Tried offhand shooting... need advice
- Thread starter Wanderling
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The air rifle is a useful tool because it allows you to shoot at home, even indoors if you have the space. Even if you only have 10 yards, you can shoot at a one inch circle, which translates to a 10" gong at 100 yards.
Note also that sometimes the point of impact is sometimes different when shooting standing versus off the bench. So at first, don't worry about hitting the target. Just keep your point of aim consistent and shoot for groups. Once your groups tighten, you'll see where your point of impact is in relation to your point of aim. From there, make your Kentucky windage adjustment to hit the target.
Note also that sometimes the point of impact is sometimes different when shooting standing versus off the bench. So at first, don't worry about hitting the target. Just keep your point of aim consistent and shoot for groups. Once your groups tighten, you'll see where your point of impact is in relation to your point of aim. From there, make your Kentucky windage adjustment to hit the target.
The Earl o Sammich
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I've never heard it put that way but the pile of bones thing does strike a cord. Stand erect, chest up stomach in and face off at a 45 degree angle to your left. Keep your back bone straight. Pay attention to your head and upper body and how stable it is. Now let your hips slide forward and your shoulders slump. Lean back just a tad. Basically bad posture but try to relax as much as you can while still standing. Keep the weight equal on the balls/heels of your feet. That's the posture you want for shooting off hand.
somethingbenign
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When I transitioned from playing paintball to real steel I got a bunch of weird looks for my form off hand shooting both pistol and rifle. I'd get guys trying to correct me on stance and grip but once they saw what I put on paper they stopped giving advice. Apparently all the "wrong" habits I had from the PB field are actually the correct ones according to everyone here, especially keeping the support hand closer instead of fully extended and keeping the elbows down. Nothing to add but a comical anecdote.
rb288
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- Jun 12, 2012
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- 193
I will add one comment....
build up strength in your upper body and arms.
I am mid sixties and had lost some muscle mass and strength, do to illness over the last few years.
I was unable to support a rifle stable enough to shoot offhand until I started weight training to gain back strength.
It made all the difference.
I'm not talking massive weight bulking up, just working with 10 or 20 lbs. regularly.
build up strength in your upper body and arms.
I am mid sixties and had lost some muscle mass and strength, do to illness over the last few years.
I was unable to support a rifle stable enough to shoot offhand until I started weight training to gain back strength.
It made all the difference.
I'm not talking massive weight bulking up, just working with 10 or 20 lbs. regularly.
30Cal
Member
Get your NPA. And don't accept a bad shot. That's about it. Practice helps.
entropy
Member
Dime drills.
1911 guy
Member
I'm going to compile everything I know about offhand shooting into a series of points. Most of it you've heard before, the trick is doing EVERYTHING on this list EVERY TIME you press the trigger.
Natural point of aim. If you're fighting the rifle, you're going to miss. Period. Arguing with me won't change physics.
Nobody is comfortable holding a rifle all day by muscle support only. Nobody. Not even the big guys in speedos who shoot up steroids. A couple minutes, sure. After that, you get wobbles.
Which means get some bone under that rifle. Offhand, that means getting your left elbow under the rifle and allowing your skeletal structure to bear a lot of the weight.
Stand upright. Leaning forward or backward means your core muscles are constantly moving to keep you balanced. No bueno. Nicht gut. Don't do that. Stand up straight.
Right elbow (assuming you're right handed) parallel to the ground. This distributes weight, takes strain off your rib cage and as an added bonus changes the angle of your finger to wrist when pulling the trigger. You can buy me a beer later.
Focus on the front sight. If using a scope, treat the reticle like a front sight. The bullet is going wherever that front sight goes. Pay attention to it.
Consistent cheek weld. Mount the rifle the same way every time. Front sight, rear sight and right eyeball must be in the same position every time for repeatable accuracy. Yes, it matters with scopes, too. With AR type rifles, good cheek weld is usually found by placing the toe of the stock in the shoulder pocket, raising the stock comb to eye level. Move the rifle to fit you, do not contort yourself to the rifle.
Use your lungs to control elevation. Inhaling and exhaling should move the front sight up and down in a line through the target. If not, your NPOA is wrong, move your feet.
