Shooting Technique?

[Utah Shooter]

I am sure there are some good reads out there concerining this. I however cannot find them and was wondering if someone could please point me in the right direction.

Shooting an AR at 100 yards with a scope if that matters.

 

[Terry]

You need to be more specific. What type of shooting? Benchrest, Prone, etc.

 

[Utah Shooter]

Bench for the most part but everything really. I would assume technique can help with anything. Breathing, approach, thought, what to focus on through the scope, does aim small miss small work? Things of that nature.

 

[Terry]

If you have access to them try shooting off bi-pod, sand bags, and a front rest and rear bag. Try different holds.

Go to Youtube and search there for video.

Terry

 

[Utah Shooter]

I have. Not to sound rude. I am not just trying to hold it with one hand while balanced on one foot.

I am looking for something a bit better than the obvious.

I know that there are some good readings (or would at least hope so) out there I just cannot find them. That is why I am here. That is why I started out with I cannot find them.

Direction to finding them or some personal advise that can go further than the obvious would help.

I did not ask here for someone to tell me to go try and find it there. Asking for some direct knowledge.

 

[Terry]

Easy

When you make a post you know exactly what you want. That doesn't mean we do.

I use Youtube because I can watch them do what I want to do. I find watching someone do it helpful.

To be specific when I shoot an AR I use a front rest and rear bag. I use the wrap around style holding only the rear of the gun. I start with a light hold. The targets I use have cross hairs on them. I align the cross hairs on my scope with those on the target.

If you have specific questions the kind folks here will answer them. Don't get angry, just keep communicating until we understand what you want.

 

[Terry]

Try these located on this site...

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/category/shooting-skills/

 

[jbpmidas]

Focus on the reticle!

 

[Utah Shooter]

Try these located on this site...

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/category/shooting-skills/

Thank you. Something that I have never thought about. I do not mean to be arguementative, jumpy nor angry.

Just think that bags and ways to ballance a rifle would be just about the bare minimum one should know. Just like looking through a reticle.

I have looked at youtube and read some good things here on the sight but none that really state shooting techniques.

Where did anyone here learn or read about proper breathing, approach, thought, what to focus on through the scope, does aim small miss small work? Things of that nature.

 

[BoydAllen]

Pick a shooting situation that you would like help with. It seems to me that your questions are too general. What kind of equipment do you use, and what accuracy are you currently getting.

 

[K22]

Get the US Army's markmanship manual - use to be free - Contact Fort Benning, GA, Army Marksmanship Unit.

In my opinion its the best manual ever written on the fundamentals of shooting.

 

[Utah Shooter]

Pick a shooting situation that you would like help with. It seems to me that your questions are too general. What kind of equipment do you use, and what accuracy are you currently getting.

Punching paper at 100 yards. Predator Pursuit RRA with a 6-18x40 scope. Currently getting .127-1.00 5 shot groups.

Situation= Can shoot a group of .127 one day and with the same load a month later shoot 1.00 5 shot groups with the exact same loads.

Shooting technique or as K22 says fundamentals.

Sorry guys. I do not know how to better ask the question. I am no genius by any means. However do not see what is so hard about the question. Shooting technique(s)?

What do you do to get the same results every time? I can tell you from experience it is not just the loads.

 

[BoydAllen]

Look this over. You might get a couple of ideas. http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek090.html
What sort of ammo are you shooting? How are you resting and holding the rifle?
Do you have any wind flags? To shoot small consistently you will need something to look at what the wind is doing.

 

[jbpmidas]

Some days I do better than others! I only hope I figure out my bad days before I waste too much time and ammo.

It could be the ammo. If the temperature is a lot different on the .127 day and the 1.00 day, the ammo may be the issue.

 

[Forum Boss]

As noted, in the article Boyd lists above, if you want to improve accuracy with an AR shot from the bench you should immediately get a front sled and the rear bag rider. I can guarantee these simple "add-ons" will make a huge difference in the gun's manners. Reducing the rock and roll will cut your groups, and also help you concentrate on keep the gun steady, having an absolutely still reticle, and a smooth follow-through.

After a good cleaning rod and rod guide, I think the sled/bag-rider are probably the most beneficial accessories you can buy for your AR.

 

[Shynloco]

Some days I do better than others! I only hope I figure out my bad days before I waste too much time and ammo.

It could be the ammo. If the temperature is a lot different on the .127 day and the 1.00 day, the ammo may be the issue.

IMHO, welcome to exactly what happens to all of us,,..good days and bad days. I've concluded that after a while, that each of us has developed a comfortable and accurate shooting "technique" that fits US. The rest is all in our heads and how good the equipment is we are using. That kinda spread is irritating as heck, but not surprising. Like it or not, variables of nature alone is something we fight each time we dit down to a bench to shoot. Some days Mother Nature is nice to us and some days not so much. And then theres the days when we set up and forget the minor details that helped us shoot those .100+ and that is proven out by the 1.00+ that we find ourselves shooting. For bench shooting, if you rifle isn't set just right, you are fighting the difference between a potential .100 and .150 and more. It is the little things that make such a difference because even with the best stuff made, if you don't set it right FOR YOUR SHOOTING, lesser than the rifle's capabilities shows up in your groups.

