Suggestions for becomming a better shooter.
- Thread starter FIDI_G
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Have a solid rest. Get comfortable.
You want equal pressure from the bags. If you let go it should still be centered on the target.
Repeat your hold shot to shot.
Some downward pressure on the grip helps me when shooting off a bipod and on bags .
Skip the coffee.
Don't adjust your scope on windy days, learn the hold-off . Zero your scope on a calm day . Don’t expect good groups when it's windy, especially at longer distances.
Let your airgun settle in when switching pellets.
Learn your holdover at close range , like 10-20 yards., and your poi out to 50 yards in 10 yard increments or 100y if you hunt at longer distances.
A decent scope sure helps.
Enjoy those days when it all comes together.
You want equal pressure from the bags. If you let go it should still be centered on the target.
Repeat your hold shot to shot.
Some downward pressure on the grip helps me when shooting off a bipod and on bags .
Skip the coffee.
Don't adjust your scope on windy days, learn the hold-off . Zero your scope on a calm day . Don’t expect good groups when it's windy, especially at longer distances.
Let your airgun settle in when switching pellets.
Learn your holdover at close range , like 10-20 yards., and your poi out to 50 yards in 10 yard increments or 100y if you hunt at longer distances.
A decent scope sure helps.
Enjoy those days when it all comes together.
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Lots of solid advice in this thread! Dry fire practice has really helped me tighten up my trigger pull.
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Yes, great advice, but I must object to the practice of just shooting and shooting till your hearts content. You could be doing things all wrong and if you didn’t know any better, the bad habits that one picks up on just keep getting worse. It’s no different that shooting a basketball from a free throw, scooping up a line drive ground ball, or swimming the IM relay, if you’re not coached on the basic fundamentals you’re going to be doing it all wrong till the sun goes down.
Practice makes perfect, but only good practice. I am a perfect example of this. I went thru almost 8K pellets leading up to last years RMAC. Shot 4-6 days a week, at almost 3 hours a day. I thought by “just doing it” I can only get better, right? When I zippered a lizard at a hundred yards I thought to myself “yes, I’m ready!”
Well, when I got to RMAC and started watching and listening, I realized I had been doing a good part of practicing all wrong. From shooting position, to equipment, yeah, I had a lot of work that needed tending to. So I had to make changes and come up with a plan.
A fellow shooter at RMAC told me he got a chance to chat about shooting strategy with the girl from AOA, Lauren Parsons. What she told him that he shared with me stuck, and it was basically saying it’s not the amount of shots you take practicing, it’s the amount of QUALITY shots that you take that count. So, yeah, after hearing that, it stuck with me.
I thank all for chiming in on advising not just the OP, but others like myself. Topics that seek advice such as this don’t normally get answered like it has here, and I get it. Not all are going to pipe in a reveal their secrets. It’s like that in anything, if someone’s got the edge why would they share that? It’s no different in asking someone how they were able to get a task done so fast and efficient, or how’d they meet and go above a sales quota for the month. Most, when asked, just reply back “I have my ways”, right?
I’ve seen it a lot here, wether it’s a tune, mods to the gun, or barrel types and cleaning processes. Person A mentions utmost accuracy from his barrel cleaning strategy. Well, of course someone will ask about the process, right? So when asked, all of a sudden Person A is no longer responding to the thread- crickets.
So, again, thanks for all that chimed in.
To the OP- my advice to you is to find every book, link, video(that video from 68 whiskey that CMATERA shared is awesome! Thnx, Carl!)etc you can on the subject, not just in shooting, but also on both physical and mental preparation. That’s what I’ve had to do so far.
Practice makes perfect, but only good practice. I am a perfect example of this. I went thru almost 8K pellets leading up to last years RMAC. Shot 4-6 days a week, at almost 3 hours a day. I thought by “just doing it” I can only get better, right? When I zippered a lizard at a hundred yards I thought to myself “yes, I’m ready!”
Well, when I got to RMAC and started watching and listening, I realized I had been doing a good part of practicing all wrong. From shooting position, to equipment, yeah, I had a lot of work that needed tending to. So I had to make changes and come up with a plan.
