Shooting tips

[wisconsinteacher]

I don't know if this has been done but today I was thinking about shooting small groups and how others shoot.

One thing I focus on is my footing. I make sure they are solid and comfortable. To me it is like any other sport, you have to have your feet in the right spot. From there, I try to focus on a consistent grip and finger placement on the trigger. The last thing I work on is the squeeze. I think about clicking a pen.

What do you to while at the bench that helps you shoot small groups?

 

[ScreaminEagle]

I focus on getting a rock solid rest. I close my eyes, count to five, and open my eyes. The crosshairs should have never moved. From there I focus on my breathing and heartbeat.

 

[pre6422hornet]

I think the biggest thing that helps me is dry fire and shot calling.

Another thing that really helps shrink my groups is controlling my squeeze down to the point of having the trigger break during the pauses between heart beats. I have found that the way my cheek weld is, I can really see e crosshairs move from my carotid artery pulsing.

 

[dubyam]

I'm working on some shooting technique lately, when I can get to the range, to aid in field shooting. I've taken to doing a couple of sprints prior to shooting from field positions, to get my heart rate and breathing up as though I were excited from seeing deer or having to stalk close (because that gets my blood boiling for sure...). It's been an education, and after the season here is out, I'll focus on it moreso. I've had a couple of instances afield where I could not get calmed down for a shot after stalking in close. Adrenalin is not my friend. So I'm working on the basics - sight picture, breathing control, trigger squeeze - under duress. It seems to be useful, as my field-position groups are more consistent over time with this approach.

Really, those three things are the keys for me. All other positioning and such has become pretty well ingrained in my shooting habits, so I focus less on cheek weld, body position, and other positioning or form issues, and more on breathing and trigger control. That includes follow through, too, after the shot.

 

[truck driver]

I try not to think about anything except the target and just shoot once the cross hairs are aligned on target.
I shoot a lot of precision hand gun competition(NRA Bullseye) so when the sight crosses or centers on the target I brake the shot.

 

[.280 Remington]

I pretend the DI is still yelling at me on Edson Range at Camp Pendleton........ :lol: :lol:

 

[BeeTee]

When I'm serious about it, I go to the range alone. Having someone with me tends to be a distraction. When I'm serious about it, I'll arrive in the morning (9:00am-ish) in the middle of the week when I have the range mostly to myself - taking all the time I need. I enjoy going to the range with family and friends too, but I don't try to do serious shooting when I do.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Solid rest, breathing, trigger control.

lot's of dry firing on distant inanimate objects as well from the porch of my house.

 

[hubcap]

Solid rest, breathing, trigger control.

lot's of dry firing on distant inanimate objects as well from the porch of my house.

Agree with those three. I,m going to get that bull bag some our members are using. I tried one out a while back and really liked it. The caldwell rock front rest is good but I feel the bull bag is the cats meow. A trigger pull no more than 4 lbs. helps alot.

 

[wildgene]

...well, one thing I've noticed @ the range & shop, & hasn't been mentioned, is a lot of people believe that a "bore sighted" rifle is going to be dead on @ 100yds. You actually have to convince them that 1.) they need to focus the ocular objective for their eye, 2.) they can save a lot of ammo & grief by starting out @ 25yds. The other thing is "aim small, shoot small". I have a 7mm w/ a 2.5X8 that will shoot MOA out to 500M, but the heavy duplex reticle makes it hard to shoot tiny groups, because it subtends a lot of the target. A 1" dot is barely visible @ 100yds, so I tend to chase the bull, opening up my groups, cause I can't hold the same aimpoint consistently. A "V" or diamond seems to work better for me. The scope isn't real good fer "target shooting", but it's exceptional for its purpose, shooting elk in heavy timber, w/ the occasional long (400-500yd) shot across a canyon, clearcut, or wheatfield. Base your results on your gear, if you're getting "flyers" figger out if it's you, your load, or your equipment, work at doing everything consistently. Keep in mind, it wasn't so long ago that a "good" varmint rifle shot under 1 1/2MOA, now we expect MOA or better w/ a hunting rifle...