Tips on shooting that you have found

[Sniper4Life]

Just thinking that there needs to be a thread where you can post your tips for better shooting. I personaly am open to new things that will help make me a better shot.

One of the things that I have found, if shooting for groups, is to exhale completely instead of the normal half breathe before the shot.

Another is to try to get in the exact same position for everyshot.

So what have you found that helps your shooting?

 

[biggiesmalls]

line up front and back sights as you place the entire unit on target, and pull trigger when front sight becomes very clear.

 

[theken206]

consistancy is king

practice, practice, and practice somemore

 

[biggiesmalls]

stand closer to the target

 

[jeepmor]

Dry firing with an empty case placed on top of the gun helps illustrate to yourself if you have any herky jerky tendencies, and where in the trigger squeeze process.

Training targets help you understand what you are doing that is making you hit off center also.

 

[Smokehouse]

Keep the business end of the weapon pointed toward the target until it is empty.

 

[Cousin Mike]

If shooting for groups:

Never pick the exact moment you want the gun to go off... Apply steady pressure to the trigger and let every shot surprise you a little. If you pick the shot, you'll flinch....

If you don't see the fire when you shoot, you flinched...

 

[MikeJackmin]

The most important thing I've learned is that I flinch. An occasional empty shell in the chamber of the revolver I'm shooting is a good way to help control it.

I've also learned not to lean too hard on rifles when firing from a rest. They seem to shoot best when held firmly against the shoulder, but lightly everywhere else.

Peep sights are wonderful, especially after your eyes hit middle age.

When you are gripping a handgun, squeeze hard. If it moves around, the grips do not fit your hand.

A semi-auto rifle with an open action and a loaded magazine should never be leaned against anything. If it falls, the action can close and you've got a real hazard there.

 

[BigRobT]

Point shooting. I've become a much better shot after learning to point shoot. And then, practice, practice, practice!!

 

[Black Adder LXX]

Great article here:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/ayoob85.html

 

[boredelmo]

load one round in mag, rack/slide release, shoot.

after about 10 rounds, move up to 2 rounds in a mag. etc etc

 

[shooter503]

One of the things that I have found, if shooting for groups, is to exhale completely instead of the normal half breathe before the shot.

Another is to try to get in the exact same position for everyshot.

Sounds like great ideas for target shooting.

 

[DMK]

load one round in mag, rack/slide release, shoot.

after about 10 rounds, move up to 2 rounds in a mag. etc etc

What does that do for you?

 

[ZeSpectre]

Makes you slow down and concentrate. Makes you go through all of the mechanical motions each time.

Another good trick is to load random rounds and snap caps. You want to see evidence of a flinch or poor trigger control watch how the front sight jumps around when you pull the trigger on a snap cap unexpectedly (plus it's great practice for clearing drills).

 

[shooter503]

Sniper4life,

We need to clarify what kind of shooting you are referring to. Training for both target shooting and combat shooting have equal value. However, they have entirely different techniques. Tips for one discilpline would actually be adverse to the other.

 

[tinygnat219]

For pistol: lining up the sites and concentrating on that front one, trigger control is essential. SQUEEZE the trigger, don't jerk it.

BREATHE (Thanks Ze!)

 

[Feanaro]

Do what works.

Never forget this: you align your sights on the target and pull the trigger. Shooting is simple. Hard, but simple.

Plinking is fun but shooting with a definite goal is better practice, whether that means keeping all your shots inside the X ring at 25 yards or just feeling comfortable the whole time.

 

[lamazza]

Front sights and natural point of aim.
Line your sights up on target and then close your eyes for about 15 seconds. Open them and then see if you still on target. If you are on target,bring front sight into sharp focus-the target and rear sight should be hazy-them squeeze trigger.
If you are not on target adjust stance or grip until NPA stays in place.

