Just how bad you can get without practice

[Akita1]

Excellent advice Warp.

I forgot one thing: pull the stock tightly into your shoulder (with your forend grip) so it has no intentional give when it fires - not stressed, just "tightly comfortable" while exhaling during the pull. That solved trigger variances for me, but that shoulder "lean in" seems more like a golf-swing-style muscle memory exercise per Warp's suggested solve with variant loads.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Since im new (started shooting only 10 months ago) and have never hunted I dont have much to add. What I can add is that sitting at home with snap caps and dry fire practicing at least 3 days a week has helped me immensely in refining my trigger skills.

 

[Trent]

Rush hits home a point here.

You don't have to practice outside or at a range. Recently I asked for F-Class advice on THR as I keep kissing a perfect score but can't quite put one together. The advice I got is the same I give (and neglect to do myself) - practice at home.

We can't get so self-assured that we neglect the basic principles of marksmanship.

Good practice makes good habits.

 

[J-Bar]

and if I ever lose that thrill, I'll stop hunting...

^^^ this.

Don't fight it. Manage it. Focus your attention on the trigger squeeze.

 

[CornCod]

"The Great Ammo Shortage" has done a lot to weaken my handgun and rifle skills. The near disappearance of .22LR has hit me hard as I used to alternate between rimfire and centerfire to save money.

 

[lobo9er]

few words of encouragement. Shrug it off check the gun make sure its sighted in and scope is tight. Hunting is freaky and all sorts of things happen. Everyone will miss or not place a shot perfect at some point.

 

[d2wing]

Practice with a rim fire certainly helps, so does air rifle or air soft. My favorite is with either a Daisy pro target single pump air rifle or a CO powered air rifle. Lots of it. Do not prepare for shooting rifles by shooting a springer air rifle as the hold is different and that could cause problems.