How to become a better paper shooter? Any tips?

NWO

NWO

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Hey guys I few questions with regards to punching paper.

I understand not all equipment is the same and I'm only talking about shooting $200-300 guns but are there any tips some/any of you could give with regards to shooting paper better.

I recently bought a new 22 mag and have been trying various ammos ranging from 30 to 50 grain, shooting at 50m, 60M and 75m.

Now I have tired sitting, standing, and prone. Also off the shoulder, off a bi-pod, and off bags...but not real impressed with my results. One day I can shoot half inch 5 shot groups(dime size) next day I'm shooting a inch or more. I have narrowed down the ammo to two brands out of the six I tired.

Both were 40 gr so I guess that is consistant, however I'm not...
Ammo is nothing special one CCI other one is Federal.

Anyway any tips or equipment recommendations from experienced shooters (other then get a new gun) you could pass on would be appreciated.

I have the ability to shoot almost daily (weather permitting) and practice alot right out my front door.

Anybody? I find this actually harder then shooting game!
 
Cheep fix would be to have your trigger pull adjusted. My Rem 700 from factory had something stupid like a 9lbs. trigger pull. The gun smith couldn't believe it. Brought it down to 3lbs. and that actually made a big difference. I use this riffle for hunting and thats why it's set to 3lbs. if your only doing paper you could set it lower depending on the type of gun. but be cautious, the lower the pull, the increase your chance of accidental discharge. maby 1.5 lbs. trigger pull?
 
You will need to isolate any "problems" whether they are in the equipment, or in the shooter.

If problems are in the equipment, then make sure everything is snug, action to stock, sights to gun, etc. If the barrel is touching a wood stock near the front of the stock, then weather/temperature variations can also cause uneven pressure and a loss of accuracy.

As for the shooter, the most important thing a shooter can do to increase accuracy is to be consistent. Technique matters, but even "poor" technique can give good results if you do it exactly the same each shot.

Dry fire, and have someone else watch you to see if you are pulling or doing anything else that might throw off the shots.

Note, not all rimfires are designed for dry firing. If in doubt, put a spent cartridge in the chamber and rotate it once every couple of shots so the firing pin lands on a fresh spot.

As for trigger pull, a really light trigger is fine for shooting off the bench, but doesn't help as much as you might think when shooting other positions. 2 to 3 lbs is a good compromise for safety and accuracy. Again, it comes back to consistency of the shooter.
 
THX to all who replied... funny fifty odd people looked only three replied I guess that means either the rest know it all, and are not sharing.......BOOOOOOOOO
or perhaps they are looking for answers too. HA HA join the club!

I think it's me for sure...things were going OK until I moved to 75M then it all went to sh*t. My groups opened up. way over an inch with ten shot groups.

Don't think weather was to blame, hmmm.... not much of a breeze really.

I tightened everything up, triggers adjusted to lowest setting.(Thx Savage)

I'm not sure but maybe I should invest in a better rifle rest? bench set up?

I'm certain the odd winger is my fault.

I shoot from table that I level. but it's not made for shooting. Should I build a bench anyone have plans? are there certain heights/designs to go by?

I'm not sure what "proper technique" really is!

Should I shoot a few rounds first?

what about time between shots/groups and cooling the barrel? Tips anyone?
 
NWO said:
I recently bought a new 22 mag and have been trying various ammos ranging from 30 to 50 grain, shooting at 50m, 60M and 75m.
Click to expand...

Some "dumb" advice :redface: - for what it's worth :) - is to try and get the greatest degree of consistency (from a decent amount of shots :ninja:) at the closer distances (yes, even if that means firing a rifle at 15 m intially :yingyang:) and then just move the distance further and further - checking that consistency as things progress. :sniper:

The issue - shooter, equipment, environment - will/should emerge at some point during the process.....:popCorn:

NWO said:
I think it's me for sure...things were going OK until I moved to 75M then it all went to sh*t. My groups opened up. way over an inch with ten shot groups................ Should I shoot a few rounds first? what about time between shots/groups and cooling the barrel? Tips anyone?
Click to expand...

Make sure you've got all your info/consistency/confidence in a given "setting/ammunition-type/distance" all set before "instituting deviations" - and then (and only then?) proceed to change things up.....:wave:

There are far more efficient ways :stirthepot2: to check, but this is what I like to think of as the "shooting-intensive" approach......:50cal:.......:evil:

Granted :redface:, I usually land up using this approach with .22 LR, not .22 Mag (so your particular "ammo-consumption-cost" tolerance may really differ here.....:pirate:
 
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Thx. Cyclone

I'll start over next chance I get. I guess I never really understood why people shoot from such short distances but I guess if your trying to get a base line of your technique and equipment it is possible that way to see where the problem lies as you move out and increase distance more and more.

