Marksmanship training

[drutledge79]

I don't shoot as much as I want nor am I as good a shot as I wish I was. I get it done but there is a lot of room for improvement.

I've heard the typical advice for practicing for hunting shots: don't just sit at the bench; stand-up, use a tree for a rest, use your pack, etc. Run up a hill and try to shoot. I do that. It helps.

What I feel like is lacking for me is "training" (as opposed to "practice"). When I go out and am shooting poorly just shooting more and more isn't going to help anything. I need instruction or some technique to break down the shooting action into discrete steps or actions so I can improve.

I've done Appleseed twice. It was quite helpful.

What do y'all do? How did you learn to shoot? Do you have any suggestions for books or videos? Is there a named technique you use? What sort of dry-fire practice do you do? Do you ever try to quantify your skill (by time or precision or some other way)? Does anyone use those laser trainers I see the action pistol folks using?

Any and all advice appreciated.

[MarkoRamius1999]

Its a lot of muscle control for me. Stopping time in my mind. Breathing correctly. I know that my .7mm is heavy and I cannot hold it forever if I'm shooting from my heals so my technique is to aim a little high and SLOWLY let the crosshairs drop and fire when the time is right. I also stand there and just hold my rifle and aim at one spot for as long as I can. It teaches all my senses to focus trains my brain to be familiar with the the view of looking through a scope.
I teach my boys to shoot standing up first without a sling. Once they get good at that and they shoot form a resting position they are amazed at how much easier it is. But if you never shoot standing up and only from a rest, you will not train the needed muscles and part of your brain that you will use at that time.

[Scottie15]

Air rifle and dry fire. I have an IOTA (indoor optical training aid) and some scaled down targets I use for dry fire practice from various positions - prone, shooting sticks kneeling/sitting, standing off a rest and standing unsupported.

Also, get a pellet rifle and do some backyard practice. get a pellet trap or set up a space you can shoot into and not worry about ricochets or breaking your neighbor's window.

Get to the range occasionally and practice shooting targets of various sizes from field positions. Check out the dot drill... scale appropriate to the position and range you are shooting from.

Looking for an excuse for a new gun? Buy/build a trainer that mimics the setup of your hunting rifle. I personally just use my 10/22, but would like to get a 22 or 17 trainer someday...

[Thefeeder]

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What helped a great deal for my rifle shooting back in the day was shooting matches.

I believe Concord has 22 Silhouette matches going on. No need to burn up centerfire rounds to learn

Shoot under the stress of every shot counts, shoot with a time constraint, get used to shooting with and controlling butterflies ( buck fever). Day of the match is like the hunting trip....your shooting because you have to, not because your in a great mood to go shooting.

You have the rest already, except for the practice part, fellow shooters will explain how they practice to get better. Thats as far as I can take you without watching you shoot. I have no idea wht you need to practice on or how to practice it

[jhillas]

Some good advice here. Like Marko said, some come in above and slowly come down to target, some come in below and raise to the target. Find what feels natural for you. Then it is repetition, muscle memory. The pellet gun is a great idea. Practice and enjoy yourself.

[MarkoRamius1999]

100% agree with the pellet gun. Have had one in my hands since I was a kid. Learn iron sights. Very important. With our 30-30 my boy hits 8" targets at 150' all day. No scope and no rushing.

[Mudlol]

Do a precision bolt rifle match. It’s good practice.

[C.W.M.V.]

Join the Army.

[wpage]

Get a bolt 22lr and practice

[drutledge79]

Thanks for the tips. I got a pellet gun for this very reason. I also really like the idea of shooting matches. Intentional practice and being surrounded by good shooters can't hurt.

[CVShooter]

Air rifle. I have a PCP with very similar bolt, safetey, etc. as my hunting rifle. Sniping rats out of the chicken yard is good practice for fast, accurate shooting. A gas piston rifle keeps me fresh on iron sights (scope ripped off that thing years ago).

Come August, if I plan on taking the rifle out for hunting that year, it's daily dry fire practice at home/work. Live fire is 100% off-hand, prone, kneeling or off a backpack. No benchrest allowed for me after I've sighted a rifle in.

Off a backpack, I'm usually good to about 350 yards but I still wouldn't take anything over 200. If I can't get that close, then I figure that I'm spending too much time on the range & not enough time in the woods.