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Rebuilding Sling Prone Position

257Roberts

Hello folks, looking for recommendations on articles, books & references for rebuilding a match rifle slung prone position.

I've been away from the sport about 3-4 years with young kids underfoot. I am now trying to rededicate myself to highpower competition with a match rifle, mid range and long range prone to start with. I was previously qualified master long range, so I know I can do this, but my body has changed a bit as well as getting older.

Ive got two "new to me" guns, and RPA quadlock and a Winchester 70. Tried working with the RPA tonight with prone, starting from scratch, no sights, no stock adjustments. My left elbow hurts and I had a lot of left hand pressure. Just hurts all over quite frankly.

Before I ask what the heck I am doing wrong, I think the better question is, whats a good resource for building a prone position from scratch? I could benefit from a refresher anyways.
 
If you’ve been out for a while, it’s going to take some getting used to before it starts to feel comfortable again. I typically take off for about two months at the end of each season, and when I get back into the sling after that, I feel about how you’re describing for the first couple/few times. Some basic stretches of your back and shoulders can help speed it up. If you’re anything like me, by this time next week you’ll have forgotten all about it.

As to specific recommendations on position, there are a couple of books that I’d recommend. Nancy Tompkins’ “Prone and long range rifle shooting” is good and has a lot of pictures, as does “ways of the rifle”. Both would be good for general info. Do you have any high-level shooters in your area? Having someone actually look at what you are doing and make suggestions will go a lot further than reading. If you let us know what area you are in, maybe one of us will know someone who can help.

Good luck,
Erik
 
Some good initial comments. Scott & Germans web post was a good quick read.

I am in the quad cities, eastern Iowa. Used to shoot a lot at Van Meter, New Windsor, Eastern Nebraska etc. My goal is to hit some New Windsor, Milan, Barry Illinois and maybe more this year.

I remember reading in a book [maybe one of Tubbs or Zedikers] about step by step building a prone position. Can't remember what it was...
 
Getting back into it, is a matter of 'refreshing the muscle memory.' Getting into position and making adjustments for things that 'just don't feel right', will get you there. Having been there once, you will know when you have found it.
 
What are you using for a handstop? Use it more as a guide rather than a hard stop. And bring your non firing knee forward and roll more on your side to take pressure off your belly.
Move your hand around the radius of the bottom of the foreend with a straight wrist to find a comfortable spot. Try to keep your neck straight. Try to find a position that's comfortable, then you can make one that's durable.
On a tangent, if you look at how to set up a tubegun on the accurateshooter homepage it talks about rotating the handguard to find a comfortable handstop position.
 
German's article is one of my go-tos for rebuilding a prone position, or just as a starting point for setting up a new gun. In terms of books, I have both Ways of the Rifle and Nancy's Prone and Long Range Rifle Shooting on my shelf, but for pure position work I look to Rifle: Steps to Success by Launi Meili. It has some great step-by-step guides for where to start on all four positions, and it's less of a fire hose to drink from than I find Ways to be.
 
Plenty of good hipower shooters around Milan, IL. Easiest way really is to have someone work with you, look at it and make adjustments at the same time. I am in Des Moines, would be happy to help if you are planning to make any of the van meter matches.

I start by getting the length of pull correct first. Essentially can you grip the rifle with trigger hand without reaching, but a very natural length. Then with no sling set your support hand length so rifle comes up to the level in position, then attach sling so that is it doing the work. You want pressure of the handstop and buttplate to be roughly the same and a tight position is better than sloppy to be able to handle 22 shots straight. I find if you can stay in position the whole string you have a more consistent match but many are successful taking the rifle out of the shoulder each shot.

Try to get your ears as level as possible and being too low is bad as you look through your eyebrow.
 
As to your elbow hurting, I have added an elbow pads to my shooting. The constant movement from the rifles recoil against the texture of the mat was wearing a hole in my elbow. Watch other shooters at the line using them so decided to give it a try. Made shooting much more comfortable and a simple fix.
My only problem was finding pads that didn't look tactical. Seems the world has gone tactical.
 
257Roberts said:
Hello folks, looking for recommendations on articles, books & references for rebuilding a match rifle slung prone position.

I've been away from the sport about 3-4 years with young kids underfoot. I am now trying to rededicate myself to highpower competition with a match rifle, mid range and long range prone to start with. I was previously qualified master long range, so I know I can do this, but my body has changed a bit as well as getting older.

Ive got two "new to me" guns, and RPA quadlock and a Winchester 70. Tried working with the RPA tonight with prone, starting from scratch, no sights, no stock adjustments. My left elbow hurts and I had a lot of left hand pressure. Just hurts all over quite frankly.

Before I ask what the heck I am doing wrong, I think the better question is, whats a good resource for building a prone position from scratch? I could benefit from a refresher anyways.
Click to expand...

