How to be more steady?

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

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I was wondering, what are the tricks to reducing shaking when shooting? I was shooting from a front rest while sighting in a new rifle and even at around 50 yards I had noticeable wander from lack of steadiness.

I figure the precision rifle shooters would have a good batch of info.

Thanks.
 
The web has lots of sites about proper shooting stances and rifle holds. I also recommend the (somewhat expensive) book "The Way of the Rifle". It's more about competitive small bore, but has excellent advice.

There are several potential sources of unsteadiness. Your breathing can have a strong effect -- learn and practice breath control. Muscular shaking is generally due to tired muscles and lack of relaxation -- try to avoid using muscle power to support the firearm, instead use your skeleton (proper stance and hold is part of this). Also, you generally need to practice relaxing, especially those parts of the body that aren't involved in holding the firearm. Proper use of a sling can help a great deal. Your pulse is another source -- it's pretty hard to mitigate but (again) relaxation is key - the sling, shooting jackets and gloves also help there.
 
As already mentioned, breathing, shooting form......I don't need to repeat it, it all helps. Your post said you were shooting from a front rest. Did you have any support on the rear of the rifle. I know when I shoot off just my bipod, it is definately harder to keep as steady then when I have a bean bag at the rear of my stock. so if you have a squeeze bag or rear rest great, if not, I would recommend one.
 
I have very limited shooting skills. The most important things I have found are to have a stable platform, i.e a good stock, a good front rest and rear bag, and to take time to dial out the parallax.
 
When I shoot hunting rifle with heavier trigger I pull the rifle towards me with more force then trigger will generate. I do not hold over the target for too long and for shooting target rifle I have lite trigger.
 
Stop smoking if you do. Take three deep slow breaths, on the last exhale you have seven seconds to shoot. If you don't/can't start your breath cycle again. Don't rush. No caffeine is correct also. You want heart rate as slow as possible. Work out regularly if your serious about shooting long range to get resting heart rate down.
 
I am a terrible off-hand shooter. I guess that is why I shoot F-Class. Quality rest/bipod and a good rear bag with depleted uranium for filler. ok... heavy sand.

Also, I found that when I quit drinking rum before 0400 with Bucky, CyaN1de and Shockman, the shakes and the puking were much reduced. my eyes were still stuck shut, but I didn't shake as bad.
 
Best thing to do is just relax and not have a death grip on your rifle. Apply enough pressure so you have a good weld to your shoulder with your stock. Relaxing your grip and learn to control breath. If you start to wander and lift your head from your rifle and reset. It gets progressively tougher when your just have target fixation.
 
LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1 said:
I was wondering, what are the tricks to reducing shaking when shooting? I was shooting from a front rest while sighting in a new rifle and even at around 50 yards I had noticeable wander from lack of steadiness.

I figure the precision rifle shooters would have a good batch of info.

Thanks.
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Get a great trigger and work on your timing, pull when the cross hairs blaze past the x. works pretty good. another little known trick is take your wife and motor home to the range, when finished go shoot, your long gun not the 4"er.

In all seriousness it has an awful lot to do with your physical makeup, and sometimes no amount of training can stop you from moving. The typical, work your core muscles, get in better shape, proper diet etc, all help but that's a lot of work, just to slow the wiggle and not eliminate it.
 
stop smoking ???

Top Predator said:
Stop smoking if you do. Take three deep slow breaths, on the last exhale you have seven seconds to shoot. If you don't/can't start your breath cycle again. Don't rush. No caffeine is correct also. You want heart rate as slow as possible. Work out regularly if your serious about shooting long range to get resting heart rate down.
Click to expand...

You cant be serious....The poor shooter would be having such cravings and withdrawl that he couldnt hold a bead on the entire target. LOL;):D
 
I found that learning to find my natural point of aim has improved my accuracy most-notably over the last couple of year and it's easy to do. Once you think you have a comfortable position just close you eyes and take a few easy breaths. You're body will align the rifle with the point it most naturally aims towards. Make a few minor adjustments to your position to correct it and repeat.

Doing this helps to negate the affect of small, involuntary muscle movements that are exhaggerated by holding the rifle off of it's natural point of aim. It's most noticable while prone or shooting from a rest but always important.
 
The thing I noticed most was the hold you have on the stock with your trigger hand. What I now do is just a light touch with the thumb and trigger finger just like holding an egg or something, since the rifle is supported already I do not use this hand to steady anything, rather I use my other hand on the rear of the stock to steady it and make small movements to change my point of aim by manipulating the rear bag/stock.
 
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