What is your method to combat offhand wobble?

[Dutch7]

Some days it works other days you might as well shoot skeet!
I shoot a heavy gun and practice with it is key, all the advice above is good but a heavy gun will not wander around like a light one will.
Find a good - repeatable - accurate position and do not deviate. Repetition is very important, do the same thing every time.
Another thing is diet - watch what you eat and when you eat - it can have a dramatic affect on your accuracy.

 

[William Schenck]

A friend, long gone, was the best pistol shot I’ve ever seen. He hunted squirrels with a High Standard target pistol. Always head shots. I asked him how he did it. He said just pull off as you jiggle by. Worked for him..

 

[SOLANCO]

"Repetition is very important".
Drummed into me by Jesuits 60+ years ago:
Repetetio est mater studiorum.

In the army use of the sling virtually eliminated wobble. That sling would, however, be an abomination on my long rifle.

 

[Dartwick]

In a lot of ways offhand muzzleloader shooting is more similar to archery than mostmodern rifle target shooting which has lighter guns is ussually off a rest. so Im using an archery term - "the float."

"The float" is area you can keep the sight in without clinching, straining our prolonged breath holding. Your float might only last 3 seconds it might last 15 seconds.
With practice your float will get tighter.
With practice you will instinctively learn when to pull the trigger during the float.

But its important to accept the float - you try to improve it with practice - but if you fight it or try to use tricks like snap shooting you wont improve and in time you may develop or other bad habits.

And once again - use a rest - using a rest decreases the size of your float by at least a level of magnitude.

 

[rafterob]

I try to follow the standard tips for offhand shooting. In practice, I just hope I pull the trigger at the right moment in the wobble sequence.

 

[Erwan]

Boffff, 75 years old too: barrel relatively heavy and pressing the trigger just during the right time, the only short one you must have during the time you don't breathe...

 

[Shiloh]

Learn how to use a sling.

 

[Terrier]

The only thing I found to help with major wobble for me is supporting the rifle just in front of the trigger guard instead of the middle of the forearm area, and tuck that elbow into your side/front. Made a big difference in my offhand shooting. And get a rifle with a swamped barrel. I’m always amazed how much steadier a swamped barrel is to hold on target.

 

[Dartwick]

Dont "hold your breath."

Its much better to learn a habit slowing down of pausing during an exhale right before you will shoot. Holding after an inhale will create tension.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Learn how to use a sling.

NMLRA rules prohibit slings in competition. Your suggestion is a good one, to combat wobble, but I can't use it.
Thanks
Larry

 

[French Colonial]

Having a gun that is well balanced and fits you is important as well, a rifle can be to muzzle heavy.

 

[springfield art]

(Joke) Big swig of bourbon! (Joke)

 

[Britsmoothy]

Get a cheap airgun and practice in the back yard.
Works for me. It's training.

 

[LME]

Learn how to use a sling.

A sling works. If you don't have a sling put your forearm elbow against your chest it does the same thing a sling does to keep you steady.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

I find I shoot best when I breathe slowly and deliberatly, and the follow through hold is everything.

 

[leam]

If you want to get your forearm even closer to your torso, turn your left hand around and put your thumb on the right side of the rifle.

Believe it or not, it's a much more comfortable position when you're gripping just in front of the trigger guard.

I used to shoot my Garand this way. That muzzle just sat there.

Maybe it's just 'cause I'm fat, but I can rest my left tricep against my upper ribs, all digits on the left hand are on the left side of the rifle, and the lowest thumb bone is up against the trigger guard. I keep my right (trigger side) elbow horizontal, like the old school folks do, to ensure the butt of the rifle has a solid rest during recoil.

For what it's worth, I did okay at the last match, and I'm actually left handed.

I close my eyes when bringing my rifle up, since our eyes get tired staring at the sights. By closing them, I have maximum time and energy for them to do their work when the sights are lined up. That's all I've been drilling the past week or so: close my eyes, exhale as I mount the rifle, and open my eyes. The goal is to have the front and rear sight lined up with each other. I'm getting to four out of five, with the misses being not too far.

The ideal is to use the absolute least amount of muscle as possible. Use your bone structure to carry the weight. Practice standing still and relaxing your muscles. As has been said, we all wobble some. Unless you want to stop your heart beating, but I don't think that's advisible.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Get a cheap airgun and practice in the back yard.
Works for me. It's training.

Oh my, I can't believe I got some good advice from accross the pond!
Thanks Brit, but I kinda said that in the original post. I really think they need to put me out to pasture. Just not quite ready to go yet.
Larry

 

[Britsmoothy]

Oh my, I can't believe I got some good advice from accross the pond!
Thanks Brit, but I kinda said that in the original post. I really think they need to put me out to pasture. Just not quite ready to go yet.
Larry

Don't quite understand the pond thing but hey, how about a shotgun??
Problem solved.

 

[nit wit]

a rifle that fits and practice, lighter guns wobble more.
Nit Wit

 

[Eterry]

I'm certain the OP is referring to target shooting offhand, not squirrel hunting.

I shot Small bore competition in ROTC. Our Gunny Sgt taught us to use the figure 8 as well, if you miss your chance acquiring the target lower the weapon, close your eyes and breathe slowly, remount, reaquire the sights then try the 8 again. He talked about shooting between heartbeats, but I'm not sure about that.
Standing position the rifle went across our chest, controlled your breathing, figure 8, getting smaller, fire as front sight crossed target.

For an edge he took us to eat Mexican food the night before, ordering extra beans for everyone.
The cutest girl on the team wore the tightest BDUs ever, but could clear the room the next day, farting like a pack mule.
PSYCH-OPS ???