Aiming a Scoped Rifle
I want to improve my off hand shooting with my deer rifle. Would like to be able to take neck shots. In the past I have just waited till the cross hairs were on the target and shot. I don't know anyone who can hold the scope steady. I heard that in the army they teach you to let the rifle sink to the target and shoot as it passes. What's the best way to improve accuracy?
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I first recieved marksmanship training from the Army in 1955 and was involved with army marksmanship training or competition until 1987. I never heard anyone advocate letting the rifle sink to the target and shoot as it passes. All I ever heard of was to hold the rifle as still as possible and squeeze the trigger. A slow squeeze was not required, just not a jerk. You should let the gun surprise you when it fires, not try to surprise the gun when you jerk the trigger. If possible in hunting shoot from a position allowing some kind of rest or support for the rifle. If you must shoot offhand, hold as steady as possible and squeeze the trigger. I hope I have made this clear. If not, I will try to answer any questions. Dry firing should help. 0 -
Herschel told it pretty clear. Squeezing the trigger is of extreme importance. If you do it right, you will be able to "call the shot" (say where it hit the target) without looking in the spotting scope. If you can't call the shot, you jerked the trigger. When you jerk the trigger you instintively blink a microsecond before the round goes off, thus you'll have no idea where the round hit. A jerk and blink is the difference between a good shot and bad.
Hope that makes sense.
If I may add one other thing: Always practice you off-hand shooting every time you go to the range. You must get good at it. 90-percent of the deer you will kill in your lifetime will be done shooting off-hand. Shooting benches are scarce in the woods.
Respectfully,
Rafter-S
"What is truth? No wonder jesting Pilate turned away. The truth, it has a thousand faces -- show only one of them, and the whole truth flies away! But how to show the whole? That is the question."
--Thomas Wolfe, "You Can't Go Home Again" (1934)0 -
You got good info from all but Rafter's will help the most. I bench shoot my guns when sighting in or working up loads but I always practice freehand. Make sure your not over-rifled ( i.e. a 300 loudenboomer or such)so you can shoot without flinching and then shoot as often as possible. More shots at the range equals more venisen in the freezer..... 0 -
You usually can't hold your rifle perfectly still. When you can hold all the wobbles on the target area squeeze the trigger. If you wobble off, maintain pressure on the trigger until you get back on then apply more pressure. That's pretty tough to do. With a light trigger you can learn to "snatch" the shot but it takes practice and works best if you only use one rifle. I do quite a bit of offhand practice and you would be surprised at what that practice will do for you.
Mobuck0 -
The advice to practice shooting offhanded is good advice, but remember this,..you can't practice with the adrenaline factor at the range. When you see your deer, and the heart rate doubles, so does the crosshair movement. You must learn to slow your heartrate at will. Get a book on shooting and practice the breathing techniques. That and practicing will greatly improve your meat harvest. I still have more trouble with slowing my heart than shooting offhanded.
I'm a man,....but I can change,.....If I have to,......I guess.0 -
Depending on what type of rifle you shoot,try to lighten the trigger pull weight. A rifle with a heavy pull could cause you to pull the shot off line. 0 -
Cheat. Create your own rest for off-hand shooting by resting the elbow of your "fore end" hand in your abdomen area and allowing the weight of the rifle to rest on that hand. With an M1A w/ a box magazine, I grip the magazine to allow a better plane for distance shooting. However, even w/ a regular rifle, it works extremely well. Once you learn to control your breathing for shots like this, you'll notice significant reduction scope wiggle when firing. With practice, you can mount your rifle like this as fast as you can shoulder it.
Works for me.0 -
Why aim for the Tea Cup when you can aim for the Pie Plate(ribs)?
AlleninAlaska
http://www.outdoor-o-rama.com
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-- Thomas Paine0 -
algore has a point. Irregardless where you deciede to place the shot practice is paramount. there is all ready good info on offhand here. to elaborate on riflemans point you also lean back somewhat to try leaning on the larger muscle groups. there is also something called your natural point of aim when your in your off hand position close your eyes and relax for several seconds open your eyes the place your rifle is pointing is called your natural point or aim. now though you won't have time most likey to get in perfect position with practice as you turn to take your shot you will be close by memory. the next point would be to have a low power variable scope set on the lowest setting this will make the precieved wobble seem less. if all your shots are close jump shots you might consider an red dot type sight. a final point would be if your really determined then look up your local High Power club and get involved. this will get you the coaching in this position you need. 0 -
aglore makes an excellent point. I shot in competition for years and know about techniques, positions, etc. but most of that is irrevent in hunting deer at short range. Trigger squeeze is important. I can usually find some kind of support in a deer stand or while on the ground and I shoot for the rib cage. The deer shot through the lungs may, usually does, run a short distance but will not live long. 0
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