Sthooting stance for a longrifle.

[Arrowstorm]

Not sure where to put this. I am just wondering how you guys combat the long end heavy weight of a longrifle? When I shoot standing,I like to hold the stock of the rifle close to the my trigger hand for a bit more steadiness. I have seen some people shoot with ther hand a little further out. I don't really ever shoot sitting down, or lying down, but sometimes, I squat, in wich case, I like to rest my hand on my knee and hold my hand a little further out on the stock.

Also, I have noticed that sometimes, after I fire (I have dry-fired a few times to confirm my suspicions of my reaction) that I tend to drop the muzzle a wee bit. Does anyone know a good way to practice NOT doing this. Maybe holding my rifle a certain way or whatever.

When shooting, how do you like to stand? Do you like to pull the butt of the rifle firmly into your shoulder, or let it rest as comfortably as you can? I'm just fishing for ideas on shooting stances to improve accuracy and consistency.

 

[RC]

I hold my hand out away from the trigger,that way you're holding the weight,more leverage,if you have your hand back towards the trigger you have a bunch of unsupported weight out front, and pretty much bury the stock in my shoulder..and when i shoot,i try to get gun above the target and drop down to it,easier to let gun down than pick it up..just me... RC

 

:v Offhand shoting is a study in triangles. Remember your HS math classes Geometry and stuff like that. now lets put it to use. 1. get a coach.2put both feet on the gound.4 stand tall,tuck your butt under and stand tall.If you shoot right place the left sholder to the target.this a triangle from feet to crotch and the ground. Your waist is the swivel,put the upper one on the up point ofthe other one.the two trangles with the broad end being the sholder.Then triangles from sholder tto wrist Oh heck yopu all know this manure. find a bating coach, a good buddy andA lonesome place and start shooting and criticizing, you will both be better shots for it. Bob

 

[roundball]

I shoot right handed and I do the following for all my standing or sitting shots:

Rifle lays cradeled in my left hand which is up against the front of the trigger guard.

My left elbow is braced down against my left side/chest, bracing the rifle very still and preventing downward movement...can hold it there for a long, long time as I am not actually holding the rifle under muscle tension...arm is relaxed and the bones themselves are doing the support work;

Rifle is pulled into my shoulder just enough to hold it there so it doesn't slip...sort of a relaxed, semi-firm hold without any obvious tension.

Right elbow is tucked down snug against my side, not raised up into the air...less movement when lining up on a buck as only my hands & forearms bring the rifle up off my lap...both elbows stay against my sides and pivot...uses less energy, causes less fatigue, and it adds more bulk to my main body blob anchoring everything as still as possible.

Then I try to always have the trigger break be a surprise.

:thumbsup:

 

[Swampman]

I also use this method.

 

[CrackStock]

I shot that way for years, but lately I have been having the sights move through my heartbeat and have gone to a forward hold. My scores improved right away.

CS

 

[Wehrmacht]

I fire just exactly like my Uncle Sam taught me way back in 1957,58,59,60,61,and on and on! If you've had military training in marksmanship I don't think you can ever break yourself from the military technique,and I doubt if there's a better way!

A rifle with a 48 inch SWAMPED barrel is no problem to hold steady.At least not for me.

 

[RedFeather]

On those curved buttplates, how many snug them into the hollow of their shoulder or brace them on the upper arm? I keep seeing posts about how they were intended for the arm.

RedFeather

 

[RC]

In the P/C world, isn't the military hold a no-no?always been told at a pre 1840's shoot elbows can't touch body..but then Ive seen some holds that just amaze me,but that's probably because I try to do everything as if i were hunting,same hold,same load,same gun..etc.try to figure if some of these guys hunt and how they could possibly get their stance and hold right before the deer was inthe next county, and it still amazes how long some shooters can hold a gun aimed at a target,I've had trouble with a walk/stop/walk buck, must be they strenght train or something,my guns start circlin...RC

 

[Arrowstorm]

That's what I do. My rifle has a deeply curved buttplate, and I just snug that right into my arm. I find it quite comfortable that way.

 

[MikeChapin]

Up until recently I shot offhand. When I first started NMLRA rules stated that you had to have at least the width of a hand between the elbow and the body. That's the way I got used to shooting. Some primative matches still enforce this rule.

In the early eighties that was changed to allow a standing stance with the elbow braced on the body. I didn't go to that until just recently. I started doing it less from steadying my aim than keeping my arm from tiring after a long day of shooting.

I find it less tiring to hold up a 10.5 pound rifle with my elbow braced than not.

 

[doverdog]

I also use the arm braced against the side method. Something else I started doing about a year ago was a change in my setup and stance, and it has increased my accuracy greatly. I first started testing this method by assuming my stance with my eyes closed, then raising the rifle. Almost without fail, I would be right or left of the target. Instead of twisting or turning my upper body to align with the target, I would shift my feet until the sights were aligned, eliminating the torque on the body, a thing that causes shaking and sight movement. It is a pretty basic thing, but I bet most people just use the twist and shoot method. Try shutting your eyes at your next shooting session and see how you line up when first raising the gun.

 

[MikeChapin]

... I first started testing this method by assuming my stance with my eyes closed, then raising the rifle. Almost without fail, I would be right or left of the target. Instead of twisting or turning my upper body to align with the target, I would shift my feet until the sights were aligned, eliminating the torque on the body, a thing that causes shaking and sight movement.....

I have done this for years. I usually just shift my rear foot to bring myself back. It is amazing how far off you can get by closing your eyes then opening them.

After a while your feet will automatically go to the right spot in relation to the target. I still do it occasionally to see if my stance isn't pulling me off.