Questions about rifle shooting

C

CMichael

New member
I got my first rifle.

It's a S&W M&P Model 15 AR with an EOtech site

AR5.jpg


AR6.jpg


I have been researching online as far as firing accurately.

I am still having trouble firing accurately at even 20 yards.

Any suggestions or pointers?

I probably should get a sling

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
 
Wow almost 1500 post's here and this is your first rifle huh? Cool buddy, let's see, your probably shooting this rifle offhand.? It don't look like it's very heavy,, are you getting the same sight picture every shot? What about trigger pull, are you jerking it or squeezing it? Do you have a fairly steady position before you take the shot? I'd go through the hole breathing thing, but it sounds like more than a breath control thing. Look at your targets bullseye and put a bullet through it.. Concentration, and alot of dry firing to practice sight alignment and breathe control and trigger squeeze go's a long ways man. be patient and be steady shoot through the bull.:)
 
AR's are a pain to sight in, because the sight is about 2.5 inches above the bore.

But as I re-read your post - maybe that is not your question ...

Is it a red dot sight? How big is the dot? 2 MOA or more??

Lets see, 2 MOA at 25 yards gives a .5" circle on the target. Not exactly precise.
 
Put a couple thousand rounds down range, experience will help. Practice a lot without live ammo just like hooligan said. I like to use snap caps so you can get used to the feel of the rounds cycling. Most importantly, enjoy! :D
 
Nice looking rifle CMichael.

When addressing rifle (pistol too) marksmanship, don't forget to review the fundamentals. 20 yards, 200 yards or further, they all apply for each and every shot.

1. Stance or position: Ballanced with skeletal support and a minimum of musculature effort. A steady weapon is the goal with a natural point of aim.
2. Grip: No need for a death grip on the weapon, just firm and comfortable. Your non firing hand is supportive and your firing hand controls the rifle.
3. Breathing: Keep your self oxygenated for best vision, concentration and reduction in muscle tremmors. When firing the actual shot, fire during your natural respatory pause if possibe.
4 & 5. Sight allignment and sight picture: With the Eotech and scope sights, the sight allignment is taken care off, but you still need a good sight picture or consistant point on the target to aim at.
6. Trigger contol: Your trigger pull should be seperate from the grip on your rifle. It is independent of your grip and should not disturb the lay of your rifle when you trip the sear. Don't ambush the target with a trigger jerk as your sight drifts by the bull, fire within your natural wobble area. A good stance helps to reduce this or as I say, the closer to the ground you are, the steadier you are.
7. Final focus and calling the shot: At the time of firing, you should know where that sight was pointed on the target and thus know where the bullet will hit. It's called "calling the shot." It's very critical in team matches in the coach-shooter dialog or the sniper-observer dialog in the field. By knowing where that muzzle was pointed at the instant of firing you can discount flyers from the group and strive to shrink the group down.
8. Follow through: Let the rifle recoil naturally and don't quit concentrating on the shot until the recoil is complete.

Remember, you apply each of these for each shot when shooting for maximum accuracy. If you're running and gunning while room clearing, well that's a different technique, but learn these first. How to get there without spending a fortune on ammo? Dry fire. Do this enough so that you start to apply the fundamentals automatically for each shot and then take that skill to the range and confirm it.

Oh, and first, check to see that your Eotech mount is firmly mounted and not loose!

Good luck.
 
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First of all, this whole thing doesn't seem to pass the smell test. Nearly 1500 posts and it's your first rifle? Okay, I'm going to take the bait.

I haven't installed a holographic device on any of my rifles, but I believe that they need to be zeroed in just like a scope. It isn't going to acquire a zero by osmosis. That seems like the obvious reason that you are not accurate at 20 yards. It could also be that you are too close to the target.

I've never started zeroing at 20 yards. When I have a new gun and/or scope I generally bore sight at 50 yards and get on target there and do the finishing touches at 100 yards.
 
You need guidence. The cheapest and some of the best would be to attend a CMP GSM Clinic. You're in MI there are several in that area that will be popping up as the weather warms up.

