Shooting from a standing position, unsupported.

I've been told since I was a small kid,,,
To grip the rifle sling with your off hand,,,
Using it to pull the rifle snug into your shoulder.

When you shoot from a bench, or bipod, you dont use the bench or bipod to pull or push the rifle to your shoulder. You use your shooting hand.

Same thing in Off Hand. You non shooting hand is like the bench or bipod. The rifle rest on the hand.

When I mentioned not using a hard grip with the shooting hand on the pistol grip, I did memtion "firm Grip". Its this grip that pulls the rifle to the shoulder, but in doing so you dont have a hard grip which will interfere with trigger control.

To see what I mean, take a salt and pepper shaker. Draw a line on the table. Grip one of the shakers. Use your trigger finger to draw the second shaker down the like.

Grip the first shaker hard, and see how it disturbs the second shaker comeing straight down the line. Now loosen the grip a bit, you'll see its easier to keep the other shaker on the line.

You can still pull back the first shaker without a tight grip. The rifle is the same way.

Another test is to dry fire with a laser. (I'm a firm believer in laser sights for dry firing and training, both rifle and pistol). Steal your kids laser pointer (the one he uses to tormet the cat). Tape it to the from of the barrel.

Now as with the salt shakers, dry fire using a tight grip and watch what it does to the dot. Relax the grip and dry fire again. You'll see the difference. The harder you grip, the more it causes the trigger finger to move other then straight back.

Also pull the rifle into your shoulder without a hard grip, you can do it and still not interfer with the trigger control.
 
What would the score be like for the high power shooter if you took all those padded jackets,gloves using the magazine as a rest,sling or cradling rifle in palm of hand or their body as a rest for elbows.

Good Question: To come up with a good answer I ask that you check out the scores fired in NRA Light Rifle or CMP Sporting Rifle competition.

Jackets, gloves, slings, etc are not allowed. The rifle is still cradled in the palm of the hand.

The rifles you use are the same found in most of our closets. Typical light 22 hunting rifles.

Another good example is the CMP GSM Vintage rifle shooting. The CMP encourages shooters of vintage military rifles wear period gear. Field jackets, web gear, etc etc. If you watch many of these matches you'll see the same method being used.

I use to coach NG combat teams where they had to wear field gear during the matches. The position I descried worked there too.

I taught the same method in Sniper Schools too, both LE and military. Though offhand isn't encouraged in sniper activities, I believe its a valid tool that needs to be learned.
 
Kraigwy has it nailed.

We were taught the same way in my marksmanship course in college. The guy that taught us to do it that way was 70+ years old...but it works. It seemed counter intuitive at first, but 90 degrees to target and tucking the non-shooting elbow provides good support and accurate results.
 
And the light comes on,,,

Look how these guy's offhand supports the rifle on the palm.

Perhaps that's why the bottom of the stock on my Henry Accubolt is flat,,,
The beavertailed forearm with progressive width allows for sure handling.

Okay, now I hafta try this stance,,,
It surely couldn't make my off-hand shooting any worse. :D

Aarond
 
"Am I the only person that learned to shoot off hand first? "

I was going to say you aren't the only one, but I was only 4 when I started shooting regularly, so I first learned to shoot a rifle with somebody else holding it. :)
 
I was going to say you aren't the only one, but I was only 4 when I started shooting regularly, so I first learned to shoot a rifle with somebody else holding it.

Same here.... and the same way I taught my daughter to shoot.
 
Accurately shooting from standing is a question of balance. If you notice from Niner4tango's pictures the shooters are standing erect. Their weight is evenly carried. The center of gravity is directly between their feet. The arch in their back is to bring the weight of the rifle closer to their core. This allows the shooter to keep both feet flat on the ground. The legs and feet are doing most of the work. Little energy is used to hold the rifle and the position can be held for a long time. This is not the classic hunter/snap shooting position. That 's another scenario. This is not the position to shoot that running deer but if the target is stationary and there is nothing available to rest the rifle on it can be a viable solution. Plus it is stable enough to make a refined sight picture and clean shot release. Each person is going to create their own particular position which means practice, dry firing and more practice and more dry firing and more......
 
