off hand shooting
- Thread starter D_
- Start date
My technique is very similar to this:
My support arm is completely vertical, and locked tight against my body. I grip the fore stock close to the upper receiver and apply pressure back into my shoulder. It sits in the web, between my thumb and forefinger. The elbow on my shooting hand is parallel with the ground. I "steer" with this arm, not the front one. I is just a stationary support. Now, this is only for the fine corrections. For major movements, like shooting a target on the left side vs. the right side, I adjust my footing a bit. I take up the trigger slack before doing my fine tuning, then break the shot then the sites are on the target. Breathing is important, of course. Exhale 2/3 of your lungs, then hold while you fine tune and break the shot.
My support arm is completely vertical, and locked tight against my body. I grip the fore stock close to the upper receiver and apply pressure back into my shoulder. It sits in the web, between my thumb and forefinger. The elbow on my shooting hand is parallel with the ground. I "steer" with this arm, not the front one. I is just a stationary support. Now, this is only for the fine corrections. For major movements, like shooting a target on the left side vs. the right side, I adjust my footing a bit. I take up the trigger slack before doing my fine tuning, then break the shot then the sites are on the target. Breathing is important, of course. Exhale 2/3 of your lungs, then hold while you fine tune and break the shot.
Guys were taught to lift the elbow of the shooting arm so that the butt of the rifle secured into the meat of the shoulder for recoil management - not so sure that applies with .223; I drop my elbow and keep em' both tight to the body - when shooting standing relaxed and rested.
Shooting while moving around or in a higher adrenaline state I drive the gun more with lowered optics and exaggerated breathing. Practice breaking the shot in the environment/state you will be shooting in, in addition to dry firing will/should improve your performance.
Shooting while moving around or in a higher adrenaline state I drive the gun more with lowered optics and exaggerated breathing. Practice breaking the shot in the environment/state you will be shooting in, in addition to dry firing will/should improve your performance.
Nice. Silhouette finally working its way mainstream......
D. Find a silhouette range and spend some time shooting tiny metal targets standing.
Ironically I don't take this stance in SR because it's slower, but, given my scores, I'd probably be better to put the time into better, well placed shots.
D. Find a silhouette range and spend some time shooting tiny metal targets standing.
Ironically I don't take this stance in SR because it's slower, but, given my scores, I'd probably be better to put the time into better, well placed shots.
Standing mainly. I won't say only but multigun forces/makes you do some unnatural stuff.
That precision rifle stance is fantastice to take well aimed shots with plenty of time. However in multigun, everything is timed and your under the stress of competition. Running up a hill or climbing over a barricade then firing with rifle at distances up to 600 yards. I can save some serious time if I can take some free hand shots that are out to say 150 metres with out cuddling up to a tree or obstacle.
beltfed said:
What do you mean by driving the gun? Do you work against the movement of the rifle or just account for it and break the shots as the reticle is moving close to the target? I've always tried to take a deep breath then take slow small breaths to force myself to breath.
I won't say that off hand shooting my best shot, but I long time ago adopted the attitude of Acquire and Fire. The longer I hold on a target, the more likely my shot is off. I hold my rifle down, then lift, aim, and shoot. Same with archery, the sooner you shoot, the less you wobble. Yup. practice is the key.
I don't know of a discipline that would recommend working against the natural sway of the rifle. You can't stop it (although you can minimize it in shooting such as high power). In a discipline like multi-gun if you try to, you will spend more time fighting it.
When I say 'drive it' I guess I'm comparing a typical relaxed bladed stance like the photo above to more of a squared off, forward leaning on the balls of the feet type stance similar to what most action pistol shooters take - much in the way Costa does things (fine for 3-gun although I would not shoot SR like this).
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Number 1 thing to control is your breathing, fire on the slow exhale, I find starting with a slightly high hold and "sinking" through the target while exhaling, firing when as close to center as you get, works best for me. It's the technique I was taught by an Olympic coach when I started competitive shooting as a teen (not that I ever went anywhere near the Olympics), and while there's doubtless more modern methods, I haven't found a better one yet.
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Not so easy to do when you are sucking wind and changing positions constantly.
Some matchs require you to use a sling on stages. I've even started a stage with chamber empty rifle mag inserted, loaded holstered pistol and loaded shotgun in my hands as a start position.
Up to you if you want to use a sling all the time but can be slow to wrap around the arm. Was looking for tips or tricks like pulling back with weak hand or straight arm this or that. Looks like there are no majic beans in SR like IPSC. Off to dry fire I go.
Up to you if you want to use a sling all the time but can be slow to wrap around the arm. Was looking for tips or tricks like pulling back with weak hand or straight arm this or that. Looks like there are no majic beans in SR like IPSC. Off to dry fire I go.
Mauser GDog
CGN frequent flyer
I've been practicing standing 100m & 200m using this trick, and I like it. Recoil raises the muzzle up a little anyways, so that's my starting point. Then it wants to come down over the target on it's own, so I try and ride it out.
I still suck(!), but I'm starting to see some improvements. Standing 200m is so F-ing difficult!
Feel the sway. Try to get steady pass-throughs, and time it to the break in the trigger. My style is similar to komb but both arms are under the rifle. My shooting arm doesn't stick out to the side, just as I was trained.
Also I notice a lot of people have great difficulty standing perfectly still, let alone with anything in their hands. A stable platform is key.
Also I notice a lot of people have great difficulty standing perfectly still, let alone with anything in their hands. A stable platform is key.
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I appreciate your efforts in firing offhanded.
Another cool trick I was once taught is worst-case scenario one-handed drills (like your left elbow takes a bullet).
Not just shooting with one hand, but then imagine you get a stoppage or need to change a mag. You can tap/rack an AR by slamming it on your thigh, placing the mag between your knees, cocking it, and re-engaging. All cool stuff, and worth trying a few times just to give you the confidence to know you can.
Another cool trick I was once taught is worst-case scenario one-handed drills (like your left elbow takes a bullet).
Not just shooting with one hand, but then imagine you get a stoppage or need to change a mag. You can tap/rack an AR by slamming it on your thigh, placing the mag between your knees, cocking it, and re-engaging. All cool stuff, and worth trying a few times just to give you the confidence to know you can.