 

[Black Majik]

*Prep the trigger (take up the slack), break the shot
*Sometimes taking up the slack, and slowly squeezing the trigger can still cause the shooter to anticipate the shot. You can "bump" the trigger by increasingly applying more and more pressure to the trigger until the hammer/striker falls. This will cause for the surprise shot and usually is dead on.
*During a draw, use a lower reference point to your intended target to pick up the front sight quicker as the gun is brought up to your line of sight.
*Learn the trigger mechanism. Learn the reset points on each pistol. See how much "room" you have for the DA shot
* Per above, prep the trigger on the 2nd half of the draw so when you're on target you can break the shot sooner.
*Use the pad of the index finger to pull the trigger.
* Don't drop the gun to waist level during reloads. Bring the gun straight back at line of sight level and cant, index the magazine and bring up for the reload.
*Short distances see what you can get away with for target acquisition. Have two targets at 7 yards, shoot two center of mass, then SNAP the gun to the 2nd target. Only thing is, you're not concentrating on the front sight, but instead the target. You'll see you can still make yourself stop at the right moment and make the shots relatively close to COM on the 2nd target. Key is to transition from front sight to target.
* Weak hand shooting, you can cant the gun and use dominant eye still to shoot.
*Double taps are almost worthless at anything past 10 yards. Practice controlled pairs instead. 2 sight pictures, 2 shots. Not 1 sight pictures, two shots.
*Weaver stance is difficult to shoot on the move. Range is limited to the side you favor.
*Surrender position, you can use your weakhand thumb as a reference point for where your front sight needs to be on target. Therefore, half the weakhand farther out in front of your stronghand during the draw. This helps with acquiring the front sight quicker to the target.
*You can never miss fast enough

 

[obxned]

Don't get stuck in the 7 to 25 yard rut. Your pistol can do the job at amazingly long ranges. Explore its potential. It's a big confidence builder to see that you are placing the majority of your rounds COM at 50 or 100 yards or more. It's a skill you will probably never need, but it's a good one to have in your tool box.

 

[10-Ring]

A few things helped me learn to shoot --
* Had a crappy 22lr wheelgun. The DA trigger was long & heavy but after mastering it, everything else I pick up isn't that bad
*I hear people say practice practice practice will get you a long way. My only correction to that is good quality practice, good quality practice, good quality practice will get you where you want to be sooner.
*Patience -- you're developing muscle memory & that is done w/ good technique and ALOT of repetition
* I had someone tell me to use smaller targets. He got me to concentrate more on the smaller target and to get my shots in a more precise location.
Good luck & have fun!!!

 

[Feanaro]

*I hear people say practice practice practice will get you a long way. My only correction to that is good quality practice, good quality practice, good quality practice will get you where you want to be sooner.

This is a point that bears repeating. Poor practice is worse than none. You will have to invest time and money into undoing the damage caused by bad practice.

 

[Trebor]

Proper trigger control is the heart of all shooting.

Use Zen when target shooting: Each shot is the only shot you are shooting. There is no "last shot." There is no "next shot." There is only the shot you are shooting right now.

 

[Dionysusigma]

When firing a rifle, the thumb (at least, mine ) on the strong hand should be parallel with the index finger, not perpendicular.

Was told this improves accuracy; I tried it once during a night of boredom with an empty rifle and Enemy At The Gates on TV. I used to have my thumb go over the stock, but whenever I did this, the rifle would twitch about 10 degrees counter-clock-wise. With my thumb on the same side of the stock as the rest of my hand, the rotation stopped completely.

Tried it out at the range. Suddenly I could actually maybe start to get close to what I was aiming at. Tried it the old way, pulled the trigger, and hit myself in the nose.

Haven't gone back since.

 

[SaMx]

Natural point of aim

stand so that the muzzle is naturally on the target. If you have to bring the sights on to the target your muscles have to work more and they shake just a little.

the best way to find NPA is to close your eyes and shoulder your rifle or bring your handgun up like you are aiming it, then open your eyes, and see where you are aiming. Then move you feet to bring the sights on target.