Squatting Position?

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Cosmoline

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After years of just doing bench and off-hand, I've been trying to get back to basics and re-learn the elementary shooting positions. I've run across a position I never learned--shooting from a squat. My efforts at it so far have been less than successful. I'm used to squatting to pick things up, clean the floor, whatever, but it's not stable at all and I feel like I'm going to wobble backwards. Is it just a matter of more practice or is there a trick to it?
 
imagine squatting over a open latrine trench...that will keep you from falling over.

you have to position you center of gravity over your heels and sink into the ground to stabilize your position. if you squat like you're picking up something, you're up on the balls of your feet
 
I tend to kneel on one knee and put that foot back under my but, then lean back on my heel on that foot. If I'm on flat ground I lean forward resting my elbow on the forward knee.
 
9mm--is it kosher to be using the weight of the rifle as a counterbalance? I have been doing that but something tells me it's probably not the way you're supposed to.
 
You want to stay on the heels of your feet. Take a look at how an Olympic weight lifter does a squat. They align their body in such a way that they're balanced through the center line. You'll need to maintain a good arch through the lumbar region of your back, and keep a tight core for it to work, I'm thinking.

Take a look at this diagram

Here's a link to an explanatory video showing how to execute an exercise called the "air squat." Add a rifle, and I think you've got Rice Paddy Prone.

Air Squat Demo video. (there is obnoxious music, but all of the information is printed on screen, so just turn the volume off.)

Why squat...? Unless your 'going', at the open latrine!
Click to expand...

Supposedly the position came out of the Vietnam War, where VC would assume a squatting position when shooting a rifle in a place where you couldn't sit or go prone, such as a flooded rice field.
 
^^^
that's the way it wa taught to me too

i was taught the use of the squat was to gain elevation when surrounding terrain was too tall for kneeling. this was back in the 70's
 
I suppose that squatting might be useful for an opportunistic shot, like you see a deer walkikng by so you drop to a squat to avoid being seen. However, that wouldn't be a long-range shot.

The "sumo" position is the most stable squat position, BTW. Training with weight (can be almost anything, not necessarily a barbell) will build strength and endurance. Flexibility is important, too.

It is inevitable that the rifle, or anything else you hold, will change your center of gravity. However, you can position yourself so that this is minimized. As others have said, weight goes on the heels. It is a natural impulse to shift towards the toes, so most people have to consciously weight the heels.

One of my legs is 3/8" longer than the other. After I discovered this, I have been able to gain a lot more stability in squat positions.

The Gary Gray Squat Matrix is an excellent way to build strength and stability, BTW.
 
I like the idea of the sumo squat. There's a sport I could actually excel at ;-)

Actually I can really see an advantage to it if I can ever master it. Kneeling is great but takes a little shuffling esp on uneven vegetation-covered ground. By that time my shot may well be gone or worse yet I'm likely to crumple branches and alert it. Off hand is fast but wobbly, and in my experience this wobble is ten times worse when you're breathing hard with a pumping heart. A tree can be used as a brace but again takes time to set up. Prone is the most stable of all but drops you way too low in the loam and undergrowth to be practical unless you're shooting at moles.

That's why I'm thinking the squat is a good position. Very fast to deploy, more stable than off-hand and requires no contact with the ground other than your feet.
 
In Southwestern Montana where it's been grazed a lot, there are these strange cactus plants. Imagine a barrel cactus, but a flat sheet on the ground.

It REALLY SUCKS to kneel down to take a shot, and find your knee in one of those. Squatting could indeed be a good position.:)
 
Supposedly the position came out of the Vietnam War, where VC would assume a squatting position when shooting a rifle in a place where you couldn't sit or go prone, such as a flooded rice field.
Click to expand...
The squat was taught well before the Viet Nam War. Originally, it was to be used in a CBR situation where the ground might be chemically contaminated, and contact with the ground was to be avoided. It really only makes sense when you don't want to contact the ground. It was never used in competition shooting.
 
Try turning your toes outward before you squat down. Not ideal if you will lift anything but it will help you here. With your feet parallel you have good stability in one direction but if you turn them out you will have better stability in two directions.

Also remember to keep your feet as wide apart as you can without discomfort in your hips.

I imagine this is how you are doing it, but make sure you let your weight all the way down until you are resting completely on your legs. If you are supporting any weight with your quads they will probably start shaking in short order (depending on your level of fitness).

Last thing, push your hips backward before you squat down, this will help keep your back straighter and your weight centered over your heels.

Good luck and remember, flexibility is your friend!
 
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