rifle shooting question

[fromtheplaines]

I am a self taught shooter, so I have picked up a few bad habits. I used to shoot rifle quite a bit and had decent groupings at 100 yards. Took about 7 months off and shot exclusively clays. When I first started I think I had a very lose grip on the gun. The support hand would support the stock from below. And I don't believe I had a very tight grip on the trigger gand or have a lot if pressure on the shoulder. With the shot gun being more dynamic I use more pressure on the grip and keeping it in the shoulder pocket. The reason why I ask is I broke out the rifle today and couldn't hit anything for the life of me. When I was sitting there wondering, I felt the difference in how I held it now instead if before. I am thinking I may have been shooting wrong before, and now it's not matching up. Or I could just be rusty

 

[Justin]

Rifle shooting requires that you be cognizant of follow through.

Shotgun shooting works best when you yank the trigger.

If you're used to shooting a shotgun, when shooting a rifle be much more deliberate in how you break the trigger. Once the shot breaks, make sure you hold the trigger back to a count of two.

 

[MartinS]

Don't try to think it all through, shoot more and shoot in the moment.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

If you're like me, if I shoot a shotgun too much, I get a flinch-like jerking of the trigger when I go back to rifle.

I just harness the energy of my breath and try to stop time as I try to "be" the trigger...
... which means I focus on my breathing and make sure I really concentrate on my trigger squeeze HAHA

 

[urbaneruralite]

Are you shooting offhand, from a bench, or how?

 

[fromtheplaines]

I am shooting from a bench

 

[MistWolf]

You don't yank the trigger of a shotgun. You use a controlled press, or sweep the trigger but you never just yank it

 

[Reloadron]

If you have the opportunity try and get involved with Appleseed shooting. Here is why I suggest Appleseed shoots.

I began my love affair with the rifle around 1958 when I was 8 years old. While I did have some good mentors I also began to develop some poor shooting habits. I went in the Marine Corps in 1969 thinking I could shoot. The Marine Corps literally at times beat my poor habits out of me and then taught me good marksmanship skills. The methods I learned have followed me over all the years. There is a right and wrong way and once you learn the right way it becomes natural. Sight picture and alignment, holding and squeezing, breathing and the list goes on. More than can be simply covered in a post or two. Thus I suggest, regardless of age or shooting history to get involved with Appleseed.

Just My Take
Ron