A fellow shooter at RMAC told me he got a chance to chat about shooting strategy with the girl from AOA, Lauren Parsons. What she told him that he shared with me stuck, and it was basically saying it’s not the amount of shots you take practicing, it’s the amount of QUALITY shots that you take that count. So, yeah, after hearing that, it stuck with me.
I thank all for chiming in on advising not just the OP, but others like myself. Topics that seek advice such as this don’t normally get answered like it has here, and I get it. Not all are going to pipe in a reveal their secrets. It’s like that in anything, if someone’s got the edge why would they share that? It’s no different in asking someone how they were able to get a task done so fast and efficient, or how’d they meet and go above a sales quota for the month. Most, when asked, just reply back “I have my ways”, right?
I’ve seen it a lot here, wether it’s a tune, mods to the gun, or barrel types and cleaning processes. Person A mentions utmost accuracy from his barrel cleaning strategy. Well, of course someone will ask about the process, right? So when asked, all of a sudden Person A is no longer responding to the thread- crickets.
So, again, thanks for all that chimed in.
To the OP- my advice to you is to find every book, link, video(that video from 68 whiskey that CMATERA shared is awesome! Thnx, Carl!)etc you can on the subject, not just in shooting, but also on both physical and mental preparation. That’s what I’ve had to do so far.
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Lots of great info in this thread.
I will agree with Linda Parsons advice that Bigragu quotes above - regarding “its the quality of the shots that matter”.
Simplest way I found to accomplish this - STOP shooting groups and START shooting the 30 Yard Challenge - target available in the Challenges forum on this site. Groups don’t give you the detailed info that single shots do.
Once you are scoring each and every shot, you will start paying much closer attention to EVERYTHING that you are doing.
This one simple change from shooting groups to shooting and scoring targets has made a noticeable improvement for me.
I will agree with Linda Parsons advice that Bigragu quotes above - regarding “its the quality of the shots that matter”.
Simplest way I found to accomplish this - STOP shooting groups and START shooting the 30 Yard Challenge - target available in the Challenges forum on this site. Groups don’t give you the detailed info that single shots do.
Once you are scoring each and every shot, you will start paying much closer attention to EVERYTHING that you are doing.
This one simple change from shooting groups to shooting and scoring targets has made a noticeable improvement for me.
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My 2 cents worth…
First and foremost I’m a hunter to put food on the table and control varmints, plain and simple.
And truth be told I hunt a lot more than most people.
Any animal I "dispatch" deserves my best shot possible. That’s why I practice, the ten-ring is merely an aiming point.
Every practice shot I take is because I want "perfection" and to be as humane as possible with my killing. (Yeah that’s a paradoxical statement)
So always in the back of my mind it’s "one shot one kill". Always.
I do not like having to take a coup-de-gras shot on a wounded animal but it happens.
Guns are meant for killing first and plinking is just a bonus pass time in my opinion, but that should not be taken lightly either.
Mind set is key.
Keeping in mind the true purpose of guns and the need to kill as effectively as possible every time is a key aspect missing from the average "target" shooting lead slinger I run into. But again that’s just my mind set and opinion and it helps me focus.
Killing is not necessairly a good thing but doing it well is.
And it seems a majority of shooters these days fail to acknowledge the concept.
Focus on the task at hand and realize why you are trying to achieve "perfection" even if you’ll never kill something the concept is the same, so your mindset needs to be too.
My air rifles have allowed me to become an even better shooter with my powder burners from the simple fact it takes knowledge and practice to get things right with air and those skills translate directly to my long range in-the-field hunting with more powerful weapons.
But I never forget why I’m "plinking" and it makes me a better shooter.
First and foremost I’m a hunter to put food on the table and control varmints, plain and simple.
And truth be told I hunt a lot more than most people.
Any animal I "dispatch" deserves my best shot possible. That’s why I practice, the ten-ring is merely an aiming point.
Every practice shot I take is because I want "perfection" and to be as humane as possible with my killing. (Yeah that’s a paradoxical statement)
So always in the back of my mind it’s "one shot one kill". Always.
I do not like having to take a coup-de-gras shot on a wounded animal but it happens.