Thanks for all of the tips guys, to clarify I am primarily concerned about hunting although I want to get into competition at some point in the future.
 
Due to my age and health I would not be steady enough to take a standing shot over 50 yards with reasonable results. If I could not find something available close enough to steady myself on I would just forget the shot for safetys sake. Everyone needs to realize their own personal capabilities...
 
Kraig,

what are the locations of the vintage rifle matches, And do the rifles have to be un-modified?

I have a Mosin-Nagant un-modified
But, I have an Enfield that was modified slightly, sometime in the '60s a relative brought it back from Vietnam and the stock was cut back a bit. The guys were using it for a while over there, been in the family ever since.
 
I'm known as a very good offhand shot, blessed with good motor control and hand-eye coordination, but practiced for over 50 years. I literally wore out three Daisy BB guns before turning 14, two pumps and a lever. I'd burn off 10 tubes of Winchester BBs a week, all offhand. As an adult, I've shot in lots of offhand turkey shoots and shot numerous woodchucks and other varmints offhand out to 200 yards; deer, several yards beyond that. On good shooting evenings, I've shot 1/4", 5-shot groups offhand at 50 feet with my sporters.

I've shot with people who have equal or better hand-eye coordination than me and it seems to be a key to good offhand shooting. Some people can't hold a gun steady, no matter what they do. Those folks may have greater need for slings and bracing against their hip, ribcage, etc, more than people whose bodies can hold steadier. Practice is the real key to better offhand shooting. I practice offhand holding, but don't dry fire most rimfires without an empty shell in the chamber.

When shooting .22 sporters offhand, I can tell whether it will be a good session or not. If I'm not at peak, I resort to resting my left elbow against my chest a bit and that helps. However, when I'm having a good day, I can control the muzzle better with the left arm fully extended. Target shooter positions, especially resting the left elbow, are best for long strings of shots, but inhibit free movement when plinking at multiple targets and shooting moving game.

A key to better offhand accuracy is to focus one's attention on the center of the target and let the sights seemingly "wander" toward it, guided by peripheral vision. As the sight picture gets into the "acceptable accuracy" zone, the trigger is pressed smoothly, but if it wanders away, held steady, then pressed again as it approaches center.

Normally, I fire the first time the sights enter the target center zone, since I'm conditioned to do so, but also condition myself to hold for a second shot, whether it's taken or not. That is called follow-through and is particularly important for pistol shooting and rimfire rifle shooting because the bullet takes longer to leave the barrel than with faster cartridges and any let-down can throw a shot.

I tend to breathe regularly until just before the shot, when I often hold it for a few seconds. If shooting more than one shot, I don't pay attention to breathing, but do so normally.

A relaxed, upright position is most comfortable to me. I'm not turned 90 degrees, but part way, with my feet separated comfortably, my left about 4-6" ahead of the right. Right elbow is comfortably down, not forced, left elbow either straight or bent as comfortable at that time. Comfort is the key to good offhand shooting and I may hold a bit differently as fatigue sets in during a long shooting session...whatever feels the most comfortable at the time is the way to go.

Tension causes stress and shakes. If you feel shaky or your back starts to hurt, step away and take a break. Sit down, relax, and go back in 15 minutes or so and try again. Note: Caffine and good offhand shooting don't usually go together.

Don't make shooting into a chore, it shouldn't be, it should be relaxing and fun!!! It has been excellent for stress reduction, since it forces a person to concentrate on the task at hand and to put aside worries and frustrations of the day. Offhand pistol shooting is particularly good for stress reduction.

Hope this helps.
 
Kraig,

what are the locations of the vintage rifle matches, And do the rifles have to be un-modified?

Here is CMP's website listing clinics. Not all are posted yet, waiting for warmer weather. (I haven't gave CMP my dates yet) so keep checking back, more will be posted as warmer weather nears.

http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchUpcomingSearch.cgi?designation=CLINIC

The Clinics (and matches) cover GSM, Garand Springfield, and Vintage Military Rifle) plus, carbines, modern military, modified Garands, rimfires and of course High Power Rifle as in Service rifles.

So yes you can use un-modified and modified rifles. In the matches you'll only be competing in your class, As for Mosins, you'll be competing in the as issued or un-modified Vintage Military class.
 
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