SHOOTING LESSON FROM OZARK
Mar 14, 2009 19:04:17 GMT -5
Post by ozark on Mar 14, 2009 19:04:17 GMT -5
THE WOBBLE AREA AND TRIGGER CONTROL
A rifle held by a shooter. will never be completely free of movement. Regardless of position, there will be a pulse beat, nerves working and blood moving throughout the body. These involuntary moves are known in the shooting world as the wobble area. Getting into a good position, using some stable object to steady the rifle and practice can all reduce the wobble area but a fact remain that must be accepted. No person cannot consistently shoot groups smaller than the size of their wobble area. Attempting to snap shoot as the sight picture crosses the intended impact spot leads to all kinds of problems. Flinching, lunging, yanking the trigger, are just some of many things trying to anticipate and rush the shot will cause.
It is good to know at what point in the shooting routine the shooter should begin the trigger finger work. It should begin only after the shooter has viewed their wobble area and done what can be done to reduce it. This may include improving the position, holding the rifle differently, taking a normal breath and letting half out and stop the breathing process. Once the trigger action has been started it should not be interrupted and should be completed in a matter of a few seconds. Trigger action consists of applying constant and continuous pressure until the hammer falls. The pad between the end of the trigger finger and the first joint should be centered on the trigger and pressure should be directly toward the butt plate. The muscles of the trigger finger should be moved independent of the other fingers and muscles of the hand. Since you are seeing movement of the wobble area around the point of aim and because you would like to touch it off while it is perfect there will be a tendency to stop and go, stop and go on the trigger. That is a not good because it delays the shot, disrupts correct breathing and throws everything out of sync.
Identify the wobble area, accept or make a correction, but when trigger squeeze begins you have crossed the point of no return and must shoot within 5 to ten seconds. I personally think of trigger squeeze as trigger mashing. Let me point out a exercise used in pistol matches (at least it used to be). We had to shoot five shots in ten seconds. Many shooters did better here than in slower exercises because they didn’t have time to fool around with the trigger operation. It had to be mashed as soon as the wobble area was accepted.
A good clean breaking, crisp trigger free of creep is absolutely necessary to avoid it breaking the shooters concentration. If you start the trigger action and feel a creep you brain will immediately jump to the trigger and away from watching the wobble area to determine when the shot occurred. If you are concentrating on the wobble area you will learn to call the shot within your individual wobble area.
Suggested homework: 1. Dry fire using carefully identifying your wobble area, improving that wobble area and including the correct trigger action described above. 2. Try to avoid snap shooting and determine to shoot rather than anticipate shooting. Each shot should be a surprise.
Ozark didn’t invent or dream up this lesson. It is a system used by record setters, Master and Distinguished rifle and pistol shooters plus better hunters. Try it and you could be pleasantly pleased. I will be glad to answer questions or try to make anything that is misunderstood clear. Ozark
A rifle held by a shooter. will never be completely free of movement. Regardless of position, there will be a pulse beat, nerves working and blood moving throughout the body. These involuntary moves are known in the shooting world as the wobble area. Getting into a good position, using some stable object to steady the rifle and practice can all reduce the wobble area but a fact remain that must be accepted. No person cannot consistently shoot groups smaller than the size of their wobble area. Attempting to snap shoot as the sight picture crosses the intended impact spot leads to all kinds of problems. Flinching, lunging, yanking the trigger, are just some of many things trying to anticipate and rush the shot will cause.
It is good to know at what point in the shooting routine the shooter should begin the trigger finger work. It should begin only after the shooter has viewed their wobble area and done what can be done to reduce it. This may include improving the position, holding the rifle differently, taking a normal breath and letting half out and stop the breathing process. Once the trigger action has been started it should not be interrupted and should be completed in a matter of a few seconds. Trigger action consists of applying constant and continuous pressure until the hammer falls. The pad between the end of the trigger finger and the first joint should be centered on the trigger and pressure should be directly toward the butt plate. The muscles of the trigger finger should be moved independent of the other fingers and muscles of the hand. Since you are seeing movement of the wobble area around the point of aim and because you would like to touch it off while it is perfect there will be a tendency to stop and go, stop and go on the trigger. That is a not good because it delays the shot, disrupts correct breathing and throws everything out of sync.
Identify the wobble area, accept or make a correction, but when trigger squeeze begins you have crossed the point of no return and must shoot within 5 to ten seconds. I personally think of trigger squeeze as trigger mashing. Let me point out a exercise used in pistol matches (at least it used to be). We had to shoot five shots in ten seconds. Many shooters did better here than in slower exercises because they didn’t have time to fool around with the trigger operation. It had to be mashed as soon as the wobble area was accepted.
A good clean breaking, crisp trigger free of creep is absolutely necessary to avoid it breaking the shooters concentration. If you start the trigger action and feel a creep you brain will immediately jump to the trigger and away from watching the wobble area to determine when the shot occurred. If you are concentrating on the wobble area you will learn to call the shot within your individual wobble area.
Suggested homework: 1. Dry fire using carefully identifying your wobble area, improving that wobble area and including the correct trigger action described above. 2. Try to avoid snap shooting and determine to shoot rather than anticipate shooting. Each shot should be a surprise.
Ozark didn’t invent or dream up this lesson. It is a system used by record setters, Master and Distinguished rifle and pistol shooters plus better hunters. Try it and you could be pleasantly pleased. I will be glad to answer questions or try to make anything that is misunderstood clear. Ozark
