The key ingredient
Nov 19, 2009 13:26:16 GMT -5
Post by ozark on Nov 19, 2009 13:26:16 GMT -5
I elected to start a new thread here because I didn't want anyone to be offended by my remarks. Over and over, we get questions about improving the Savage Smokeless accuracy. Hours and hours are spent working up loads that provides the best groups. Millions of rounds are shot through paper using supports such as sand bags, lead sleds, Bench Master and other items to steady the rifle and dampen recoil. We read of many different modifications, barrel changes, duplex loads, high dollar scopes and the variety of bullets are awesome. Seldom if ever do we hear shooters seeking advice on how to improve their marksmanship skills.
Not always, but very often the shooter is the weakest link in the chain of accuracy. Take away the lead sled and other supporting gadgets and many shooters are very weak in using the basic fundamentals and techniques of accurate shooting.
For the newbies let me introduce myself. For eleven years I competed shoulder to shoulder against and with the best shooters in America. I was full time dealing with accuracy, teaching and evaluating shooters. From this exposure and experience I learned that great shooters are not natural, but are trained. I have seen students go from being a tyro to distinguished in one season. With that said, I want to get to the real purpose of this post. Helping others enjoy the confidence of knowing before they see the dead animal exactly where the bullet entered.
If shooters spent half the time working on fundmentals and shooting techniques as they do working up loads and making modifications to their rifles they would accomplish more. Many out of the box rifles will shoot better than the shooter who holds it. Even the lead sled or other fixtures doesn't insure accuracy in the hands of a weak shooter.
I call a good shooter a marksman who can hit an 8 inch paper plate at 100 yards offhand from the standing position consistently. A master or distinguished shooter that has practiced recently will put ten shots in a six inch paper plate consistently at that range.
In the tips and hints section there is a lesson bY 'THE RIFLEMAN'
clearly describing the techniques of offhand shooting. His lesson is dead on the money and that technique has led weak offhand shooters to top notch shooterss. There is no need for me to type that lesson now as I would be simply repeating what Rifleman expalined clearly. I will add what I feel is a fact that cannot be bypassed. If you learn to shoot good or great offhand then the other positions will be gravy. Shooting at longer ranges brings to the forefront doping the wind and learning to handle various light conditions but the basics are yours to use if you can master offhand.
A word on practice. Practice can be good or it can be bad. Practice can ingrain bad techniques and violate sound fundamentals. It can make very poor techniques seem normal and right.
What are the lessons one needs to master? Body position, how to hold the rifle, how tight to hold the rifle, how to shoulder and cheek the rifle, how to position the trigger hand, how to control your breathing, how to aim and how to manipulate the trigger.
And finally how to follow through and call your shot.
If you get these techniques down pat then confidence will steady your nerves and amazing accuracy will result.
Learning to shoot to your potential level is a very interesting and rewarding journey. There are sound advice on the internet and you can teach yourself the fundamentals and techniques. You can practice sound techniques rather than go with what appears natural to you.
What is my objective here? It is to point out that a poor shooter will forever be a poor shooter unless he/she develops the sound and proven techniques. It is to point out that there are books, pamplets and guides to accurate shooting on the internet. It is to point out that an ounce of good training is worth more than a bushel of random practice. Good luck and anyone who has a specific question can PM me and I will be happy to answer it with the method the best use. I don't know where this belongs and I am a moderator. Better shooter than moderator however. Ozark
PS: I left out an important element and will add it here. Others are welcome to add other things I have omitted.
Relaxing after you stop your breathing is vital. Relax from the neck down. especially the shoulders and torso. During the relaxing process which takes only a couple seconds I open my mouth to make sure that my teeth are not in contact. This relaxes the jaw muscles and decreases the chance of them clenching or tightening up to disturb the sight alignment.
Not always, but very often the shooter is the weakest link in the chain of accuracy. Take away the lead sled and other supporting gadgets and many shooters are very weak in using the basic fundamentals and techniques of accurate shooting.
For the newbies let me introduce myself. For eleven years I competed shoulder to shoulder against and with the best shooters in America. I was full time dealing with accuracy, teaching and evaluating shooters. From this exposure and experience I learned that great shooters are not natural, but are trained. I have seen students go from being a tyro to distinguished in one season. With that said, I want to get to the real purpose of this post. Helping others enjoy the confidence of knowing before they see the dead animal exactly where the bullet entered.
If shooters spent half the time working on fundmentals and shooting techniques as they do working up loads and making modifications to their rifles they would accomplish more. Many out of the box rifles will shoot better than the shooter who holds it. Even the lead sled or other fixtures doesn't insure accuracy in the hands of a weak shooter.
I call a good shooter a marksman who can hit an 8 inch paper plate at 100 yards offhand from the standing position consistently. A master or distinguished shooter that has practiced recently will put ten shots in a six inch paper plate consistently at that range.
In the tips and hints section there is a lesson bY 'THE RIFLEMAN'
clearly describing the techniques of offhand shooting. His lesson is dead on the money and that technique has led weak offhand shooters to top notch shooterss. There is no need for me to type that lesson now as I would be simply repeating what Rifleman expalined clearly. I will add what I feel is a fact that cannot be bypassed. If you learn to shoot good or great offhand then the other positions will be gravy. Shooting at longer ranges brings to the forefront doping the wind and learning to handle various light conditions but the basics are yours to use if you can master offhand.
A word on practice. Practice can be good or it can be bad. Practice can ingrain bad techniques and violate sound fundamentals. It can make very poor techniques seem normal and right.
What are the lessons one needs to master? Body position, how to hold the rifle, how tight to hold the rifle, how to shoulder and cheek the rifle, how to position the trigger hand, how to control your breathing, how to aim and how to manipulate the trigger.
And finally how to follow through and call your shot.
If you get these techniques down pat then confidence will steady your nerves and amazing accuracy will result.
Learning to shoot to your potential level is a very interesting and rewarding journey. There are sound advice on the internet and you can teach yourself the fundamentals and techniques. You can practice sound techniques rather than go with what appears natural to you.
What is my objective here? It is to point out that a poor shooter will forever be a poor shooter unless he/she develops the sound and proven techniques. It is to point out that there are books, pamplets and guides to accurate shooting on the internet. It is to point out that an ounce of good training is worth more than a bushel of random practice. Good luck and anyone who has a specific question can PM me and I will be happy to answer it with the method the best use. I don't know where this belongs and I am a moderator. Better shooter than moderator however. Ozark
PS: I left out an important element and will add it here. Others are welcome to add other things I have omitted.
Relaxing after you stop your breathing is vital. Relax from the neck down. especially the shoulders and torso. During the relaxing process which takes only a couple seconds I open my mouth to make sure that my teeth are not in contact. This relaxes the jaw muscles and decreases the chance of them clenching or tightening up to disturb the sight alignment.
. I should work on that. As a hunter..whether ground hogging or deer..I always have had a way to steady my shots. Bipods...etc. from the tree stand seated--elbows on the knees has served me well...usually. You bring up a good point about guys looking at everything but their shooting techniques when they cant get a gun to group. I know if I have not shot for a while..even from a bench..my technique gets sloppy. Takes me a few shots to get settled in. I picked up stuff over the last 25 yrs. or so shooting/reloading. It would have been nice to have someone such as yourself to learn from ! Thanks for sharing. 
