Separate Training Rifle a NECESSITY?

[Tex .416]

Shoot the rifle you hunt with. Even if you shoot 100 rounds a week you will get more than enough practice for practical hunting and the barrel will probably last your lifetime. Now if you totally run max loads that may change things.

That rifle has been used on hundreds of deer and many hundreds of pigs.

 

[Russ16]

I second the recommendation of a 22. I have a browning model 52 that fits very similarly to my hunting rifles. With Eley ammo it is very accurate and the lower velocity target ammo I can actually see the bullet in the air when shooting at 100 yards. It really helps me keep my target focus through the shot.

I do wish it had a better trigger it is quite heavy.

 

[mark-hunter]

1). IF the .22lr has a good trigger and is reasonably accurate out to 50 yrds.
2). IF the .22lr is similar size to an average size hunting rifle ie: Not a 4.5 lb. Ruger 10/22.
Either way, as you point out, it’s certainly never bad to practice with a .22lr - won’t cause ‘flinch’ and helps you hold steady and learn trigger squeeze. My point is only that practicing with a larger size rifle in .22lr (Kimber Super America?) helps replicate many hunting rifles in size, weight, trigger quality and accuracy.

My theory is this: take Olympic shooter at range (and he will already have millions of 22lr rounds fired), give him a bit of training with 308 - 300 win mag - 375 HH - 416. And he will excel in it as soon as he gets the grip on rifle and recoil.
The key word is trigger time.

My own training, is like this:
Frequent competitions in 22 lr, 9x19, 38 spwc, 308 win, and recreational trap.

But specific training sessions are like this:
My next theory is better to shoot ten times, in ten days, 10 shots each day, rather then shoot 100 rounds in a day... That being said:

pistol training, up to month before competition:
The goal of training - maximize number of hits, in bulls eye.
25 rounds 22lr, then 25 rounds 9x19. keep the score, keep the record.
Repeat each day, up 3 to 5 times per week.
As competition day closes, I follow my recorded ups and downs in training score (training score is sinusoidal), and I try to predict upper curve in result for competition day.

For rifle, training for safari, is like this
my safari rifle is 375 H&H. The goal of training, keep all hits in vital zone, in field positions and from stick

2 boxes of 22lr - standing position free, or from stick, 50 meters. (100 rounds)
a box or more 308 win (20 rounds), same positions, or 30-06, depending which rifle I prefer for that particular day. FMJ, cheapest ammo. (I dont care for submoa myth)
5 to 10 rounds or few more 375, same positions.
Rifles: CZ 452, Tikka t3, sako 85, and zkk 602 in 375 - not really comparable in size, or ergonomics.

Frequency: Occasional visit to range, month or two before safari. 5 to 10 sessions. But keep in mind I shoot everything else in the mean time. So, generally I am warmed up. It is not a problem to keep hits at vital zone on animal size target.

Exceptions, decisions:
Besides personalized training as described above. I never shot a double rifle in my life.
And on my last safari (Zimbabwe, September 2025), I had option to hunt with double rifle in 416. (recoil unknown, handling unknown to me, rifle unknown to me, rental rifle)
I never shot a rifle or shotgun with two triggers either.
So, there was a challenge. New uncharted territory.

So, for "advanced" training for this occasion I borrowed double rifle 30-06 from a friend, and tried at range. My reloading was clumsy, not exactly how I imagined the reloading when facing charging animal in fury.
Then I tried from borrowed shotgun with two triggers, some trap shooting.

And general conclusion with those two guns was: two triggers are doable for me, but double rifle reloading in stressful situation is not for me.
Finally I hunted with bolt action, rental... It was like being at home.
Result, 6 one shot kills, and luckily all of them DRT, including one very large DG specimen, the rest plains game.

Where we now stand after all this being said?
In my perspective, the number of shots fired to get some muscle memory with 22lr is incomparable with number of shots fired with center fire rifle. On the end of the day, trigger time counts.

