Can anyone analyse my rifle shooting?

[cracked butt]

I shot my first highpower match in about 5 years a few weeks ago- it was a pretty humbling experience. I ended upbuying a .22 for practice, and after 3 practice sessions, a recurring problem is evident.

My shots are all good on elevation, but are stringing horizontally- mainly to the left of my zero. I noticed this while shooting the AR-15 as well. This problem is occurring in all positions.

Anyone have any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

 

[pepperbelly]

Not enough finger on the trigger causing you to push the shot to the left?

Jim

 

[P-32]

Right or left handed?

 

[cracked butt]

Right handed.

 

[Tarvis]

A little windy maybe?

 

[cracked butt]

The wind isn't enough to account for the horizontal shot spread.

Not enough finger on the trigger causing you to push the shot to the left?

I think that might be part of the problem. I haven't been back to the range this week due to weather, but while dry firing practice, I noticed that I'm only using the very tip of my finger- I'm trying to make a concious effort to put more meat on the trigger.

 

[Fedaykin]

I've heard the trigger should contact right in the center of the pad of the first knuckle. You can train yourself to do this by placing tape on the outsides of the pad while practicing to get used to where the trigger should contact.

Then again I've also heard getting it all the way in to the first knuckle joint is the way to go. I seem to do better with the first style.

 

[Fedaykin]

Okay somehow I managed to miss the word "rifle" in the post title. Those ideas I threw out were for handguns. Oh well, maybe they still help.

 

[Floppy_D]

Do you lean back, or put your weight on your rear foot? When I shot rifle team in high school, I use to pull my left elbow as close to my left hip as possible, and lean back. It feels stable, but makes it easy to wobble side to side. It caused me to string horizontally.

Just for fun, stretch real good first, do some arm circles and jumping jacks. When your heart rate gets back down, try shooting. The MCPO that taught me to shoot had me do that, and it helped.

Lastly, do you use to shoot standing? If so, is it tight enough?

 

[N1150X]

I could be a flintch I had a bad one still have it a little bit but it did some really weird stuff to my groops one day I had one that looked like this (Point of aim is 0 while each . is a hole in the target from a single bullet the - are place holders)

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[HB]

NPA

Your Natural point of Aim is off most likely:
1. Set up like your going to take a shot
2. Take a breath, close your eyes
3. Open them after a few seconds
4. If your not dead center on the target, adjust your rear foot until your on
5. Repeat before every shot
6. Ask around, people are usually willing to help out

HB

 

[kle]

Your Natural point of Aim is off most likely:
1. Set up like your going to take a shot
2. Take a breath, close your eyes
3. Open them after a few seconds
4. If your not dead center on the target, adjust your rear foot until your on
5. Repeat before every shot
6. Ask around, people are usually willing to help out

HB

THANK YOU!!! Now I know (and have determined) how to get my feet set up for bullseye! Thanks!

 

[P-32]

HB is correct. The first thing to do is find your NPA. The second thing to do is focus on the front sight. I don't repeat before every shot as once I have my NPA to don't move my feet.

 

[cracked butt]

I do set up my position for NPA. In the standing postion I was pretty solid a few years ago- usually scoring 94-96 or so from that position, I have a bit more weight on my front foot than rear, so I don't think I'm leaning back.



A flinch might be a possibility that I haven't ruled out yet.

 

[cracked butt]

Ok. We had a nice day yesterday so I did a little practice. I've been conscientiosly working on my trigger finger/hand position and NPA for a couple of days of dryfiring. My son came to the range with me last night and I had him spot for me- everything tightened back up to how it should be, and I was calling my misses as well. I'm starting to feel a lot better about things.

I've been shoting at 50 gt air rifle targets at 25 yards that have 5-x ring in a 1 5/8" or so bull, I think I'll try to find some 3" targets and move back to 50 yards to see if everything holds up.