collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Better rifle shot... help?  (Read 7902 times)

Offline wraithen

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 2041
  • Location: JBLMish
Better rifle shot... help?
« on: April 22, 2012, 10:09:55 AM »
Ok, so I've put a couple thousand rounds through my .223 now and I'm getting into reloading for economy and getting the bullets I want when I want them. I'm in the army and know the basics of shooting. I know for a fact that my rifle is at least an MOA rifle because I did it once. My normal groups at 100 for a 5-7 round group are about 2 inches. The biggest problem I have now that I've gotten used  to using a scope is I usually can't get the scope to settle down. I have a set of bipod legs and I've tried various positions with my arms to settle the rifle. I've tried my left arm up on the stock, wrapped around the back of the stock and locked on my right bicep, and resting my cheek on my left hand as it steadies the butt of the rifle (all three are different positions.) For whatever reason, I usually have an issue getting the rifle to be still enough to keep crosshairs on the X, at least for the first round of the magazine. After that I can usually get a pretty steady shot and my next 4 shots are much quicker and steadier. Are there any tricks to getting myself to not be pulsing so much for the first shots of the magazine? The scope is only a 9 power but I kind of need that to see the X accurately. I feel like I'm on the verge of getting clover leafs consistently but can't quite get there. Anyone else have this problem before and know how to get past it?
the head has been lopped of the eagle.our country has become a nation of losers,them that feed on the teet and can do no more than suckle from them that toil. ~ Rasbo

Offline uplandhunter870

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 1322
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2012, 10:28:21 AM »
for me personally when shooting off a bipod i will hold my hands just like i hold a pistol, not the cup and saucer technique but the "other" way, ill explain.  im right handed so my right hand goes on the grip and trigger as it normally would and i put the palm of my left hand on my right fingers, pretty much a two hand grip on the grip of the rifle. this allows me to use my elbows as a rear bipod, in prone my elbows are on the ground and in a sitting position i rest them on my knees. once im steady ill exhale, hold my breathe and squeeze off the shot. ive tried the off hand on top of the comb resting my cheek on it, under the stock holding my bicep and a few other positions and the dual hand pistol grip works best for me.

Offline BOWHUNTER45

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 14731
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2012, 10:38:22 AM »
1st thing is to control your breathing ...take a couple deep breaths and let out half of your next while holding the other half .... eventually if your really concentrating on the bullseye... the movement will slowly get steadier... usually as it starts slowing down I start to put pressure on the trigger and has the crosshairs hit the center of the bullseye I will squeeze it off ....I always squeeze the trigger by slowly applying pressure by tightening up my finger pressure....some people will squeeze on a quicker note but when the gun goes off it should be a total surprise to you ....knowing when it is going off usually means your worried about the kick or your jerking the trigger.....My dad taught me about jerking the trigger the hard way .... :chuckle: I think I was 7 or so and we were out shooting and he kept saying I was jerking the trigger ...Of course I called BS  :chuckle: He HAD ME SO PISSED I way  :'( So I walked off to cool down and when I got back I got back on the.243 took aim AND CLICK ... The gun raised up 2 inches and did not go off .... :yoke: :dunno: He turns to me and said ( NOW ) Your not jerking the trigger ? That thought has been in my head for 30 + yrs and I done it to my boys too ...  :Tupi:

Offline KFhunter

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 34512
  • Location: NE Corner
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2012, 11:06:43 AM »
yup


trigger pull is everything, this is why so many folks upgrade triggers to jewell or timney triggers - it's to facilitate their trigger pulls with a better trigger

if your blood pressure is high and your pulse is hard and pulsing good luck
« Last Edit: April 22, 2012, 08:29:57 PM by KFhunter »

Offline addicted

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 5300
  • Location: A forest near you
  • The famous FootDog
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2012, 11:26:56 AM »
Can we see a picture of your shooting stance?

As mentioned, trigger pull can make it difficult..... but honestly taking up archery for a year probably made me a better shot with the rifle.
"Right now, I am thinking that If my grandmother was here, she would be lecturing me about how there are poor people in Africa, that would just love to have a Ruger, I would just say "Great, granny, lets just ship all the Rugers to Africa!"


Loving life in the Great Northwest one day at a time.

It sounds like it's time to get a new gun.

Offline JohnVH

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 1987
  • Location: PNW
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2012, 11:30:18 AM »
if your off a bench, use sand bags, and dont flinch

Offline 44 Flattop

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2008
  • Posts: 148
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2012, 11:53:55 AM »
Trigger control and lots of shooting on paper.  A crisp trigger and breath control with a slow heartbeat.
'I guess if I could have had but one rifle during all the years I hunted, it would have been the .44 (Winchester) .....it was no long range cartridge.....but for just plain every day use to put meat in the pot, it was a difficult cartridge to beat.'
**John Meyers-Soldier, Hunter, Rifleman**

