Learning to be a rifleman.

[itgoesboom]

Okay, so here is where I am.

I am pretty proficient with my shotgun, both HD roles and clays. Decent with slugs, but good with buck and bird shot.

I have become over that last year pretty decent with my pistols. I would say that I am usually outshooting the majority of the people who go to my range. I still want to be better, but I am doing well.

But I think my skills as a rifleman really need to improve.

About a year or so ago I traded away my Enfield and my Swede, and picked up an SKS, only because I wanted something in semi auto rather than bolt action and I almost never got to shoot either of the bolt actions.

Also, I can't afford to join the local rifle range, since it would cost me nearly $300 for the first year ($175 initiation fee). So all of my rifle shooting has been at a makeshift range out in the forest. When I am out there, I usually shoot offhand at 30 yards or so, and at that range have a pretty easy time hitting soda cans, but when I set up a target, my groups don't look so hot.

I am probably going to buy another rifle, but since I am worried about the AWB being renewed, I will probably pick up a "evil assault rifle" and price will probably dictate me getting an AK, although I think I would prefer an AR, and if I thought that this wasn't my last chance to get an "assault rifle" I would probably get a scoped bolt action first.

But I would like to become as good as I can be with these limiations.

So is it possible, with only an SKS, and a improvised range that is at most 75 yards, to learn to be a good rifleman?

How should I practice? What should my goals be? What can I do to become a good rifleman?

Thanks.

I.G.B.

 

[Mulliga]

Rifle shooting is all about concentration. It's definitely possible to get good at using rifles with an SKS and a decent stretch of forest.

Is there anyone around to teach you the finer points of rifle shooting? If not, try a book like "The Art of the Rifle" by Jeff Cooper. Good luck - I'm a novice shooter myself, and it takes quite a bit of practice.

 

[DMK]

So is it possible, with only an SKS, and a improvised range that is at most 75 yards, to learn to be a good rifleman?

Do you think you can shoot more accurately than the rifle is capable of?

I think the SKS has a lot going for it. It shoots cheap ammo, it's pretty comfortable to shoot from almost any position, it's got low recoil and is fairly light. It's a great rifle to shoot from a standing position.

Shoot it a couple times from the bench and save the targets. When you can match that from prone, sitting and standing, then it's time to upgrade to a more accurate rifle and/or push the targets further out.

I do 90% of my practice standing and sitting with a .22 at 25 yards. It may not be glamorous, but it's cheap and convenient so I do it just about every week.

 

[Gunpacker]

Becoming a rifleman

Great source of written instructions imo are the articles in shotgun news written by "Fred".
You can find his articles online at www.fredsm14stocks.com. I believe that is correct. Search the site and you will find some great reading as well as excellent articles on instruction from an expert. Spend a few minutes and you will spend hours.

 

[pbhome71]

The Army Qualification Target (AQT) which Fred sells is a fun course to shoot.

All you need is a 25m/82 feet firing line. As Gunpacker mentioned, he has a couple of good articles there to read too.

Good Luck,

-Pat

 

[Beetle Bailey]

You do have a tough choice, since you are afraid if you don't get an AK now, you might not be able to in the future. . . However, if you can swing it, pick up a good .22lr bolt-action. It's a one-time investment and then you can shoot the cheapest ammo available for the rest of your life . This means lots of practice and skill building. Also, remember that every single shot counts (even when you are shooting .22lr ) so take your time.

 

[kimbernut]

Becoming a Rifleman

As previously mentioned by a couple of the guys here check out Fred's website. On line you can get quite a bit of info/instruction for free but the instruction that comes with his package deal(targets and guide) is much more in depth. The best advice of all from Fred is to set a goal or purpose for each range session-rather than just blasting away at a target.I used to shoot a lot with a bow and one quote that was repeated often by the best shooters carries over into all sports really." Practice does not make perfect,perfect practice makes perfect."
All that being said , occasionally it's fun just to blast away!!! Good shootin'.

 

[hillbilly]

You can even become a good rifleman by shooting with air rifles or BB guns, especially accurate, quality air rifles.

Air rifles, with their relatively low velocities (in most cases) actually force you to perfect the fundamentals of marksmanship to a higher degree than actual firearms.

Get some AQT targets from Fred's and start practicing.

hillbilly

 

[Balog]

I started a thread on the same topic. Check it out here
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45695&highlight=Balog

 

[itgoesboom]

Thanks for the help guys. I will probably order the book and some targets from Fred here pretty soon. I also think I need to figure out just how bad I am, so I will try to get out to the range in the next couple weeks, and do some prone shooting ( haven't shot prone in about 8 years), since I don't have any access to a bench.

Its funny, I used to be an excellent shot with a pellet rifle, but I think I just don't shoot enough anymore.

Hopefully that will change. Looks like the spousal unit is going to approve a new rifle for me. Talked to her last night, and she made the comment "well, I know you want a rifle, and you know what, I want a nice diamond ring, but we can't afford it, so I will wait.", to which I answered, "well, at least in your case we can purchase that diamond ring next year, I might not ever be able to purchase this after this year".... I do have a bad feeling about the AWB (remembering to call my congress-critters in the morning again).

Other funny thing is I don't seem to have a problem hitting whatever I am aiming at. When I have shot with friends, even with their rifles that I have never shot before, when I am shooting at a reactive target, cans, bottles, whatever, I always seem to hit just fine. But when it comes to shooting paper, I could't do it to save my life.

I.G.B.

 

[Knife_Sniper]

Yea, I concur with getting a rifle now. Im not paranoid that tomorow they will be banned, but you never know.

I would suggest the AR15 over the AK. I know its more expensive, but it is well worth it.

You will have a gun that can outshoot you for YEARS and be awash in spare parts for years as well. Don't listen to those guys trashing the AR for being unreliable. The system is quite reliable provided the gun is made of quality materials. In over 1000 rounds I have never had a single FTE, FTF, or JAM. Purchased the gun used, so I dont know how many the rifle has seen before I obtained it.

It shoots one inch groups at 100 yards with a chrome lined barrel too. I might have gotten lucky, but it is damned sweet.

If a stronger ban hits and your rifle is grandfathered, you can swap uppers to different calibers and configurations. Your stuck with ONE caliber in an AK.

Oh, and the best thing about an AR15 is... the older it gets, the smoother it shoots.

If your strapped for cash I suggest building a lower.
When people say its easy, they mean it. I had improper tools and built it in 15 minutes. Fettechini Alfredo is harder to make than it is to build an AR15 lower.

 

[Gewehr98]

If you believe what you read from Fred...

You'll know that you can't be a rifleman with an AK, anyway.

He doesn't like me anymore.

 

[Buckskinner]

Boston T. Party

The author that is. Pick up his "Boston's Gun Bible", and read his ratings of battle rifles, and the "how to be a rifleman" chapters.

Then think about becoming more politically active or supporting groups who are with that $375 range fee. Then maybe you wouldn't have to worry about any more AWB...

Dry fire practice with whatever centerfire rifle you have. From different positions, over and over and over.

I agree with the .22LR recommendation.