Now some observations: I am member of shooting club, and hunting club.
People whom I know, and who do not have and shoot 22 - generally shoot poor, I've seen that. They are "recreational shooters", not serious.

Ammunition of center fire rifle is too expensive, most of the hunters cannot afford ammo to punch the paper regularly. Many of them hunt from blind, on close range, 50 meters, from rest, maximum 100 meters.

There is very small percentage of good shots in hunting community that I have seen, but those are: people with high number of kills in their life (experience), they reload their ammunition, they test their ammunition (this is trigger time), and generally they know what they are doing, and they have enough experience not to shoot when they are not certain. But those are really small numbers that I know.

 

[skydiver386]

I think shooting schools are an excellent idea, as well as shooting in rifle matches at your local gun club. Trying things out of our normal comfort zone makes us better shooters, even if it's a slightly painful experience. Just like a gym workout that leaves us slightly sore the next day, we are better for having gone through it.

Training and plinking rifles aren't just a necessity, they are one of the great joys of hunting and shooting. A Match quality rimfire with Match quality ammunition is something you will never regret owning. Same for a high quality air rifle, and I don't mean the spring piston break barrel junk sold at most stores. I mean a pre-charged phneumatic like a Benjamin Marauder or Air Arms S500.

The Benjamin Marauder starts at around $550 and the Air Arms is around $1,200, but both are quiet enough they can be fired indoors with no hearing protection, and a simple back stop/target holder with a few blocks of Duct-Seal putty puts the brakes on the fastest pellet.

This Air Venturi pellet trap is what I use down a long hallway to practice standing, kneeling, sitting and prone positions.

With air rifles you can't beat the cost of ammo. I've won 15 Air Rifle Matches with these pellets, and they're $5.99 for a tin of 300.

Rimmfires and air rifles are just as much fun as the big bores, but I can practice almost anytime, and I don't have to worry about wearing out the barrels.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I agree with a comment posted earlier: if someone knows how to shoot, he knows how to shoot. As far as I'm concerned, "practice, practice, practice" is good for developing a flinch and keeping ammo and components manufacturers in business. Some folks enjoy range time, and that's fine. But I certainly do not feel it's a "neccessity." I shot my first Cape buffalo @ 100 meters with one shot from a 375 rental rifle I'd earlier shot exactly once at the range. Up to that point in 45 years hunting I'd shot the same 30-06 almost exclusively and only sparingly (twice borrowed my brother's 300 Win and shot it twice killing a buck both times + one round fired from 500 Nitro at a range when I was 17 years old).

If one enjoys a lot of range time, then buy as many guns as desired. I see guys showing up at the skeet range with a different newly purchased fancy gun almost weekly. They have fun ... but don't seem to break a lot of targets. I do enjoy shooting moving targets and "waste" a lot of ammo every year shooting skeet/clays/trap (with the same shotgun [singular!] I hunt with). Has it made me a better wing shot? Perhaps a little better. But killing more birds really has never been that important. Getting out there with my dogs is what it's all about. I've said it so many times, it probably should be inscribed on my tombstone: "If I miss 'em, I don't have to clean 'em."

Time spent in the field with a gun is 10x more useful than shooting paper targets at the range. Try being precise when sighting on a magnificent trophy in poor light, subzero weather, windy conditions, side of a hill, and/or exhausted with legs turned to rubber and heart pounding out of your chest. Impossible to imitate at the range.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I think shooting schools are an excellent idea, as well as shooting in rifle matches at your local gun club. Trying things out of our normal comfort zone makes us better shooters, even if it's a slightly painful experience. Just like a gym workout that leaves us slightly sore the next day, we are better for having gone through it.

