Prone Position Question

[bigalexe]

I am not 100% familiar with various positions of shooting so here goes:

When you are in prone position are you supposed to be literally on your stomach or can you be rolled slightly so as to be really on your side.

The reason I ask is that prone is a super stable position but I cannot breathe on my stomach for long periods of time. I tried the other day and got one shot off each time before I had to roll over so I could take a good breath. If I am laying generally face down I am fine but cannot deal with my body weight resting on my chest.

 

[WNTFW]

With a scoped rifle on a bipod flat is considered the way to go. Shooter being directly behind the rifle, spine parallel to bore.

With a service rifle/sling most people have to roll to one side to get there arm/elbow under the fore end.

I rest my rig cage in the ground and try to minimize the effect of breathing on both. I set up for NPA at the bottom of my breathing cycle (lungs empty). I have found the empty lung to be the best all around. Don't hold breath or take half full lung shots. Just breath naturally and relaxed. You can practice your breathing at any time not just behind a rifle. Practice during dry fire will help.

 

[ATBackPackin]

This site has a good description of the bent leg position which would probably work best for you if you are having problems breathing. It should help take some of the weight off of your chest.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2411859/Good-Prone-Position

Hope this helps.
Shawn

 

[kk0g]

I won't cover all the details of the prone position as there's all kinds of references to it on the web but the answer to the problem of breathing in prone is to bring your trigger side knee up high. This rolls your diaphragm up off the ground and helps tremendously to lessen the movement of the muzzle during breathing. Obviously it will make breathing easier also. The other thing it will do is to help control recoil making follow up shots quicker.

 

[Werewolf]

Get Col Cooper's book "The Art of the Rifle". It'll answer your question as well as many more you may have about shooting a rifle the right way.

 

[russ69]

As WNTFW said; "Shooter being directly behind the rifle, spine parallel to bore."

The pictures posted by Shawn are a bit obsolete and are designed for recoil of big cartridges, we don't do that now with the .223 and other low recoiling cartridges. We get directly behind the rifle. The most common is a low prone position with the elbow tucked under the rifle. It hurts a bit at first but it will take some weight off your gut.

Thanx, Russ

 

[bigalexe]

I probably should have specified that I didn't mean breathing as in controlled breathing necessary for shooting, I meant that I can't breathe at all to the point I may as well be underwater. So effectively once I roll into position with my chest on the ground I have 15-30 seconds to get sighted, steady, and make my shot before I start to get uncomfortable from holding my breath. Then after the shot I have to move to breathe.

I will see how it works with the elbow under the stock because it looks like that lifts your upper rib appreciably and so I could breathe that way.

My issue is because of my low body strength overall.

 

[W.E.G.]

The best answer is to get out there, and shoot.

Find a position that you can comfortably obtain, and with minimum fuss.

If your shots hit where you want them when you are in that position, that is the right position for you.

An inexperienced shooter may shoot better from one position, and a veteran shooter will shoot his best from another position.

Your position will evolve with PRACTICE.

You will learn almost zero about shooting from the prone position if you are seated at a computer keyboard.

 

[coloradokevin]

Bending a leg can help with the breathing from the prone position, at least in my opinion. I don't subscribe to the philosophy that there is only one "right" way to get things done in the prone position, as we are all built differently, and what works for one person might not work for another.

Also, please don't take this the wrong way, but how physically fit are you? Sometimes large folks have trouble breathing in certain positions due to constrictions caused by their body's shape. Beyond that, being in shape also helps you to breath more efficiently, which has always helped my shooting. This may or may not be a factor for you, but I'm just throwing it out there as a point to consider. Shooting isn't as athletic as running a marathon, but many folks have found that their shooting can benefit from some additional physical conditioning!

 

[wishin]

Two things I remember distinctly from my Army training are:

Arm and elbow under the rifle;
legs spread out apart and feet splayed out flat on your inner ankles.

 

[44Dave]

This site has a good description of the bent leg position which would probably work best for you if you are having problems breathing. It should help take some of the weight off of your chest.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2411859/Good-Prone-Position

Hope this helps.
Shawn

The bent leg position is how I was taught. With the rifle angled instead of straight out, you can position your elbow underneath much more effectively giving yourself a solid rest.
The leg drawn up really gives you room to breath. It also allows (me) to get off my belly fat and dig some rib bones into the ground, which also allows for a more stable position.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I meant that I can't breathe at all to the point I may as well be underwater. So effectively once I roll into position with my chest on the ground I have 15-30 seconds to get sighted, steady, and make my shot before I start to get uncomfortable from holding my breath. Then after the shot I have to move to breathe.

try breathing from your abdomen rather than from your chest...it's more martial and better for your alignment too. it's been a while since i've shot long gun from the prone position. with a handgun, we shoot from the roll-over prone which puts you over on your side

 

[russ69]

wishin said: "Two things I remember distinctly from my Army training are:
Arm and elbow under the rifle;
legs spread out apart and feet splayed out flat on your inner ankles."

I say: Was fighting in the trenches hard? How are the other Dough boys? LOL!

Thanx, Russ

P.S. That's really old school........Oops, let me rephrase that, It's really old school for centerfire rifles, some of the prone shooters spread out but they do it more for comfort than anything else.