on my Pard NV007 while night hunting. That was very frustrating until I learned the button configuration better. If that weren’t an issue it would probably work well. An IR laser may be good to use when using an NV scope.

 

[FL22]

I tried looking through the hunting regulations here and couldn’t find anything. I would have to ask a FWC official.

My thought process was not using one as the primary means of acquisition for hunting/pesting but for a possible follow up shot in certain circumstances.

Prey doesn’t always go DRT, you can’t always sit there and watch it in the scope because it can move into some heavy brush or whatever.

I have hunted enough squirrels in my lifetime to know they can “play possum” (Dead) pretty well, until they run up your leg .

 

[Ezana4CE]

Let’s not get carried away with talk on use of lasers. I’m not so concerned about using a laser. It’s an idea, but it doesn’t account for holdover. It would simply provide a quick and conspicuous reference point to hold from in the context of the conversation. The best advice given on use of lasers is to consult with your local warden or state DNR office.

 

[pan60]

I never would have thought they werentleagal I have a F & G friend o son of friend I can ask I would only want it to dispatch a wounded animal as the scope is useless un ten yards

 

[Pumacarl]

Under 10y are the tough shots for me, especially with the height of some of my scopes, especially again with bullpups. I started to use strelok, when I can, on the close stuff. I have also angle mounted dot sights, which works, but is bulky and I never leave them on. I would practice this more if I only had one gun, but they are all so different, and the targets are so small (mice and chipmunks) that I never get the memory of each down enough to do it on the fly.

Lasers are a loser, mostly, for shooting critters. Instead of looking through any type of sight and getting a sight picture and shooting, with a laser you have to first find the dot, then find your target, then move to and put the dot on the target, figure for drop, then shoot. It ends up being too slow and frustrating, at least for me. They are fun for just shooting reaction targets. Lasers are totally awesome for scope swapping w/o having to re-zero. Worth their weight in gold, to me, for the time and ammo saved.