Best online resources (articles/pdfs/threads) for shooting technique.

greg11

greg11

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Drayton Valley AB
I reload. I think I have that down.
I have some nice guns and nice optics.
I'm at the point where I think the issue is me.
Sometimes I can make beautiful 0.36" 7 shot groups at 200yds. But my very next string will have two fliers. I'm pretty good at feeling when a shot is "off," but I'm not that great at "feeling it" BEFORE I pull the trigger. I try my best to be consistent, but I feel like I need a good solid couple of writeups to help me develop a consistent routine ans mental state pre-shot. Anyone have some good resources?

I've bought some books online and find they're kinda formulamaic (sp?). I want something focusing on positioning, positioning and positioning, and the mental checklist to go through to make sure that positioning is consistent every time.

Right now I kinda get down, and think, okay, left hand on bag. Cheek pressure feels normal (not too much, not too little). Not palming the stock too much. Finger 90 degrees flat on trigger. Body weight on elbows feels okay like last time. Focus on breathing. Buttstock is in the pocket. Slight tension on stock (pulling rifle into my pocket a little). Lean forward into the bipod a little bit. Straight press to the rear. BREAK. I do this checklist for every shot and my groups can be decent. But sometimes I'm off and I want to eliminate the variables.

Also I'm terrible at controlling the front of the gun (bipod hop). It always bounces unless I can dig it into dirt, and I know its not consistent. I feel like that's the source of 50% of my fliers.

I've tried free recoil but it feels soooo goofy to let the gun do whatever it wants, and truthfully, my groups are the worst when I try free recoiling. Maybe I'm doing it all wrong? I know PRS guys swear by it...

Ps.
All my shooting is done with convention rifles. Nothing fancy. Tikka T3X CTR in 260rem and a Ruger American Ranch which can actually shoot veryyyy well when I do my part (1/4moa sometimes, to my surprise).
 
Google rifles only fundamentals, Jacob Bynum. Helped me lots when I started.




EDIT: Found my notes, might save you from having to buy the CD. Although there is more in it than what is in my notes.


-Place your rifle on the ground in front of you, point it directly at the target and place your mag(s) and rear bag right next to it.

-Take a few steps back, then fall in directly behind your rifle, legs straight and out to the sides, feet flat, arms out in front of you.

-Slide forward and place the rifle butt into your shoulder, pushing forward with your toes, load the bipod.

-The rifle should be parallel to your spine, directing recoil straight down your body.

- The rifle should now be held in position by just your shoulder and the bipod, trapping it there. Elbows are on the ground, forearms straight out.

- Now bring your head down and rest it on the cheekpiece.

- Shift your entire body left or right until the crosshairs line up on the target, do not move the rifle.

-With your left hand, pick up the rear bag and place it under the rear of the butt, keeping a grip on it with your support hand.

- Let your cheek sink down onto the cheekrest, pushing the rifle down onto the rear bag, placing the crosshairs on the target.

-With your magazine still out of the rifle and moving nothing but your right arm, run the bolt so you can do a dry fire.

-Once lined up, close your eyes, then begin squeezing the trigger and follow through. *Click*. When you open your eyes again, the crosshairs should still be on target.

-If the crosshairs have moved, shift your entire body left or right to get back on target, do not move the rifle.

- Run the bolt again and go through another dry fire or two until you are comfortable, not straining or forcing your body into position in any way and confident nothing is moving.

- Now that you are lined up perfectly, the only part of you that moves is your right arm to insert the mag and cycle the bolt and your toes to apply light but steady forward pressure against the bipod.

-Slowly insert the magazine and close the bolt.

- I prefer breaking the shot on empty lungs during the breathing cycle.

-When ready, begin firing, paying attention to not move anything but your right arm to run the bolt, breathing, focusing on the target and squeezing the trigger, round after round. Pretend your cheek is glued to that stock.

-Be cognizant of any canting after each shot, make sure the reticle is straight.

-If you have to change mags, do it slowly, right arm only, your eyes looking through your scope, nothing else moves (feel for the fresh mag, you will find it).

Cheers,
 
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I saw some of his videos and some of the free SHLowlight videos as well. They seem like awesome guys and are good shooters for sure. One thing I did notice is they're shooting very heavy rifles. I think their recoil management is aided greatly by their 12-15lbs rifles! hehe. My CTR is like 8lbs I think... I also want a break which I think will help a lot.

I haven't read your notes yet, but I'm going to print them off and read them at the range tomorrow.
 
Check out Nathan Foster on www.ballisticstudies.com he is from New Zealand and has some very different ideas on shooting.He does not have much good to say about the current trends in shooting techniques in particular when using light field rifles.I have been shooting off a backpack as he promotes and after a shakey start have been getting good results.I do not like having a bipod mounted on a hunting rifle in the terrain I hunt in Sask.
 
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