Training and plinking rifles aren't just a necessity, they are one of the great joys of hunting and shooting. A Match quality rimfire with Match quality ammunition is something you will never regret owning. Same for a high quality air rifle, and I don't mean the spring piston break barrel junk sold at most stores. I mean a pre-charged phneumatic like a Benjamin Marauder or Air Arms S500.
View attachment 721456
View attachment 721457

The Benjamin Marauder starts at around $550 and the Air Arms is around $1,200, but both are quiet enough they can be fired indoors with no hearing protection, and a simple back stop/target holder with a few blocks of Duct-Seal putty puts the brakes on the fastest pellet.
View attachment 721458
This Air Venturi pellet trap is what I use down a long hallway to practice standing, kneeling, sitting and prone positions.
View attachment 721459
With air rifles you can't beat the cost of ammo. I've won 15 Air Rifle Matches with these pellets, and they're $5.99 for a tin of 300.

Rimmfires and air rifles are just as much fun as the big bores, but I can practice almost anytime, and I don't have to worry about wearing out the barrels.

One of the great advantages to indoor shooting air rifles is the pellets can be salvaged from trap and recast as pistol or rifle practice ammo. Good lead is getting hard to find.

 

[HankBuck]

My theory is this: take Olympic shooter at range (and he will already have millions of 22lr rounds fired), give him a bit of training with 308 - 300 win mag - 375 HH - 416. And he will excel in it as soon as he gets the grip on rifle and recoil.
The key word is trigger time.

My own training, is like this:
Frequent competitions in 22 lr, 9x19, 38 spwc, 308 win, and recreational trap.

But specific training sessions are like this:
My next theory is better to shoot ten times, in ten days, 10 shots each day, rather then shoot 100 rounds in a day... That being said:

pistol training, up to month before competition:
The goal of training - maximize number of hits, in bulls eye.
25 rounds 22lr, then 25 rounds 9x19. keep the score, keep the record.
Repeat each day, up 3 to 5 times per week.
As competition day closes, I follow my recorded ups and downs in training score (training score is sinusoidal), and I try to predict upper curve in result for competition day.

For rifle, training for safari, is like this
my safari rifle is 375 H&H. The goal of training, keep all hits in vital zone, in field positions and from stick

2 boxes of 22lr - standing position free, or from stick, 50 meters. (100 rounds)
a box or more 308 win (20 rounds), same positions, or 30-06, depending which rifle I prefer for that particular day. FMJ, cheapest ammo. (I dont care for submoa myth)
5 to 10 rounds or few more 375, same positions.
Rifles: CZ 452, Tikka t3, sako 85, and zkk 602 in 375 - not really comparable in size, or ergonomics.

Frequency: Occasional visit to range, month or two before safari. 5 to 10 sessions. But keep in mind I shoot everything else in the mean time. So, generally I am warmed up. It is not a problem to keep hits at vital zone on animal size target.

Exceptions, decisions:
Besides personalized training as described above. I never shot a double rifle in my life.
And on my last safari (Zimbabwe, September 2025), I had option to hunt with double rifle in 416. (recoil unknown, handling unknown to me, rifle unknown to me, rental rifle)
I never shot a rifle or shotgun with two triggers either.
So, there was a challenge. New uncharted territory.

So, for "advanced" training for this occasion I borrowed double rifle 30-06 from a friend, and tried at range. My reloading was clumsy, not exactly how I imagined the reloading when facing charging animal in fury.
Then I tried from borrowed shotgun with two triggers, some trap shooting.

And general conclusion with those two guns was: two triggers are doable for me, but double rifle reloading in stressful situation is not for me.
Finally I hunted with bolt action, rental... It was like being at home.
Result, 6 one shot kills, and luckily all of them DRT, including one very large DG specimen, the rest plains game.

Where we now stand after all this being said?
In my perspective, the number of shots fired to get some muscle memory with 22lr is incomparable with number of shots fired with center fire rifle. On the end of the day, trigger time counts.

Now some observations: I am member of shooting club, and hunting club.
People whom I know, and who do not have and shoot 22 - generally shoot poor, I've seen that. They are "recreational shooters", not serious.

