Some tips on how to become a more accurate shooter

[Flyingbullet]

Hi guys, I just wanted to know some tips on how to become a more accurate shot. I'm new to shooting high powered rifles. I am going on a deer hunting trip this season and want to be as accurate as possible... well just like everybody else! So what kind of tips do you guys have? Breathing techniques, ways of calming yourself? I shot my new Ruger American in 30-06 this week and for being my first time they were all in the kill zone of a deer at 200 yards but I would still like to be a little more accurate.

 

[kis2]

I know it sounds hokey, but you should read "the ultimate sniper" by john plaster. the first couple chapters are all about fundamental shooting and how to be accurate and precise. he also goes into different positions and techniques.

Worth a read!

Along with all that reading, I can honestly say one of the things that most improved my shooting was dry fire practice. lots of it.

 

[courtgreene]

making the shot count is CRITICAL, that's true, but a lot of people new to hunting spend a ton of time becoming a good shot (not a bad thing) and neglect learning the actual hunting part of it. So, don't forget to learn to move quietly, hold still, plan all your moves factoring wind direction, etc... As for your question, for accuracy that is practical for hunting scenarios, practice bringing your rifle into firing position at different positions. Do it on a deer stand, do it standing, do it sitting, do it on the ground, do it amongst trees (large and sapling). Why? Because often it's right before the shot that some one messes up and blows a hunt. They don't understand their rifle's length and bump something, move too quick, move so slow their hands are shaking by the time they get the rifle shouldered, scrape something with the butt of the gun, and on and on and on. Practice shouldering it over and over, so when you do it for real, it's routine. That will also make you more accurate, because you will practice it to the point that it's repeatable.

 

[velocette]

The best tip I could offer is that you find an Appleseed event and participate in it. They will teach you most of what you need to know to be a good rifleman.
http://appleseedshoot.blogspot.com/

I've attended two and they are very worthwhile. And cheap for what you get.

Roger

 

[jmorris]

I learned more from an old single shot Walther .22 than anything else. Wind and bullet drop effects at 300 are the same as the "big boys" out a lot further and you can practice a lot more for less money.

 

[jehu]

Once you have your good equipment sighted in and are confident in it's capability to be accurate then practice your shooting position and hold making sure you get behind the scope properly concentrating on the cross hairs while slowly squeezing the trigger. When hunting you most always have more time than you think to make the shot so take time to make sure you are behind the shot properly with good placement. This advise is for a shot from a rested position, walking and stalking and freehand shots require alot of practice with your rifle.

 

[Picher]

There are lots of things you need to learn to be a very good rifleman, but I'll try to cover a few here. (This will be for a right-handed person.)

First, the rifle should be mounted solidly against the shoulder and cheek. The right hand thumb can be over the tang or along the right side, whichever feels comfortable with that particular rifle. The trigger finger's first pad should be on the middle of the trigger and comfortable.

For bench shooting, the left hand might be used to hold the stock, to the rear of the rest, or on lighter-recoil rifles, squeezing the rear sandbag to make a solid rear rest point.

For offhand shooting, the left hand can be placed wherever might be comfortable for you with that rifle, depending on weight, stock configuration, etc. I vary my left arm position from nearly straight out to back where my left elbow touches my ribs for support, but don't often rest the forend on my finger tips, so the left hand is usually forward of the receiver.

Sighting is important, whether using iron sights or scope. Open iron sights are the most difficult to learn, peep sights are easier, and properly-mounted low to moderate power scopes the easiest for accurate shooting in most light conditions and target shapes.

Breathing is over-rated, but very necessary. I generally take normal breaths and hold for the last few seconds before trigger pressing. Breath control is more important in offhand shooting. It's necessary to store more oxygen, so the rifle can be held for a few seconds longer than in other positions.

Trigger pressing should be, for most informal shooting, a continuous, but a relatively slow and deliberate action, concentrating on slowly increasing the pressure until the rifle fires. Offhand target shooting requires a different press, however. In that position, it's impossible to hold the rifle perfectly still, so concentrating on the center of the target, press the trigger carefully as the sights move toward the center, then hold as it passes, then start squeezing as it returns to the center. This position is the most difficult, so more time needs to be spent practicing holds and dry-firing (with dummy rounds to protect the mechanism).

Good luck with your shooting. As you become more proficient, you'll need to get more shooting tips from fellow shooters.