Take three deep breaths. Partially exhale the third. Stop exhaling when the front sight is on target. Begin slow, constant press of the trigger. If your eyes begin to blur due to lack of oxygen, scrub the shot and start over.
Natural point of aim. If you're fighting the rifle, you're going to miss. Period. Arguing with me won't change physics.
Nobody is comfortable holding a rifle all day by muscle support only. Nobody. Not even the big guys in speedos who shoot up steroids. A couple minutes, sure. After that, you get wobbles.
Which means get some bone under that rifle. Offhand, that means getting your left elbow under the rifle and allowing your skeletal structure to bear a lot of the weight.
Stand upright. Leaning forward or backward means your core muscles are constantly moving to keep you balanced. No bueno. Nicht gut. Don't do that. Stand up straight.
Right elbow (assuming you're right handed) parallel to the ground. This distributes weight, takes strain off your rib cage and as an added bonus changes the angle of your finger to wrist when pulling the trigger. You can buy me a beer later.
Focus on the front sight. If using a scope, treat the reticle like a front sight. The bullet is going wherever that front sight goes. Pay attention to it.
Consistent cheek weld. Mount the rifle the same way every time. Front sight, rear sight and right eyeball must be in the same position every time for repeatable accuracy. Yes, it matters with scopes, too. With AR type rifles, good cheek weld is usually found by placing the toe of the stock in the shoulder pocket, raising the stock comb to eye level. Move the rifle to fit you, do not contort yourself to the rifle.
Use your lungs to control elevation. Inhaling and exhaling should move the front sight up and down in a line through the target. If not, your NPOA is wrong, move your feet.
Take three deep breaths. Partially exhale the third. Stop exhaling when the front sight is on target. Begin slow, constant press of the trigger. If your eyes begin to blur due to lack of oxygen, scrub the shot and start over.
entropy
Member
This is all good advice for shooting smallbore and .223 for target competition. If he wanted to know how to fire a .30-06 standing shooting at a deer, not good advice. So for the benefit of those who want to informally shoot offhand or hunt, I will go over that. I teach both positions (Field and Competition) for 4-H Shooting Sports. (.22 and Air Rifle)
For a right handed shooter, stand with the left foot toward the target, right foot shoulder-width apart pointing at a 45 degree right angle to the right, body bladed at a 45 degree angle. Bend knees and lean the upper body forward; this is the part most shooters get wrong. You don't have to lean way, way forward, like some Trap shooters do, but leaning forward does two things; Tightens the pectoral muscle and makes it a built-in recoil pad, and allows faster recovery from recoil for follow-up shots. The butt is placed in the 'pocket' which is the area of the shoulder where the pectoral muscle sits- too far in, and it sits on the collarbone, too far out and it sits on the joint itself; both are painful with high-power rounds, and while not so with.22's and .223's, it still is not as solid a contact surface. The right arm should be out at an angle that is comfortable; I find that for me, any angle below 45 degrees results in the pectoral not contracting, and a resultant 'mushy' pocket. The left arm should be at a place on the forestock that is comfortable, and should be pushing firmly back into the shoulder. The rest of it 1911 guy posted, from "Focus on the front sight." on down. Good luck, and good shooting.
For a right handed shooter, stand with the left foot toward the target, right foot shoulder-width apart pointing at a 45 degree right angle to the right, body bladed at a 45 degree angle. Bend knees and lean the upper body forward; this is the part most shooters get wrong. You don't have to lean way, way forward, like some Trap shooters do, but leaning forward does two things; Tightens the pectoral muscle and makes it a built-in recoil pad, and allows faster recovery from recoil for follow-up shots. The butt is placed in the 'pocket' which is the area of the shoulder where the pectoral muscle sits- too far in, and it sits on the collarbone, too far out and it sits on the joint itself; both are painful with high-power rounds, and while not so with.22's and .223's, it still is not as solid a contact surface. The right arm should be out at an angle that is comfortable; I find that for me, any angle below 45 degrees results in the pectoral not contracting, and a resultant 'mushy' pocket. The left arm should be at a place on the forestock that is comfortable, and should be pushing firmly back into the shoulder. The rest of it 1911 guy posted, from "Focus on the front sight." on down. Good luck, and good shooting.
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