Ammunition of center fire rifle is too expensive, most of the hunters cannot afford ammo to punch the paper regularly. Many of them hunt from blind, on close range, 50 meters, from rest, maximum 100 meters.

There is very small percentage of good shots in hunting community that I have seen, but those are: people with high number of kills in their life (experience), they reload their ammunition, they test their ammunition (this is trigger time), and generally they know what they are doing, and they have enough experience not to shoot when they are not certain. But those are really small numbers that I know.

@mark-hunter everyone would have to agree with you here - I certainly agree with You.
>> take an OLYMPIC Shooter in .22lr and let him train with bigger bore rifle and he’s gonna be BETTER than ALL of US mere Mortals….he’s already an “Olympian”… He’s Already “Better” than all of us. Shooting a Rifle to a degree of “Hunting proficiency” is much easier then the precision required to be a competitive shooter at the “Olympic level”. It might be like taking a top Sporting Clays Champion out to your Duck Blind — even if he Never shot ducks before…he’s going to do very well.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@mark-hunter everyone would have to agree with you here - I certainly agree with You.
>> take an OLYMPIC Shooter in .22lr and let him train with bigger bore rifle and he’s gonna be BETTER than ALL of US mere Mortals….he’s already an “Olympian”… He’s Already “Better” than all of us. Shooting a Rifle to a degree of “Hunting proficiency” is much easier then the precision required to be a competitive shooter at the “Olympic level”. It might be like taking a top Sporting Clays Champion out to your Duck Blind — even if he Never shot ducks before…he’s going to do very well.

I disagree. Absolutely disagree. Hunting and target shooting are apples and oranges. Both are fruit from trees but not even close to the same thing. Even in sporting clays the target flies in the same general direction when released. After you've seen the target released once at a station, you know what the flight plan will be even if a minor variation is thrown in the mix (i.e. jumping bunny or falling bateau). The target will come out from over there and go in that direction. In the field one as often as not is surprised at where the bird is coming from and usually impossible to predict the flight trajectory, especially after the first shot. And of course there's excitement, exhaustion, crappy weather, and rugged terrain to throw in the mix. I shoot a lot of clays, skeet, and trap. And I hunt birds a LOT ... for more than a half century. Nothing at the range compares to a hunting environment. Perhaps if I could shoot oscillating wobble trap low gun from ten yards behind the house, that might be more comparable to upland hunting. And have someone indiscriminately pull the targets as I walk back and forth gun at ready position. Yes, that would be better. But no range officer would put up with it. Shooting trap high gun from 16 yards plus is really pretty much useless for field practice. Skeet low gun is better even though the shooter knows the general trajectory. We have a flurry shoot once a year which could be excellent practice but 1) only once a year and it moves so slow I'm lucky to shoot three rounds 2) starts late in the afternoon late in the summer when light wanes early and 3) my old eyes cannot see those small targets very easily, especially when I don't know the trajectory. Ducks and pheasants are MUCH bigger targets to see than little clays!

For rifles the comparison between field hunting and range shooting becomes even more disparate. The target is set up at 90° broadside to shooter. Animals are rarely exactly broadside. There's a big difference being able to pick out and squeeze the trigger on a paper target bullseye vs quickly determining where exactly to shoot a large animal (that may or may not be standing stone still broadside). Note that I am comparing hunting to shooting paper targets, not bench shooting paper targets to long range sniping at game. The latter is not hunting. It's just shooting live targets. And again, the environmental factors in the field from moment to moment are unpredictable. The range is a fixed environment.

I am not wholly discounting the utility of a practice gun. Unfortunately, very few in this world have immediate access to unlimited hunting opportunities. But we can make do with what is available. I own a .22 and it's rarely seen any range time. But it's shot a lot of gophers, grouse, magpies, rabbits, and, during my reckless youth, turtles. Has that made me a more productive hunter? Possibly but I'll never know for sure because I have nothing for comparison. I only lived my life once. Certainly didn't hurt. I will admit that my productivity shooting uplands has improved dramatically since I joined the trap club (also skeet and clays available). But that's also when I started hunting uplands every day six weeks every year. And that's when I acquired a shotgun that recoiled less and fit better. And I discovered a pointing Lab who's deadly setting me up close range.

