Shooting position for an AR

[browneu]

I've always been taught to seat the butt of the rifle or shotgun firmly against my shoulder. This is also how I shoot my AR.

However I see something a little different when I see some others shooting an AR. They place the butt of the rifle on the collar where the position if the rifle is almost in the center of the body. Is this an acceptable stance and what are its advantages if any?

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[Sam1911]

If you watch high-power competition shooters using an AR-15/M-16, they use a very erect position with the gun high and rolled in toward their face.

Here's an article from an AMU member with a pic: http://readinghighpower.com/standing and trigger control, amu.pdf

If you watch 3-gun, USPSA, "action" or practical type competitors, they'll use a totally different stance, with the adjustable stock collapsed, the gun butt pulled in toward the center of the chest, and a very squared-up position, but somewhat crouched, like a boxer's stance -- that helps them move and make the fastest hits possible.

Neither of those looks exactly like the "traditional" rifle stance everyone learned back in the old days.

 

[MrCleanOK]

As Sam described, there are more than one shooting position in which it's acceptable to move the butt of the stock closer in towards the centerline of your body. This is done to make the rifle fit into the geometry of the stances, which have one specific purpose or another. Speaking generally, putting the rifle in your chest like this moves the rifle to your face, instead of your face to the rifle.

 

[Sam1911]

Yes. I've watched an AMU video where the shooter actually rolled the rifle way out of plumb -- probably nearly 45 deg. -- toward his face in order to keep his head erect.

The go-fast types are just relocating the whole gun toward their centerline.

Both of these work with small, intermediate-caliber carbines.

Neither of them is probably a really good idea with something like an '03A3.

However, I do recall my Dad telling me that his Army riflery instructors were teaching an off-hand position with the rifle very high on the shoulder (like the point of the butt just about in the hollow of the collar bone) back in the '60s -- with an M1 Garand! ('Course that lovely gas action takes some of the wallop out of it.)

 

[erict]

I see a few people practice this way for "tactical" shooting as well. Shooting with a more forward facing stance and tucking the elbows in so they're not leaving holes in their body armor (armpits, sides, etc.)

 

[browneu]

Thank you for the replies. The first time I noticed this style of shooting was in a movie, Battle Los Angeles. The marines held the rifles very close to the center of their bodies and high on the shoulder. I my rifle this way and it did make it easier to pick up a target through the sights.

I thought it was Hollywood making something up and then I noticed it with others as well and wondered if its a viable shooting stance. I'm taking a defensive carbine class Saturday. Lets see if they teach this stance.

It just goes to show that one should take classes regardless of how much experience they have as stances and styles can improve and change.

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[erict]

Yup, and .223 has very light recoil. Partner that with the much shorter collapseable stock and lighter weight that the AR gives you vs. most rifles........ it makes pretty good sense really.

 

[WNTFW]

On full auto it helps keep some weapons on target. The other thing I here is when wearing body armor it is "Safer".

I have not a full auto m16 though.

I did see a difference on the MP5 and UMP45

 

[Cosmoline]

with the adjustable stock collapsed, the gun butt pulled in toward the center of the chest, and a very squared-up position, but somewhat crouched, like a boxer's stance

I've been playing around with the stance based on some training videos from Magpul. As I understand it, the stance is based on stances developed for shooting SMG's back in the day. It isn't just a matter of moving the carbine closer to the COM, it's part of a whole new posture. Like some combat handgun stances, the shooter stands with knees bent, back tilted forward at the hips and weight on the balls of the feet. This helps absorb recoil and allow for fast changes and movement.

The other stance mentioned, from that film about the aliens, may be more of a Hollywood stance designed to keep the actor's faces up and in the camera shot.