Looking for coaching in Winnipeg - Help with grouping in 50m smallbore

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massive

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Hi Folks,

I've been shooting for 10 years, and the last 4 I've been trying to self-teach prone 50m small-bore shooting. I feel like I've made decent progress but I'm having a hard time getting my 10 shot groups smaller than, 2". I'm sure it's me and not my rifle(s) and I'm looking for some in-person coaching time to help me bring these into to something closer to 1".

I'm a member at WRPA and do 99% of my shooting there, but I'm open to going elsewhere in southern Manitoba if it's more convenient for the coach.

Thanks,
Massive
 
Contact Maynard on the forms for Bruce MacDonald(spelling) contact info.

He would be phenomenal. Last person he coached got a Div 1 ride in the states.
 
I was a member at WPRA but wanted to shoot longer distances than you can a WPRA so I joined Selkirk, Selkirk has a benchrest shooting group, I just attend my first clinic and shoot the best group of my life, if you are interested, just PM me and I will give you some contact info
 
Winchester1973 said:
I was a member at WPRA but wanted to shoot longer distances than you can a WPRA so I joined Selkirk, Selkirk has a benchrest shooting group, I just attend my first clinic and shoot the best group of my life, if you are interested, just PM me and I will give you some contact info
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Thanks for the offer. I'm working on prone with a sling as opposed to bench rest at the moment. Certainly seems like BR is more popular.
 
massive said:
Hi Folks,

I've been shooting for 10 years, and the last 4 I've been trying to self-teach prone 50m small-bore shooting. I feel like I've made decent progress but I'm having a hard time getting my 10 shot groups smaller than, 2". I'm sure it's me and not my rifle(s) and I'm looking for some in-person coaching time to help me bring these into to something closer to 1".

I'm a member at WRPA and do 99% of my shooting there, but I'm open to going elsewhere in southern Manitoba if it's more convenient for the coach.

Thanks,
Massive
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Please do tell us about the rifle/sights and ammo that you are using. Are you using a jacket and sling?
 
maynard said:
Please do tell us about the rifle/sights and ammo that you are using. Are you using a jacket and sling?
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Hi Maynard,
Right now I'm using a Savage FVT, with the aperture sights that came on the rifle. I bought 5,000 CCI SV rounds that work reliably. I'm using a cotton US GI style sling I bought through Project Mapleseed. I don't have a proper jacket or glove. I'd like to get some but not being able to try them on first is keeping me from 'pulling the trigger's so to speak.
 
Figure out your jacket size and get in touch with Tesro. If it doesn’t fit when you get it send it back and get the next size up or down. Might cost you a little to ship things back and forth but you need a jacket that fits. Also get a glove and sling from him.
I would also bench test your rifle and ammo to make sure both are up to the task. You can test with iron sights off a bench.
Next up would be to make sure your front sight insert is large enough ( assuming you have a front aperture sight). By large enough I mean that the target should only take up 1/2 of the diameter of the front sight. You need to see lots of white around the black aiming mark.
 
massive said:
Hi Maynard,
Right now I'm using a Savage FVT, with the aperture sights that came on the rifle. I bought 5,000 CCI SV rounds that work reliably. I'm using a cotton US GI style sling I bought through Project Mapleseed. I don't have a proper jacket or glove. I'd like to get some but not being able to try them on first is keeping me from 'pulling the trigger's so to speak.
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So, now looking closer at the Savage FTV this could be a limiting factor, light rifle with a short sight radius. Don't get me wrong, you do not need a several thousand-dollar Anshcutz to learn how to shoot. Cadets start off with a Daisy air rifle that has a crappy trigger, cheap plastic sights and an under lever cocking system that takes practice so that you don't totally break your position every shot. At 10m these kids can shoot remarkable scores in the prone position. It all comes down to the basics, natural body alignment, breathing, sight alignment and focus, trigger control and follow through.

There is a lot going on to fire the perfect shot, then do this 10, 20, 60 times in a row. One common mistake new shooters make is where their focus needs to be when firing a shot. Most tend to be focused on the target, but your focus needs to be on the front sight when you squeeze the shot off.
 
maynard said:
By large enough I mean that the target should only take up 1/2 of the diameter of the front sight. You need to see lots of white around the black aiming mark.
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This x100

I shoot extremely tight, very few people do. It drives Maynard nuts when he see’s my sites. Set up how he says.

What is your trigger set at? It’s another thing to think about. You shouldn't be losing focus to force the trigger.
 
hawkrider said:
The path of self learning can be filled with ups and downs. Looking for coaching is a definite positive step.
The basics of marksmanship are common no matter the discipline. If you have not attended a Mapleseed I would suggest that you do. What is taught there is the same as any where else. Once you understand and can apply steady hold factors, perform the steps of firing the shot and really understand and apply natural point of aim, you will see a definite improvement.
Your choice of rifle and ammo also may have room for improvement. CCI sv is ok but may not be the best for your application. You need to find the best performing ammo and then by the same lot.
You may also need to scope the rifle for testing to ensure that you are only testing ammo and not your ability.
Good luck in your quest for improvement, while it can be difficult, it is also extremely rewarding when you are successful.
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Thanks for the info Hawkrider! I attended a Mapleseed event in 2018 (I'm a full instructor now), that's what got me started down this particular road. Prior to this I was mostly doing bench rest type shooting. Positional shooting really struck a nerve with me, it felt like it was more about me and my ability as opposed to how much rifle and bipod I could buy. I quickly found that the intense focus, deep relaxation of the body and intentional breathing helped center me and I'd feel really relaxed after.
 
n17steve said:
I don't know if it stands up but I read and loved "Position Rifle Shooting" by Pullum and Hanenkrat.
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That's one I haven't come across yet.

The ones I've read/reread are:
Small-bore Rifle Shooting by Edward C.
Small-bore Target Shooting by W.H. Fuller
Smallbore Rifle Shooting by Christopher Fenning
 
massive said:
That's one I haven't come across yet.

The ones I've read/reread are:
Small-bore Rifle Shooting by Edward C.
Small-bore Target Shooting by W.H. Fuller
Smallbore Rifle Shooting by Christopher Fenning
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Pullum and Hannenkrat will muse and wonder about developments and nuances that were fields, tested, discarded or accepted. But, the principles of musclo-skeletal stability have not changed. Prone can be done only so many ways. What the successful shooters do is concentrate on reducing the variables, and improving their mental game. Like any sport, you can throw $$$ at any problem and make it go away, but you'll never buy a better finish than the competitor who wants to win and knows. So, on that train of thought, are you going to any matches? Have you taken your game on the road?
 
I owned the same rifle in the past, it should shoot well under 2" at 50. My old Husqvarna single shot will put them under 2" all day long. Mine hated CCI ammo, grouped terrible. So I would buy a bunch of different ammo, bench it and see what shoots best. After that, you are the limiting factor.
 
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