 

[HankBuck]

I disagree. Absolutely disagree. Hunting and target shooting are apples and oranges. Both are fruit from trees but not even close to the same thing. Even in sporting clays the target flies in the same general direction when released. After you've seen the target released once at a station, you know what the flight plan will be even if a minor variation is thrown in the mix (i.e. jumping bunny or falling bateau). The target will come out from over there and go in that direction. In the field one as often as not is surprised at where the bird is coming from and usually impossible to predict the flight trajectory, especially after the first shot. And of course there's excitement, exhaustion, crappy weather, and rugged terrain to throw in the mix. I shoot a lot of clays, skeet, and trap. And I hunt birds a LOT ... for more than a half century. Nothing at the range compares to a hunting environment. Perhaps if I could shoot oscillating wobble trap low gun from ten yards behind the house, that might be more comparable to upland hunting. And have someone indiscriminately pull the targets as I walk back and forth gun at ready position. Yes, that would be better. But no range officer would put up with it. Shooting trap high gun from 16 yards plus is really pretty much useless for field practice. Skeet low gun is better even though the shooter knows the general trajectory. We have a flurry shoot once a year which could be excellent practice but 1) only once a year and it moves so slow I'm lucky to shoot three rounds 2) starts late in the afternoon late in the summer when light wanes early and 3) my old eyes cannot see those small targets very easily, especially when I don't know the trajectory. Ducks and pheasants are MUCH bigger targets to see than little clays!

For rifles the comparison between field hunting and range shooting becomes even more disparate. The target is set up at 90° broadside to shooter. Animals are rarely exactly broadside. There's a big difference being able to pick out and squeeze the trigger on a paper target bullseye vs quickly determining where exactly to shoot a large animal (that may or may not be standing stone still broadside). Note that I am comparing hunting to shooting paper targets, not bench shooting paper targets to long range sniping at game. The latter is not hunting. It's just shooting live targets. And again, the environmental factors in the field from moment to moment are unpredictable. The range is a fixed environment.

I am not wholly discounting the utility of a practice gun. Unfortunately, very few in this world have immediate access to unlimited hunting opportunities. But we can make do with what is available. I own a .22 and it's rarely seen any range time. But it's shot a lot of gophers, grouse, magpies, rabbits, and, during my reckless youth, turtles. Has that made me a more productive hunter? Possibly but I'll never know for sure because I have nothing for comparison. I only lived my life once. Certainly didn't hurt. I will admit that my productivity shooting uplands has improved dramatically since I joined the trap club (also skeet and clays available). But that's also when I started hunting uplands every day six weeks every year. And that's when I acquired a shotgun that recoiled less and fit better. And I discovered a pointing Lab who's deadly setting me up close range.

@Ontario Hunter so You “absolutely disagree” as you often do - whether you know anything about it or not. You are not a top shooter, 90% on skeet or 80% on Sporting Clays might make “C” Class and thats ‘Good” but hardly a Top Shooter. While you might shoot an occasional double or triple on ducks/geese and think that worth posting about - and for average hunters it is and good shooting too… but it’s hardly Top Shooting skills for Competitive Sporting Clays —- some hunters can shoot Sporting Clays at competition level but ALL top clays shooters can shoot wild birds/duck/geese etc… and many do hunt.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Ontario Hunter so You “absolutely disagree” as you often do - whether you know anything about it or not. You are not a top shooter, 90% on skeet or 80% on Sporting Clays might make “C” Class and thats ‘Good” but hardly a Top Shooter. While you might shoot an occasional double or triple on ducks/geese and think that worth posting about - and for average hunters it is and good shooting too… but it’s hardly Top Shooting skills for Competitive Sporting Clays —- some hunters can shoot Sporting Clays at competition level but ALL top clays shooters can shoot wild birds/duck/geese etc… and many do hunt.