I have always just started at 50M.

Ammo price is non issue it's still rimfire and very affordable, compared to centerfire.

ANYBODY
Question.. What (real) numbers do you think I should be looking for? before I move on and change distance?

Do I shoot 100 or 1000 rounds in 3, 5 and 10 shot groups. What about rest/time cooling between shots or groups?

Do I go 15m 25m 50m 75m 100m ?
What numbers should I be looking for or expect at these ranges. or what number do you get or think are good.
 
There's no secret in rifle shooting... Practice (and more practice) makes perfect!

I'd check with your local shooting club and see if they have a 'rifle' coach or some sort of shooting league... and then join them in their practice.

Failing that, invest a few dollars on some 'technical' book, read about the basics of marksmanship... and then practice some more.

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HanenkratRifleBook.jpg


Shooting off a bench with sandbags is one thing... shooting 3 positions un-suported is a whole different ball game.
 
I'd say trigger time!

Then I'd say use a bench rest to find what your rifle likes best, and then only use that ammo...

Then more trigger time!

At the bottom of the rimfire online matches rules page, there are articles on technique for each of the different firing positions...

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363329

The online matches are also a great way to make you practice, and you can see your improvement from month to month... I particularly like the 3 position matches... if you have a box of 50 rounds... you can do a 3P and a prone match...

EB
 
Really amused with some advices here. EB gave you a good one - shoot 3p and read up and on techniques. Check out BC Target Shooting association web site. They give proly the most of essential info on 3p self training.

From myself I'd add - join gun club if you can. Although majority of members may be lousy shots there will be one or two who isn't and will be glad nudge you in the right direction.

Don't dwell on bench rest shooting, it is only a good way to isolate rifle from shooter and fix your trigger, sights etc. But to really learn trigger control, breathing, stance etc is done through 3p matches.

Hunting is an excellent way to put your gun and shooting skills to an ultimate test.

One last advice. Shoot standing more than you shoot prone. This is where matches are won or lost.
 
22lr said:
Really amused with some advices here. EB gave you a good one - shoot 3p and read up and on techniques. Check out BC Target Shooting association web site. They give proly the most of essential info on 3p self training.

From myself I'd add - join gun club if you can. Although majority of members may be lousy shots there will be one or two who isn't and will be glad nudge you in the right direction.

Don't dwell on bench rest shooting, it is only a good way to isolate rifle from shooter and fix your trigger, sights etc. But to really learn trigger control, breathing, stance etc is done through 3p matches.

Hunting is an excellent way to put your gun and shooting skills to an ultimate test.

One last advice. Shoot standing more than you shoot prone. This is where matches are won or lost.
Click to expand...

Advice comes from:

(1) what you've experienced :p, and

(2) what others have experienced.....;)....

(3) Okay, also maybe from the dark side of the moon, sometimes.....:D
 
My 1022T was shooting horrible, could never get a touching group even at 25m. Then I freefloated the barrel, bedded the receiver and put a pad under the barrel. Now I can easily get touching groups at 25m and do them at 50m when I do my part with some decent ammo.

Maybe the gun just doesn't like you, get someone else to shoot it and see how they do.
 
Watch your breathing…. Clear lungs…. Squeeze trigger (NOT PULL),
Try this! When you’re comfortable in the shooting position of your choosing & aiming down on the target. Close your eyes, take three breaths. (two deep breath and exhale on your third slowly breathe out and open your eyes to see if you’re still on target) Make adjustments if not. Try and master one position then move on to other difficult ones. Prone is the easiest.
Basic target shooting requires, muscle memory... Breathing… trigger pull. I would shoot indoors at first to get those things down. Outdoors you have wind… mirage… temperature and lighting, which is in another chapter in it self.
 
A few people mentioned breathing, I find that to be a major factor aswell. Not to waste another post about it, but I just wanted to mention because only rzeancak actually spoke about it specifically. I take a few breaths, and then flat out hold it when I am ready. If you watch your cross hairs its amazing how much they bounce around not only vertically but horizontally aswell while you are breathing. try a few times while looking down range through the scope. I talked to some people who prefer a hold on inspiration, others on experiation including myself, and very few in mid breath.
 
I watch my breathing too, you really notice it on high powered zoom at closer targets. Just like trying to offhand something with a 12 power scope.

Another thing you can do while dry firing, is watching your crosshairs after you pull the trigger. You can see them jump a lot on bad triggers.
 
How you position your rifle on the bags can make or break good groups. Try and remember to have your stock well forward on your front bag, so that your barrel never touches the bag.
You should be able to group a 22 mag at 100 yards. FS
 
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