BroncoGlenn
New member
Tips For Improving Accuracy
Rifle
First things first - If you don't have a rifle you need to select one for your training. The make and model of the rifle are unimportant, you simply want the largest caliber you can find. A big bullet will punch a large hole in the target, making it easier to hit the 10 ring and thus giving you and edge in accuracy. Don't worry about recoil: you will have to learn to deal with it sometime and that time might as well be now. If your shoulder starts to hurt just bring along a pillow or two for padding. A semi-automatic rifle will also be beneficial since it will enable you to shoot more rapidly and thus more quickly learn to shoot correctly.
Ammunition
Use the highest velocity ammo available for your rifle. The faster the bullet travels, the closer to your point of aim it will hit the target.
Preparation
Before beginning a practice session you may find it beneficial to have a few beers to help clear your mind. Follow these with several cups of good strong coffee to make sure you are "sharp" on the line.
Sights
Iron sights are completely useless for learning to shoot. No accomplished marksmen use iron sights. You simply must have a scope. Now, when selecting a scope for your rifle keep in mind that the most important thing is the diameter of the lens. The bigger the better. Look for a telescopic sight with at least 60 mm optics.
Sight Picture
Iron sights (until you get a scope) -- You may have heard a famous piece of misinformation: that you should focus on the front sight. This is illogical. You are trying to hit a target, correct? So focus on the target! If you focus on the sights the target will be out of focus. How can you hope to hit something that is not in focus?
Telescopic sight -- Use the highest power magnification on the scope in all situations. 40X should be adequate. Pull the trigger at the instant the target swings through the scope's field of view.
Trigger Control
When the target is in your sights you need to pull the trigger as fast as possible before you lose the perfect sight picture. Yank the trigger back as hard and fast as you can. Use your entire arm and shoulder - and if possible the muscles in your back - to pull the trigger with the greatest possible speed. Don't worry about jerking the rifle off target: if you pull the trigger fast enough the bullet will have left the barrel before the rifle has a chance to move.
Breathing
You can't shoot accurately while breathing. Get a lungfull of air and hold it until you have fired the shot. Don't breathe until you pull the trigger. Champion marksmen don't breathe for the duration of an entire match.
Position and Stance
The goal of all positions is to provide a steady base for the rifle. So keep your body as rigid as possible. To accomplish this, simultaneously flex every single muscle in your body. Start with your feet, ankles, calves, thighs, and continue up your body until every muscle is at maximum tension. This technique will also aid in holding your breath.
Target Selection
Should you grow bored with punching holes in paper there are numerous other common objects which make fun and satisfying targets. You should select a fairly challenging target so that when you hit it, you will know that you did something right! An aspirin tablet at 200 yards is a good place to start.
Cleaning
Keeping your rifle clean is of paramount importance. The cleaner the better! First of all, forget those wimpy oil type solvents, they barely work at all. The best stuff is an acidic type drain cleaning liquid such as "Professional Strength Plumbers Drain Dissolver". Let it soak awhile for best results. Secondly, you really need to brush the bore thoroughly. Get yourself a really good cleaning rod and a stiff steel brush and run it through the barrel at least 20 times in each direction. For an even more thorough cleaning, remove the "T" handle from your cleaning rod and clamp the rod directly into the chuck of a power drill. Spin the rod and brush at maximum speed with the drill and run it through the barrel a couple of dozen times to make sure you've got all the junk out of the barrel. Don't worry about the sparks.
There you have it! If you've read these tips and know what to do with them you are well on your way to becoming an expert marksman!
Rifle
First things first - If you don't have a rifle you need to select one for your training. The make and model of the rifle are unimportant, you simply want the largest caliber you can find. A big bullet will punch a large hole in the target, making it easier to hit the 10 ring and thus giving you and edge in accuracy. Don't worry about recoil: you will have to learn to deal with it sometime and that time might as well be now. If your shoulder starts to hurt just bring along a pillow or two for padding. A semi-automatic rifle will also be beneficial since it will enable you to shoot more rapidly and thus more quickly learn to shoot correctly.
Ammunition
Use the highest velocity ammo available for your rifle. The faster the bullet travels, the closer to your point of aim it will hit the target.
Preparation
Before beginning a practice session you may find it beneficial to have a few beers to help clear your mind. Follow these with several cups of good strong coffee to make sure you are "sharp" on the line.
Sights
Iron sights are completely useless for learning to shoot. No accomplished marksmen use iron sights. You simply must have a scope. Now, when selecting a scope for your rifle keep in mind that the most important thing is the diameter of the lens. The bigger the better. Look for a telescopic sight with at least 60 mm optics.
Sight Picture
Iron sights (until you get a scope) -- You may have heard a famous piece of misinformation: that you should focus on the front sight. This is illogical. You are trying to hit a target, correct? So focus on the target! If you focus on the sights the target will be out of focus. How can you hope to hit something that is not in focus?
Telescopic sight -- Use the highest power magnification on the scope in all situations. 40X should be adequate. Pull the trigger at the instant the target swings through the scope's field of view.
Trigger Control
When the target is in your sights you need to pull the trigger as fast as possible before you lose the perfect sight picture. Yank the trigger back as hard and fast as you can. Use your entire arm and shoulder - and if possible the muscles in your back - to pull the trigger with the greatest possible speed. Don't worry about jerking the rifle off target: if you pull the trigger fast enough the bullet will have left the barrel before the rifle has a chance to move.
Breathing
You can't shoot accurately while breathing. Get a lungfull of air and hold it until you have fired the shot. Don't breathe until you pull the trigger. Champion marksmen don't breathe for the duration of an entire match.
Position and Stance
The goal of all positions is to provide a steady base for the rifle. So keep your body as rigid as possible. To accomplish this, simultaneously flex every single muscle in your body. Start with your feet, ankles, calves, thighs, and continue up your body until every muscle is at maximum tension. This technique will also aid in holding your breath.
Target Selection
Should you grow bored with punching holes in paper there are numerous other common objects which make fun and satisfying targets. You should select a fairly challenging target so that when you hit it, you will know that you did something right! An aspirin tablet at 200 yards is a good place to start.
Cleaning
Keeping your rifle clean is of paramount importance. The cleaner the better! First of all, forget those wimpy oil type solvents, they barely work at all. The best stuff is an acidic type drain cleaning liquid such as "Professional Strength Plumbers Drain Dissolver". Let it soak awhile for best results. Secondly, you really need to brush the bore thoroughly. Get yourself a really good cleaning rod and a stiff steel brush and run it through the barrel at least 20 times in each direction. For an even more thorough cleaning, remove the "T" handle from your cleaning rod and clamp the rod directly into the chuck of a power drill. Spin the rod and brush at maximum speed with the drill and run it through the barrel a couple of dozen times to make sure you've got all the junk out of the barrel. Don't worry about the sparks.
There you have it! If you've read these tips and know what to do with them you are well on your way to becoming an expert marksman!
>>>>>>>>James L.