You are reading into what I wrote something that wasn't written. What I did say was being an expert shooting targets at the range does not necessarily translate into being an expert in the field hunting. I have hunted geese with guys who are fairly deadly shooting trap and clays (much more deadly than me) but shoot rather poorly at birds. Once took a chap pheasant hunting in Montana who showed up in a vest with all the +100 straight patches on it and that guy couldn't knock down a rooster with a hand grenade (and his dog was an idiot). But he sure had a nice gun. $8K if I remember correctly.

Lots has been written about "practice, practice, practice" vs field experience. Which is more important? My vote goes to field experience for all the reasons mentioned in my post above. Will range time make for more productivity in the field? Possibly. But in my opinion not neccesarily significantly. Will field experience enhance hunting productivity? No doubt in my mind that it will. If I had to choose between expending the $$$ to become some high level clays shooter or using that money to finance hunting trips, I would choose the latter. Especially if becoming an expert wing shot was the desired objective. Personally, hanging out in some crowded ultra noisy venue with a thousand other dudes for days on end holds absolutely no attraction for me. I prefer tramping the wild places alone with my dogs. Maybe no one gets to see me shoot triples (or miss the shot ) but that's fine.

 

[mark-hunter]

@Ontario Hunter
There is a large portion of members on this forum speaking about their preparation for safari, that includes various rifle drills at range. Some of the experienced ones took safari specific courses and lessons,
I would estimate at least 95% of experienced safari hunters here had rifle drills at range before safari trip.

Respectfully, I would estimate you are in minority on that part.

But to give some credit I will say yes, hunting and target shooting is not the same.
But first difference were people diverge on hunting and range practice is personal ethics - to take animals life or not - and some people are not interested in that.
Taking animals life is not the only thing involved in the process, because after a shot is taken, pulling the animal back to truck, butchering and field dressing is part of this business.
Some people are simply not cut for that.

Yes, shooting in unconformable positions and taking diagonal shots, and fighting buck fever is next difference between the two, and on this I will agree.

Now my way was like this. I started shooting young school age, with my granpas 22, single shot. There was no ammunition around and granpa would give me like three rounds. Thats it. I had to make count with each of them. Next three or two rounds I would get when he was in good mood a week or two later. So I was very careful with my aiming.

But, now looking in retrospect, I did not know nothing compared to what I know now. I was hunting small birds. And while I learned to shoot accurately, this was fun, and I had no buck fever, or similar sensations. Small birds are not big game.

I learned my stuff (as weak as it is) or majority of it, in shooting club.
When I started my training in the club, my results on training were 10-20% higher then my competition score.

With time, this difference was reduced to minimum. And the reason is, training is comfort zone, and competition is stress. When you learn to control the stress, you have it what is necessary.
And it takes time, and trigger time, and training and stressful situations, and learning curve, and experience to reach that point.

Few years ago on this forum, I had private correspondence with one (now non active) American hunter, who was reluctant to go to safari because of African way to shoot from stick. Well, for this you need training if you never tried.
To my knowledge he did not go to safari later, at least while he was active here

In any case, I am 100% certain, training gives confidence, confidence builds shooter, for any situation.
Now about confidence that builds shooter.
When I get new shooter in the club, I start with large targets, easy to hit bulls eye. This is not my idea. they teach this in sport college - shooting coach curriculum, which yours truly graduated at. There is a bit of science there.

Large targets are deception, of good shooting. But, bulls eye, is bulls eye. It builds confidence. Then after few sessions, I start reducing targets to new shooter, and he still has confidence, and confidence grows, as the targets get smaller.
When you get trigger time, you get confidence.
And in hunting situation, level of training comes up, and especially if you hunt with a rifle you know, or you trained with.

BTW where does the army train? In war, or at range?