FOXHUNTER1 Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 I missed a fox cub at around 20 yards at the weekend off sticks going for a headshot :o So I checked the zero of my rifle last night and it was firing 2 inches high so corrected it and set about for a wander.. Just on dark I spotted a fox mousing in a fresh cut hay field , I managed to sneek up on it to around 60 yards. Once again shooting off sticks I missed it not only with 1 shot but 3 :o I have been shooting very well this year up to now but this little episode has done my head in , I don't like shooting off sticks at the best of times. Think I need an eye test :blink: Has anyone else gone through a bad patch , stories please , to cheer me up if nothing else.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 (edited) Its all in the mind, Confidence! Ive missed the same cub twice this year so it happens to the best of us, and one of those times I was with a mate, It ran in, picked up my foxpro and legged it, I took a running shot, missed over the top, had another but as soon as I shot it turned, managed to drop my caller luckily! Christ im going to get some stick on the beaters cart for that Edited July 24, 2012 by 12borejimbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bi9johnny Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 it happens i went out on the bunnies and was missing left right and central , thought i had knocked the scope so stopped and changed rifle (always carry a spare) i took the missing rf to the club and tried on the 50mtr range and damn near hole on hole......just one of them times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Its not unique to shooting, been in the same position in fishing and rugby!!! Tight Lines Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 I'm at the end ( I hope) of a bad run, missed one at about 80 yards the other night off sticks..and one about 2 months ago, again off sticks...I think everyone goes thru a bad patch from time to time...I'm putting mine down to stress at work.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 There is a chap called Limulus on SD who makes quad stick i have a set and they are very stable once you get the hang of them Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Missed three sitters tonight twenty to thirty yards , forth one ,eighty-five plus dropped on the spot ,fifth fifty yards down again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 When I started shooting deer I couldnt believe how anyone could miss a target that big without wounding it. Now I have missed( of course did mandatory follow up just in case) I know. An old stalker once told me, ' anyone who hasnt missed a deer is either a liar or doesnt shoot very much'. Sure we have all had times like those, I think probably alot more with shotguns though Its always a good idea to do a bit of zeroing though after a miss just to check things out and top up the confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-6 Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 (edited) Made me feel better now, spent a day zeroing with the .22 lr, and put targets out 15 - 75 yds, and could get within an inch on all of them. This was off a filled bag resting on bonnet of jeep, but usually shoot off tripod, while standing. Next day missed a 40 yard sitter, then went on to harder but sucessful shots. I ( after re-zeroing to 50 yds and working out all the milldots for different ranges ), seem to miss 40 and 60 yarders more often than other ranges. Personally i think rushing, complacency and poor gun handling ( like lifting head off stock too quickly ) are my problems. Another thing i kick myself for is forgetting to get a rabbit to sit up and make the shot easier with a bigger kill area, rather than a head shot while in a feeding pose. Edit to ask - is it good to miss to keep you on your toes ? if you hit everything, would it get boring ? Edited July 24, 2012 by 30-6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 tiredness and perhaps even boredom if youve had a good day/night where youve hit everything youve shot at,you get complacent and start to make mistakes,time to call it a day and go home then ab dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I've done the same thing - very distressing when you cant work out why. I avoid close shots as a result - adjusting for the height of the scope doesnt allow me a quick shot, especially with the 3 post reticule. Maybe you forgot to shoot higher on the close fox and reset to a distance which put you low on the long one - I know its v unlikely for an experienced shot. My misses were linked to a single screw being loose on the scope mounts but sadly you cant go back and take the misses again, which in my case were 3 foxes from the same spot on the same evening !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedd-wyn Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Its not unique to shooting, been in the same position in fishing and rugby!!! Tight Lines Aled Thats all there is to do in Wales, fish, shoot and play rugby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazlad Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I suppose that's why they call it hunting and not killing! I am currently in a bad patch too missing the last 3 70 yarders. I'm using a 17 hmr so can't even blame bullet drop or wind as the weather is amazing at the moment. Re-zeroed to find sights still on, gutted! Must have snatched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I missed a fox cub at around 20 yards at the weekend off sticks going for a headshot :o So I checked the zero of my rifle last night and it was firing 2 inches high so corrected it and set about for a wander.. Just on dark I spotted a fox mousing in a fresh cut hay field , I managed to sneek up on it to around 60 yards. Once again shooting off sticks I missed it not only with 1 shot but 3 :o I have been shooting very well this year up to now but this little episode has done my head in , I don't like shooting off sticks at the best of times. Think I need an eye test :blink: Has anyone else gone through a bad patch , stories please , to cheer me up if nothing else.. everyone has bad patches, though it sounds like there is an issue somewere. Check and re-check everything mounts, action screws, grouping on paper etc. If you dont like shooting off sticks don't or at least put in some decent practice time, 60yds fox with three misses is petty bad- but was the fox alive, nailed there or stuffed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 everyone has bad patches, though it sounds like there is an issue somewere. Check and re-check everything mounts, action screws, grouping on paper etc. If you dont like shooting off sticks don't or at least put in some decent practice time, 60yds fox with three misses is petty bad- but was the fox alive, nailed there or stuffed? I know it was shocking !!! Just goes to show how dumb this years cubs can be , rifle has a mod fitted and it was practically dark ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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