Like has already been said, gotta have a good solid front rest and rear bag. Your line of sight and adjustments for alignment affect the results. Trigger control and "squeezing" off a round make a world of difference. I see guys pulling the trigger all the time, but they aren't exactly "squeezing the round off." Stopping to breath momentarily before squeezing without feeling like someone took your breath away is a minor thought, but how many folks don't even think about it? So many little things make the difference between great shooting and just shootin. Takes time and doesn't happen overnight. Like someone else suggested, might be worth it to take a look at the Army Marksman Manual that is a great reference. Beyond following the basics, gotta develop yoiur own "feel" to make things happen for the best. Also need to be AWARE when things aren't right in every aspect that you've developed that works for you. That alone drives me nuts after I laid down several groups, only to remember I screwed up during set up and I haven't set my rifle and rest in a position for best alignment and even recoil, noting the correct distance FOR ME between the front and rear bags. Each of those things makes a difference, not to mention what Mother Nature might throw in for fun. Just a few thoughts to consider.

 

[matticus0314]

I am no expert but this is what I normally am thinking about when I squeeze the trigger.
When I have a front and rear bag on a bench I usually put my left hand on the scope with enough down pressure to eliminate movement caused by my breathing. I do not think this is the way someone will train you to shoot but for me it has produced smaller groups then not touching the rifle. I try to slow my breathing down with long consistent breaths. I try to take the shot on an exhale but find it very easy to inhale and then take it while holding my breath for a brief second.
Shooting off a bipod I have thought to be much harder to hold steady but I do it quite a bit for coyote and PD practice( unless I am doing load development). I do not have many pointers for off a bipod but I will tell you that if you figure out what works for you off a bipod it will improve your bench shooting.

Again I am not claiming any of this to be "the way to shoot", I am simply saying what I do. If anyone has any pointers or see any big no-nos that I am doing please speak up.

 

[Outrider27]

K22 made an excellent suggestion above about the military marksmanship manuals. The Army and Marine Corps have been there and put what they've learned into a number of training manuals.

To locate and download them, go to http://stevespages.com/page7c.htm and check through the lists and download what you need. You want to check out the "US Army Field Manuals" list, the "US Marine Corps Manuals" list and the "Other Publications" list. One of the more useful ones for long range shooters, even though it primarily addresses iron sight matches, is the US Army International Rifle Marksmanship Manual, listed in the "Other Publications" list (there is also a Basic Rifle Marksmanship manual there, too).

All together, among the three lists cited above, there are over a dozen rifle marksmanship manuals. When the .zip files are extracted, the manuals are in PDF format. Happy hunting!

 

[fdshuster]

By all means one of the flat handguard adapters (sleds) are a requirement if shooting off a front benchrest, like one of the Sinclairs, Bald Eagle, etc.

In the October 2001 issue of "Precision Shooting" magazine, page 71, M.L. McPherson did an article titled "A ? of Bag Placement and Gun Design". He conducted an experiment by shooting groups with the front bag at the very front of the handguard, in the center and all the way to the rear, almost touching the front of the lower receiver. In every case, the rear most position produced the smallest groups.

I tried it, and it works!

One of the captions under a picture reads, " Best groups fired from this Bushmaster Varmint model required careful front bag positioning so that receiver and magazine would just almost touch the front rest".

 

[Heavies]

Shooting technique should be very much like precision reloading. IMHO

In precision reloading one must strive for the utmost consistency. Reducing and controlling any and all varibles possible. Many do this with careful brass prep, powder charges weighed to the .010" of a grain, bullet sorting, load devlopment, primer selection, seat depth, detailed notes, and many other methods to produce the most accurate consistent ammunition possible.

I would suggest going about improving your shooing technique in this same manner. Most importantly keeping a detail notebook to jot down what worked and what did not work. Include items such as wind, lighting, body position, hold, etc. Once your desired results are achieved you can refer to your notes to return to the same position. Then practice the consistant release of the shot the same way every time you squeeze. Also, you can avoid the situation that did not work, reminded by your notes.

An other important thing is practice. One needs to practice as much as possible. I would suggest getting an affordable accurate .22lr, in a similar platform as your chosen rifle. Since you have an AR, perhaps a upper in .22lr. That way the stock and trigger are the same. The cheap cost of .22lr ammo will allow you to practice the fundementals and wind reading skill without breaking the pocket book, keep you from excessive wear on your centerfire, and provide fun and enjoyment while you practice.