Offline Heredoggydoggy

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 5041
  • Location: Wenatchee
  • Team I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS $H!T !
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2012, 08:36:08 PM »
I shoot for groups the way I learned to benchrest shoot.  The front bags or bipod control side motion, and squeezing the bag under the buttplate, or just using my fist to control the elevation.  After that, it's like Flattop 44 says: trigger and breathing.  I even put my left hand under the buttplate when I'm kneeling with the bipod extended.  I find it steadies me a bit more in my shaky old age.  :'(
If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

When Bernie Madoff did it, it's called a "Ponzi Scheme"
When Government does it, it's called "Social Security"

Offline addicted

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 5300
  • Location: A forest near you
  • The famous FootDog
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2012, 09:18:46 PM »
cheek weld.
"Right now, I am thinking that If my grandmother was here, she would be lecturing me about how there are poor people in Africa, that would just love to have a Ruger, I would just say "Great, granny, lets just ship all the Rugers to Africa!"


Loving life in the Great Northwest one day at a time.

It sounds like it's time to get a new gun.

Offline Jim the Plumber

  • Local Legend
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2009
  • Posts: 469
  • Hunting trespassers from the air
    • http://precisiontactical.co/
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2012, 09:22:45 PM »
Don't stop breathing. Teach yourself to shoot at the 'bottom' of your exhale. When shooting off a bi pod, learn to load the bi pod. When shooting prone off a bi pod and rear bag, learn/ teach yourself to build your shooting position so you are straight behind the rifle and your NPA is correct.
You really need to understand the basics first.  When you correctly build your shooting position, recoil, jump will be minimized. Stay on the rifle as you cycle the bolt. Your head should never leave the stock while shooting a string from a bolt gun. Learn trigger control. Learn how to squeeze the trigger and what part of the finger and what angle the finger is to the trigger.
Again, do not stop breathing. That is the wrong way.

Offline madmack76

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 801
  • Location: rochester
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2012, 09:34:25 PM »
lots and lots of lead down range and then it just happens practice is everything
hey anybody got a towel, i just hit a waterbuffalo

Offline Bob33

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 21756
  • Groups: SCI, RMEF, NRA, Hunter Education
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2012, 10:15:06 PM »
I know for a fact that my rifle is at least an MOA rifle because I did it once.
That doesn't mean anything.  If I hit enough golf balls, I may eventually get a hole in one but that doesn't make me Tiger Woods (thankfully).  Have someone else shoot your gun and ammunition.  Two inches may be the best that combination is consistently capable of.
Nature. It's cheaper than therapy.

Offline Bofire

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 5524
  • Location: Yelm
  • Harley YAR YAR YAR!
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2012, 10:44:17 PM »
 :) one word,   RELAX  :chuckle: yer trying too hard. relax, sight picture, rifle is firing ! do it again.
Carl
When the chips are down..... the buffalo is empty!!

I do not shop at Amazon

Offline KFhunter

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2011
  • Posts: 34512
  • Location: NE Corner
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2012, 11:03:04 PM »
I can almost fall asleep on the rifle  :chuckle:
 
tried to learn all I could from my ol man.
 
Offhand and pistol is where I shine  - confidence plays a role too

Offline kentrek

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2012
  • Posts: 3493
  • Location: west coast
Re: Better rifle shot... help?
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2012, 11:30:36 PM »
I can almost fall asleep on the rifle  :chuckle:
 
tried to learn all I could from my ol man.
 
Offhand and pistol is where I shine  - confidence plays a role too

 :yeah: the only thing moving is that trigger and your finger  :tup: control your breathing and work around your heart beat...

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by kodiak06
[Today at 06:03:49 AM]


Yard bucks by Boss .300 winmag
[Yesterday at 11:20:39 PM]


Yard babies by Feathernfurr
[Yesterday at 10:04:54 PM]


Pocket Carry by bb76
[Yesterday at 08:44:00 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by coachg
[Yesterday at 08:10:21 PM]


Sauk Unit Youth Elk Tips by high_hunter
[Yesterday at 08:06:05 PM]


Jupiter Mountain Rayonier Permit- 621 Bull Tag by HntnFsh
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


MOVED: Seekins Element 7PRC for sale by Bob33
[Yesterday at 06:57:10 PM]


3 pintails by metlhead
[Yesterday at 04:44:03 PM]


1993 Merc issues getting up on plane by Happy Gilmore
[Yesterday at 04:37:55 PM]


A lonely Job... by AL WORRELLS KID
[Yesterday at 03:21:14 PM]


Unit 364 Archery Tag by buglebuster
[Yesterday at 12:16:59 PM]


In the background by zwickeyman
[Yesterday at 12:10:13 PM]


A. Cole Lockback in AEB-L and Micarta by A. Cole
[Yesterday at 09:15:34 AM]


Willapa Hills 1 Bear by hunter399
[Yesterday at 08:24:48 AM]


Bearpaw Outfitters Annual July 4th Hunt Sale by Threewolves
[Yesterday at 06:35:57 AM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[July 03, 2025, 09:02:04 PM]


Selkirk bull moose. by moose40
[July 03, 2025, 05:42:19 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal