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Small things to improve how you shoot. |
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Skylar McMahon
Optics Jedi Knight Capt. BlowHard Joined: April/05/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 6082 |
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Posted: October/07/2011 at 14:29 |
A couple
weeks ago, Dillon, Jake and I went to sight in a couple rifles. Mostly .22’s
and a couple large calibers, but I noticed a couple things about how I use to
shoot and how I have improved. Here are
some things that I have changed. How I set my rifle. With grip- In order to prevent my rifle from torqueing.
Instead of holding the rifle with my entire right hand wrapped around the
stock.
I now position my thumb just behind the bolt. Most veteran shooters know that you
should slowly squeeze your trigger. And never
pull or jerk the trigger. This can torque or twist your rifle changing your
placement on the target. Another
thing that I began to do was put some down pressure with my shoulder into the
butt of the stock. I did this in order
to make my rifle behave correctly. When I am
about to view my target from the prone or bench, I pull with my pinky and ring
finger on the trigger guard, about 5-8 lbs, into my shoulder. Personally I use my pinky and ring finger
because they are the farthest fingers from the trigger and I want to eliminate
any room for unintentional discharge fire. Anchoring- Prior to truly being proficient, I
would have a standard cheek weld like others. However I have
changes a couple things. To anchor
your cheek to the stock or cone or other variable stock, like a flat, round or
drop way. It’s
important that your fitment into your optic and your sight picture placement is
correct for you. Most
shooters like to have a solid cheek weld. Recently I picked up a Remington 770 |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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good read
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Skylar McMahon
Optics Jedi Knight Capt. BlowHard Joined: April/05/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 6082 |
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Thanks Graham
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Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
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Dang, Dude... that's some good stuff...
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Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
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trigger29
Optics Master Extraordinaire X = 180 Y = 90 (X+Pyro)+(Y-Pyro) = ? Joined: September/29/2007 Location: South Dakota Status: Offline Points: 4353 |
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I like it. Many things that I work on every shot at the range. I'm also teaching a couple others to shoot. I don't know if it comes naturally to me, or if many range practice sessions have added up to being a fair shot, but I find it a lot easier to maintain good form every shot than it is to teach someone else what they should be doing. I have to admit I'm struggling a bit with one of them.
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"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." |
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Skylar McMahon
Optics Jedi Knight Capt. BlowHard Joined: April/05/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 6082 |
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Thanks Dan.
Trigger that's very considerate of you. I'm doing the same thing and trying to teach my friend Jake how to use a mil-dot scope. That's when I started writing this. Just some basics that he can do in his room at home or on the range. Consistency is the key to being successful. |
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8shots
Optics Jedi Knight Lord Of The Flies Joined: March/14/2007 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 6253 |
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Good read.
The follow through is important. We shoot against time, which has caused me to forget about follow through. I would pull off the shot and be in a rush to work the bolt.
Someone picked up on this the other day and advised me that my head is coming up to quickly after the shot.
I am working on correcting this one now forcing myself to stay down..
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Skylar McMahon
Optics Jedi Knight Capt. BlowHard Joined: April/05/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 6082 |
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It takes time and diligence. Never really what you do until you watch it. I have had a friend start to record me so I can see the play back to improve things that I can notice. That seems to help me. For the longest time I was a chicken wing shooter, but after looking at pictures and vids, I now bring my elbow in.
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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Nice post, Skylar. A couple of things: I always keep my trigger finger outside the guard until ready to fire. This is especially important with my LTR since it actually has a trigger that Remington's lawyers didn't approve. I have it set to 1.6 lbs. Nothing sucks more than loosing a round downrange while you're getting into position, except knowing that outside a firing range it could kill someone.
Another thing, regarding breathing and weighting the rifle/bipod. It isn't easy and I admit to cheating a little by holding my breath a bit to make sure the sight picture is still good, but firing after fully exhaling means all the air is out and all your weight can naturally shift onto the stock. I try to watch the reticle come up on the exhale and position the rifle on the target at the top. (One shooting game that came out online had the reticle go downwards on the exhale...bassackwards). |
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Reaction time is a factor...
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Skylar McMahon
Optics Jedi Knight Capt. BlowHard Joined: April/05/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 6082 |
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Thank you jono, I also keep my finger outside of the trigger guard but I will use me pinky and ring fingers to pull the gaurd moving the stock into my shoulder for proper down pressure.
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RotoReuter_DM
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/09/2011 Location: WI Status: Offline Points: 296 |
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Explained very well. Good article! |
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Old Mil ftw
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MADMATT
Optics GrassHopper Joined: March/08/2011 Location: Yakima WA Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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good read. great info. Thanks
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If you don't fight for your rights they all will be taken away. Bet on it!!
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helo18
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: December/02/2006 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 5620 |
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For me, one thing that helps me with follow through on the shot and helps steady me, is opening my left eye before I take the shot.
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To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.
GEORGE WASHINGTON |
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Skylar McMahon
Optics Jedi Knight Capt. BlowHard Joined: April/05/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 6082 |
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I agree with that.
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Summer@SWFA
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/29/2011 Location: Red Oak Status: Offline Points: 87 |
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hydra7
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/11/2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 97 |
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Great thread and just wanted to bump it up so other new members like me could have a chance at reading.
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Give me a shot, I won't disappoint!
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M1Thumb
Optics Apprentice Joined: December/27/2012 Location: Washington Status: Offline Points: 139 |
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On your stock to cheek weld you need to be VERY CONSISTANT with the placement to maintain your eye the same distance from the sights to recreate the sight picture shot to shot for consistancy.
One trick I used to use with young soldiers on the range and marksmanship training prior to live fire was to place a piece of tape on the stock to give them a reference point for dime and washer exercises to get consistant with their stock to cheek weld on the service rifle.
Ah forgot also to mention weapon CANTING - many folks tend to twist the weapon from true verticle - get someone to work with you and use a scope level to teach them how the weapon should feel when held in a true vertical
edited 1/19/2013
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Geo-spatially speaking you missed :o)
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Skylar McMahon
Optics Jedi Knight Capt. BlowHard Joined: April/05/2011 Location: TEXAS Status: Offline Points: 6082 |
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outdoordreamdeals
Optics GrassHopper Joined: July/05/2015 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Great information. All things I am learning and working on.
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Steelbenz
Optics Jedi Knight ROLL TIDE ROLL Joined: January/03/2006 Location: Heart of Dixie Status: Offline Points: 5153 |
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Here is another one, Dry fire your rifle in the position your going to shoot most often. (set the scope and rings for same.) It takes between 4K and 9K of repetitions for something to become part of your muscle memory. Focus on proper set up, trigger break, follow through and cycling the bolt, never taking your cross hairs off your target.
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