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Panhandler80
Posts: 8,923 Moderator
Dubbehyou Tee Eff...!!!!!
Panhandler80
Posts: 8,923 Moderator
To say that my confidence is shaken would be a huge understatement.
As yall know, I missed a big bug in Georgia back in November. Since then I have had no shot opportunities at one place, and on lease, I've only seen a couple of spikes.
Well, it's doe days here right now, so I went to my private 40. Name of game was brown-and-down. Early in the afternoon (hour and half before sunset) a group of does start making their way through the woods paralleling the lane I'm looking down. At 105 yards they cross. The biggest one is broadside. Safety off. Squeeze.... BAM! Deer takes off unharmed as I see the sand blow up over her back.
Unfreakin' believable. The first 39 times I shot this gun I dropped 39 animals (12 or so were hogs). Shot 40 and 41 have resulted in misses.
After the Georgia miss I spent some time at the range and the gun is on. No idea what's going on. This season has had VERY VERY VERY slow start in terms of seeing deer. All I can figure is that I'm wanting to connect too badly. Need to relax. I'm sure that's what it is. Just crazy to miss such a shot on a calm deer at that range with a dadgum gun rest.
Just wanted to vent a little.
As yall know, I missed a big bug in Georgia back in November. Since then I have had no shot opportunities at one place, and on lease, I've only seen a couple of spikes.
Well, it's doe days here right now, so I went to my private 40. Name of game was brown-and-down. Early in the afternoon (hour and half before sunset) a group of does start making their way through the woods paralleling the lane I'm looking down. At 105 yards they cross. The biggest one is broadside. Safety off. Squeeze.... BAM! Deer takes off unharmed as I see the sand blow up over her back.
Unfreakin' believable. The first 39 times I shot this gun I dropped 39 animals (12 or so were hogs). Shot 40 and 41 have resulted in misses.
After the Georgia miss I spent some time at the range and the gun is on. No idea what's going on. This season has had VERY VERY VERY slow start in terms of seeing deer. All I can figure is that I'm wanting to connect too badly. Need to relax. I'm sure that's what it is. Just crazy to miss such a shot on a calm deer at that range with a dadgum gun rest.
Just wanted to vent a little.
"Whatcha doin' in my waters?"
Replies
Fishing beautiful Destin / Ft Walton Beach area!
VXIII 3.5-10 x 50mm
Pretty sure it's the Indian and not the arrow. Hence the frustration.
it happens.. did this 2 years ago in kentucky. Shot my 30/30 that is dead accurate at 100 yards and missed two does. Have killed a few deer since then with the gun. Im sure you know this but make sure you follow through! ive seen a lot of people flinch as soon as they pull the trigger to look up. Squeeze and hold steady even after the gun goes off. Get back out there and shot at another one!
What bullets?
Fishing beautiful Destin / Ft Walton Beach area!
The reason I ask is my Ruger will not shoot Winchester silver tips. They fly all over the place. Could not sight the gun in with over a box of shells.
Fishing beautiful Destin / Ft Walton Beach area!
Same ones the gun loves... 140 grain Nosler Accubonds. I had been shooting them in Federal, but they quit making them. Winchester has them though. .270WSM Browning A-Bolt. Like I said, I went through 4 or 5 rounds tweaking after going from Federal to Winchester and the gun is dead on.
Has something to do with me wanting a deer too badly. Having gone 39 / 39 on animals, I think I just got my confidence shaken when I missed that big buck up in GA. Not only that, but I"ve seen SO FEW deer this year. Finally had a chance tonight and I just freaked I gues.
Yeah! I thought about stopping a tattoo parlor and having "calm down" inked on my hand.
Fishing beautiful Destin / Ft Walton Beach area!
Only option now if I want that bullet in 140 grain is Winchester or Nosler Trophy Grade at $60 MSRP a box....
https://fusiontables.googleusercontent.com/fusiontables/embedviz?viz=CARD&q=select+*+from+1C5o2xk_hWmBsTsTUWwoZ262XZOtOsNloF2QDW28+where+col4+%3D+60030+order+by+col0+asc&tmplt=1&cpr=1
Gun and rounds are good. Pretty sure I just didn't BRASS....