These Clinics are taught by CMP GSM Master Instructors, type you state in and find on in your area. Check back, as I said as weather warms up there will be more clinicsl

http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchUpcomingSearch.cgi

Also I'd recommend purchacing the USAMU Service Rifle Guide. Only $6.95 and writtern by the best shootes in the world.

https://estore.odcmp.com/store/cata...pmax=&note1=&note2=&note3=&note4=&note5=&max=
 
I'd say the first step would be to drop the holo sight and zero your irons at 50 yards. Get good shooting with them before you go back to the eotech.
 
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Looking at your rifle you probably need a riser to raise your eotech above your front site post, w/o a riser you are probably shooting high or your dot is showing up lower on your front site post?

Try just your iron sights and see how that works for you,I really think the eotech's giving you problems w/o the riser.
As others have said practice practice practice and evaluate your targets.
Good Luck
 
Also when sighting in any type of sights the best way is to find a stable bench or other solid shooting platform along with a few sandbags,make sure you're zeroed in then work on free hand shooting techniques.
 
I suggest you get back to the basics of good marksmanship and consider the following four principles:

1. The weapon should point naturally at the target without undue physical effort - which means you arms shouldn't be influencing where it is pointing; move your whole body and relax with your eyes shut, when you open them the rifle should still be aiming at the target.

2. The position and hold of the rifle must be good enough to support the weapon - most people are trained to shoot rifles from the prone position, probably with their arm against a sandbag to steady it. Hold your rifle firmly but not too tight, as it may induce a slight tremble in your hands.

3. Sight allignment must be correct - take off the optical sight and learn to shoot with iron sights first; learn what the sight picture should be like and have about 2 inches eye relief (i.e. the distance from your eye to the rearsight aperture). Our eye can only focus on one thing at a time, so focus on the foresight and your eye will automatically centre itself on the rearsight aperture - you'll probably see the target as slightly out of focus.

4. Shot Release and Follow Through - learn to steady your breathing and keep it slow and deep; we learn to shoot in cycles of breathing and you will see your sights rising and falling as you breath - it's normal. Think in 3s - breath normally 3x which is your preparation to fire, in the next 3 breaths take one normal breath and then a half breath and hold it for a second, which is when you fire, as your sight will now be on the point of aim. After you have fired, slowly exhale and then start the cycle again of 3 slow breaths.

Learn how your trigger feels; how much slack there is before you feel it break and use the sensitive tip of your finger on it. When you start the cycle of 3 breaths during which you are going to fire, take up the slack in the trigger slowly and then squeeze consistently to release the shot. Hold the trigger squeezed as you exhale and then release it; breath again and start your cycle of 3 breaths in readiness to fire again.


Learn to shoot in fives to start with and have someone next to you to coach you; in the beginning it as all about 'grouping' shots. Shoot 5 rounds and then go for a look; you can start at 30 metres so you don't have far to walk, but your aim should be to learn to group consistently at 100 metres. When you can group consistently on the target, adjust your sights to zero them - you may wish to shoot 'point of aim = point of impact' at 100 metres.

The shape of your group will tell you a lot about your shooting; for example a vertical line of shots may indicate the butt is slipping in your shoulder. This is why it's useful to have someone there to coach you and correct your mistakes - it's a new skill and if you learn the right way it will stay with you.

You may find (to save ammunition) that boresighting your rifle before you start shooting will improve your morale, because you'll be on the target straight away. There are even optical devices (collimators) that do this for you.

Happy shooting.
 
utoob Fundamentals of Rifle Marksmanship Part 1 & Part 2

This is a Marine Corps training video from 1999. This might be a good place to start.
 
What exactly don't you believe?
Click to expand...

Ya don't think it's strange that someone could have 1500 post on a gun related sight and not know the basics of sighting in and using a gun?
I do. Someone with 1 post, or 10 posts, even 100 posts I could understand. What have you been posting about?

LK
 
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