A lot of good reference material has been posted here to help you hone your prone rifle position. But, as you describe yourself, you just may be at a crossroads in your rifle competition life o_O? Proper positioning/gear can generally remedy the elbow pain and hand pressure, to some degree; or, one just has to accept that as a downside of prone rifle, and suck it up. Yet, it might be "body talk" to sway you away from continuing to allow a sling to support the weight of your rifle in lieu of using a bipod/front rest--rear bag combination to support the rifle :)...F-Class. With either discipline, your prusuit of prone positioning should not be unduly harmed, it's just that prone position technique is not as critical for F-Class. In my case, there is very little difference between my prone rifle and F-Class rifle positions, except in the later I do not have my sling-arm-elbow hardwired immediately under the rifle stock. Comfort galore. Age and change in body conformation, as you list, can drive one to some form of F-Class :oops:.

Dan
 
A few years away from a Grand Senior, over the years I went from XTC Service Rifle to Match Rifle to LR prone to F Class.

In every prone position there was body tension and discomfort (pain) somewhere, instructors said if your sling doesn’t hurt it isn’t tight enough. After a match I usually hurt in a variety of places for a bit. Although I shot very well to boot.

So, if you really want to shoot HP prone, little by little your body will acclimate itself to the muscle memory needed and the requirements of position shooting. You appear young enough to get your body in shape for that discipline. There are a number of shooters much older than I still strapping into a coat and sighting through irons.

I have moved on to FClass, it’s a challenge, my wind reading learned from prone pays off, precision is the name of the game as the rifle, load and shot execution must be consistent on that little target.

Whatever your chosen discipline, do it because you are enjoying what you are doing.
 
Some shooting talent has already responded to this. I would hit some our your local matches and talk with the better sling shooters. They will help you.

I use a pad for my elbow when training I. The house. Floors are not as forgiving as the grass and dirt on the firing line.
 
+1 for Ways of the Rifle. There is a LOT of info in there. Too much maybe, but the analysis of why things are the way they are is helpful to me. Granted, I kind of suck, so take that into account.
 
Erud said:
If you’ve been out for a while, it’s going to take some getting used to before it starts to feel comfortable again. I typically take off for about two months at the end of each season, and when I get back into the sling after that, I feel about how you’re describing for the first couple/few times. Some basic stretches of your back and shoulders can help speed it up. If you’re anything like me, by this time next week you’ll have forgotten all about it.

As to specific recommendations on position, there are a couple of books that I’d recommend. Nancy Tompkins’ “Prone and long range rifle shooting” is good and has a lot of pictures, as does “ways of the rifle”. Both would be good for general info. Do you have any high-level shooters in your area? Having someone actually look at what you are doing and make suggestions will go a lot further than reading. If you let us know what area you are in, maybe one of us will know someone who can help.

Good luck,
Erik
Click to expand...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0972254439/?tag=accuratescom-20

Written by a national champion long range and xcourse shooter!

The Amazon price is much to high. I think that Nancy sold her book directly.

51uoWQ0KUhL._SX352_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
 
Thanks folks for all the tips. Went and checked out a few readings and after many nights of monkeying with all kinds of stuff, I finally got it! Got older, body added many pounds, just a lot of differences. I ended up taking off the wide "heartbreaker" style double buckle sling and went back to a modified service rifle sling set up. Got her rock solid and feels pretty good. Been doing a lot of long duration prone holds. Feeling better every session.

Couple other questions Id like to ask you folks, just because Ive gotten some great feedback in this thread.

Slings: Is there a match style sling you all prefer? Ive been looking at some of the Kurt Thune offerings, but I am not sure whats all allowed by rules anymore. Are the Thunes worth the extra money?

Gloves/Mitts: I have two, a champions shooter mitt and a very old full finger glove. I have very stout sling pressure where it wraps around the support hand below the pinky. The full finger glove is a little longer there which helps, but I like the thick padding of the mitt. The mitt is just short, and the sling wants to ride below it, and above the jacket sleeve, making the sling hurt more than it should. Wondering if folks with similar issues might have some support hand gloves they would recommend?

Glasses: Oh dear lord, I know you are all sick of this one. I hate glasses!!! No, I understand the need, and they are valuable for protection. I fully support and understand that. But I hate wearing them. I have 20/20 vision or close, have never worn glasses, and RARELY wear sunglasses. They just annoy me for the most part, crap resting on my nose, rims blocking my peripheral vision, lenses fogging when I breathe and just hot in general. With the rule change, looks like I am going to have to find something. Where do I start?

Thanks for any further guidance! Lets pray we get some matches yet this year!
 
257Roberts said:
Are the Thunes worth the extra money?

Gloves/Mitts: .....Wondering if folks with similar issues might have some support hand gloves they would recommend?

Glasses: I hate glasses!!! Where do I start?
Click to expand...

The Thune sling is very good, it does not stretch, highly adjustable (and comfortable when you get everything else right).

Gloves/Mitts - yes, important but you may need to focus first on your handstop, get it wrong and it can be painful irrespective of the glove. This type is adjustable, fits the v between the thumb and first finger allows you to get the ball of your thumb and padded part of your palm in the right spot on the fore-end.
https://gehmann.com/english/products.php?id=262&kategorie=9


Glasses - for protection or focus (or both). Lots of choices but this cuts through all focus issues, just add the basis Gehman 510 iris to start with. Eye protection can then be addressed seperately (Uvex Genesis for example)

https://gehmann.com/english/products.php?id=1639
 
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