Yeah, my gun doesn't like Silbertips either. It shot the Win Accbuonds good on paper, though. Problem here was my lack of BRASS... no doubt about it.
Was not even supposed / allowed to go according to wife. Weather was perfect, though. SO... I replaced a garbage disposal, changed some light bulbs, fixed a shower head, cooked lunch and then just sat on the couch real quiet and peacefully stared out the window. FINALLY... "You can go hunting." Off I went. Knew it was perfect (hence the home repairs). Texted my buddy on way out saying, "I'll be more surprised if I DON'T see a deer than if I do." Well, I was right.
Then I pulled the ol' swing-and-miss.
Oh well.
Next one WILL DIE. I just rushed this one today.
BRASS will be top of mind next time. If I miss three in a row I'm quitting. Will shoot at range Tuesday to make sure gun is still good. I've got 8 or 9 rounds through it, so one more shot won't matter.
This year missed a buck opening day, shot low and grazed the brisket. My BIL shot him two weeks later.
Few weeks back missed a buck completely, rushed the shot due to lack of not seeing much and thought this one was ready for the grill. Wrong. Went this weekend and even though my gun is on, actually all 3 that I generally use are but still have the thought in the back of my mind "What if I miss" Luckily nothing shooting wise showed.
Now just looking forward to turkey season. This deer season I am just not into it now do to lack of confidence.
A wade fisherman is the most simplistic but the most adept for the quarry they are after. They are immersed in their challenger's habitat and are in tune with the subtle changes of current, temperature and bottom. In order to be successful at this noble and primal fishing form one must be submerged from their goobs to their boobs, anyone doing this outside of that boundary is either sunbathing or swimming. S.F. Stewart 2015
Hand loads are where it's at. Premium bullets at sub premium price (about 1/2) with twice the accuracy. I can load my Barnes (T)TSX for my rifles around $20/box while I'm reusing brass. Their factory loads are crummy in my guns but hand loads are sub .5 MOA.
I think you're on to the problem PH. Take a breath, relax, pick a spot, and squeeze. You're rushing the shot and or lifting your head (typically shot goes low for me when I lift my head). Most of all, follow through the shot. Hold it on target through the boom.
Get the mental problem fixed and you'll be back to killing in no time.
I was told this by a Vietnam Vet back in the early 70s. He told me: before you squeeze the trigger pick a spot on the vital area that you want to the bullet to hit. Take careful aim on that spot make the spot about the size of small bug maybe a fly. Concentrate on that target dont look at the animal just at the spot you want to hit. As mentioned before breath slowly exhale concentrate on nothing else but the target spot. Let the shot surprise you. If you do you will NEVER miss.
Guys I am telling you that it works. I have never missed an animal when I remember to do this. Unfortunately in the heat of the moment I have forgotten and missed a couple of bucks that I know I wouldnt have missed if I had remembered.
Make sure the gun, scope and ammo are on the same page. Follow the advice above and never miss again.
Now this doesn't explain a complete miss unless your gun is WAY off with a clean barrel or you were aiming for a neck shot. It CAN explain a wounded animal. My 270 has been as much as 6" off between clean and fouled. Because I hunted in rain my last trip and subsequently cleaned my gun I will now have to make a pit stop on the way to the woods Tuesday morning to shoot a coke can by trucklight.
Go buy a box of cheaper bullets of the same grain weight
you've been shooting.
Go out, shoot the box no need resite your gun these different bullets should be close to POA.(unless your way out)
Let them group where they will,I don't find much change in POA When I use different bullets
With the same weight or very close. NO I'm not talking shooting the Olympics
They should still be close and also group. By doing this you may find a scope problem?