 

[HKGuns]

Breath control, I'll assume you know your sights and/or scope.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

practice, practice, practice.....

 

[Robert101]

Dry fire, dry fire, dry fire. Can be done at home. Watch and call your shots.

 

[sage5907]

Even with a new rifle you have to get the bugs out of it. Your rifle has a recoil pad and that's a good start. Make sure that you mount your scope far enough back so you can shoot with a heavy coat like you'll be wearing during hunting season. You don't want to have to crawl the stock forward to see the sight picture. If the trigger pull is too heavy or you can feel the trigger move before the rifle fires you need to get the trigger adjusted. To shoot acurately you need to be able to fire the rifle without flinching. Buy 150 grain bullets to hunt because recoil is lighter than with heavier bullets. If you're buying ammo off the shelf make sure to stick with one brand and one bullet weight. If you think the recoil is too heavy and you handload you can start practicing with 48 or 49 grains of IMR 4064 with a magnum primer and 150 grain bullets. It's a mild load but strong enough to kill a deer cleanly. Like Robert101 says, be able to call your shots. In other words, when the rifle fires remember the sight picture and check to see if the hole in the target is where you were looking. In most hunting situation it's hard to hold the rifle completely still when you fire. The trick is to put pressure on the trigger and finish the squeeze when the sight picture is right. BW

 

[mac66]

I second the Appleseed recomendation. It is a great way to learn to. Not only teaches prone, sitting and standing positions but 6 steps to firing a shot and MOA. Lots of fun as well.

 

[1948CJ2A]

For me its all about breathing techniques.

 

[MrBorland]

Good suggestions so far. I'm in a similar situation as the OP - my rifle skills have lagged behind my handgun skills, so I've been working on them a bit. Obviously, I'm no expert, but in case it gives you some ideas, here's what I've been doing:

1. Equipment: Make sure the rifle is up to the task. I figure my rifle (a CZ550) doesn't have to be über expensive for what I need, but it does have to be up to snuff. That means screws that are consistently tightened down, and ammo it likes. The scope has to track well, and have a consistent zero, and it ought to have a good trigger. A good bedding job wouldn't hurt, either. I sprung for a decent leather military sling, too.

2. Rather than staying glued to the bench, I'm working on my field positions, including seated, kneeling, prone (using the sling) and standing.

3. I'm trying to get a feel for the bullet's ballistics, so I can do all the above while varying distance.

4. I shoot my .22LR (also a CZ) a LOT when practicing the above.

5. I dry fire at home from field positions to practice trigger control & bolt technique.

6. I also have a decent (but also not über expensive) air rifle, so I can live fire in my backyard when I want something beyond dry fire.

7. I'm planning (haven't had the chance to do it yet) on using my .22 in CMP Rimfire Sporter matches in the area. Whatever .22 you've got, it's likely got a home in RS, and it's shot standing, seated and prone - the same positions I've been working on. As mentioned, an Appleseed event seems like a very good idea.

8. Here's a rifle technique blog I think is very helpful:

http://artoftherifle.blogspot.com/

 

[hang fire]

Whenever possible, always take the shot from rest. I carry a walking staff which doubles as a portable rest when standing or sitting.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Shoot, Shoot, shoot some more.
Reload, Shoot, shoot some more.
Reload, shoot more and more and more.

The more you shoot, the better you will get. I once had a Ruger Mini 14 that I put over 20,000 rounds through. With the original sights and ball ammo, I could hit just about anything offhand inside of 100 yards.

 

[nathan]

More ammo and range time.

 

[Captains1911]

Appleseed, the best thing a new rifle shooter could do.

 

[Skyshot]

We trained our kids this way, having a good place to shoot at several distances will help you. We would have the youngster turn his back not knowing where the target would be placed. In our case this could mean 25 yards out to 400 yards. So one of us would place the target which we would use mostly plastic milk jugs filled with water and another person would control the firearm and watch to make sure there was no peeking. After everyone is ready, we hand the firearm over to the shooter. He has 10 seconds to kneel, sit or go prone, release the safety, judge the distance and shoot.

 

[Brian Williams]

practice, practice, practice.....

This is not ok if you are doing it wrong, get training on how to do it right , then practice, practice, practice.....
Practice makes perfect is wrong
Perfect practice makes perfect