If not the 20 or so shots will be good for the trigger man
Going 39 for 39 is a good record,
then back to back Clean miss
Just don't seem like the shooter to me
If the second mis was on a follow up or later in the same day
I can see where it may be a fever miss
But not with a time span
Hope you shake what ever it is
Good. Luck &
Good Shooting
I don't think I can recall ever seeing where my bullet actually went through a scope.
Relax take your time and follow through with the shot.
To repeat above. squeeze and let the shot surprise you.
2. Bullet hitting the dirt - I am 100% sure that I lifted my head / didn't follow through / secure to gun "through the boom" etc. I wanted to see that **** flop so bad I think I just let go of the gun and picked my head up. In such a funk this year. I don't think I've ever WANTED a deer this badly. On a high dollar lease that has not produced squat and I"ve hunted it and other properties a lot with one archery doe to show for it, two rifle misses and only an couple additional deer sightings.
3. Blood... because I lifted my head and saw the bullet hit, I was confident that it was a clean miss. Also, out of instinct I suppose, I immediately chambered another round, which I never do. I knew something was up. That being said I still went down there. I had tons of light left, so I figured I'd go see where she was standing and poke around for a while before getting back up and hoping for a buck to come through. I got down there and found where she'd dug into the sand to take off. Very easy to find given the narrowness of the lane and that it's basically beach sand. Spent at least 10 minutes looking for hair or blood and nothing. Was able to see where she'd taken off into the woods so I followed her tracks maybe 20 yards into woods... then I lost track. Spent probably half an hour looking for blood or hair in the vicinity of those tracks in the woods. Nothing. Was definitely a miss.
Fouled barrel - My gun is right where it needs to be. After missing the buck in GA and buying a new box of bullets (same bullet... 140 grain nosler accubond, but Winchester and not Federal), I came home and cleaned the gun. I shot 4 or 5 with the old bullets (Federal) and had a great group after the first couple shots. I then let the gun cool and busted out the bullets I'll be hunting with (the new box of 20 Winchesters). After this I spent about an hour at the range making sure I got things right... this was a week ago yesterday. Spent an hour because I was walking down to check each spot while the gun cooled. After 7 shots (leaving me with plenty of ammo for the year) I had dialed in. Last two shots were touching at 1.5" over bulls. So, that's approximately 12 or 13 shots through the barrel which is right where I like it. That being said, I did have on and off light rain on Saturday afternoon hunt, but I don't think that messed me up.
Yesterday was complete shooter error, there is no doubt in my mind. I need to get back to the range just as a confidence builder and then never look back.
EDIT: I also need to go into the woods expecting to see deer instead of expecting to see nothing. When those does actually popped out yesterday it was almost like I was seeing things I got so excited. Plus I felt like it was a sure thing. Had I been expecting deer, it would not have come as such a surprise. Less surprise, less excitement. Less excitement means thinking it through... dialing scope back up, keeping head down, reminding yourself to go slow and that nothing is a sure thing, etc. Truck going to the shop today, but I should be able to sneak out to the range at lunch tomorrow to see what's up. I suspect nothing with the gun.
My 7-08 is the same. New gun for me this year and I got it broke in and used to the trigger before I put my planned hunting rounds through it. Had a clean barrel and first shot was pretty close to where I wanted to be. Thought, "great, one more to verify and I'm golden". Next shot was 6-8" lower. So I shot a third thinking I pulled it. Nope #3 was right there with #2. Shot a fourth and it was with 2 & 3. Total group was .75in. I just know that I need to foul it prior to hunting with it.
Yep. After that first shot or two I'm sub-MOA.
I saw 3 on opener of archery and could not breath - just not used to seeing deer. That evening I was okay and saw several, the next morning I was fine and had one down. No more stress problems for the rest of the season.
My thing for rifle hunting is seeing the crosshairs on the vitals/shoulder when the gun goes off. If that doesn't happen I will miss - anyone will miss. Watch the bullet hit. Sometimes you see the critter's head fly back as the recoil hits.
James - you need a new gun if the POI is off 6 inches between clean and dirty barrel. God Golly! Or don't clean the barrel...