Guns are meant for killing first and plinking is just a bonus pass time in my opinion, but that should not be taken lightly either.
Mind set is key.
Keeping in mind the true purpose of guns and the need to kill as effectively as possible every time is a key aspect missing from the average "target" shooting lead slinger I run into. But again that’s just my mind set and opinion and it helps me focus.
Killing is not necessairly a good thing but doing it well is.
And it seems a majority of shooters these days fail to acknowledge the concept.
Focus on the task at hand and realize why you are trying to achieve "perfection" even if you’ll never kill something the concept is the same, so your mindset needs to be too.
My air rifles have allowed me to become an even better shooter with my powder burners from the simple fact it takes knowledge and practice to get things right with air and those skills translate directly to my long range in-the-field hunting with more powerful weapons.
But I never forget why I’m "plinking" and it makes me a better shooter.
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Study the game. Read books written by top shooters. Be willing to change your bad habits. Observe top shooters. Practice, practice, practice. Always compete against yourself and get a better score each time. Don't get rattled; if you have a bad shot, wipe it from your mind and concentrate on the next one. Have fun, but don't think the most expensive gun in the dealer's showcase is the answer to your problem.
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I'd like to maybe expand a little on one thing RadioFlyer said. There's a lot of discussion here about what to do once you have a gun in your hands. But less on the preparation. I see a lot of people shooting who would have a much easier time if they developed their core strength and balance a little more. Some generalized cardio, balance, flexibility and strength training will not only help your shooting, but it will help you in most elements of your life.
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Excellent post. The portion that I retained, quoted, whatever is disturbing but I have seen it and experienced at work and at play. It has a name, it’s called INSECURITY.
I very well remember it when I was skydiving, how the experienced, good, skydivers mostly had their click and it was closed. They didn’t want to help you get better or equal to them. I was never that way with anything, work or play. One day at the drop zone a girl was new and we were chit chatting. I had maybe 40 jumps more than her in my jumping career. She asked questions, I gave answers, we did some jumps and improved in skill and confidence.
Who was the winner there ? ME. I got to help someone that needed help and she could not thank me enough.
I taught scuba for a couple years and always told everything, even the smallest secrets to help divers perfect their skill and safety. Same with work, if there was something I could teach someone to make themselves better, I did and will do till I’m not breathing any more.
People that hold back for their insecure ego suck.
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Nothing is more rewarding than helping pass “good knowledge“ onto others who can actually use it and see the benefit. I feel like you, why not share knowledge. It’s a win, win for those involved.
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Bone support vs muscle support as much as possible with your shooting position.
Find and get settled into position so your natural point of aim is on target.
Find and get settled into position so your natural point of aim is on target.
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Great response! As I am a teacher, education is important to me in all aspects of my life.
I enjoy passing along all that I have learned.
Just a side note @ rcs9250, reading your post I couldn't help but notice you live in a town called "Mentor". Just saying.
Thanks
Doc
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Haha. Nice observation. I also taught as part time faculty at the local community college for 14 years. It was a CNC programming/machining class a couple times a year. Thoroughly enjoyed it and was excellent side money.
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@ RCS9259, L. LEON, and DOC CRAKER-
I finished off my career in my trade as an apprenticeship instructor. All the students complained that their journeymen hardly showed them anything, wouldn’t let them look at the blueprints, and if they could have them do brain dead work such as duct seal all day they would to keep the students from advancing knowledge wise, but the structure of the program wouldn’t allow it. The students had to be at a certain level of skill set at a certain level of apprenticeship and if not, the hammer would come down on the company they worked for.
I never understood why someone would keep someone else from advancing. Just like money, toys and what not, you can’t take it with you when the last breath is exhaled, so why not pass on your knowledge?
You say insecurities, yes, I get that also. I tend to lose all respect once I sense that in someone, and I’m quick to pick up on it.
I just happen to go on snipers hide, as I was researching typical shooting bench heights. Those guys over there don’t seem to hold back any info towards better shooting technique. One of the things I learned in the five minutes being there is it’s better to shoot off of a bench with no cut out for right or left hand seating, as the stress goes sideways at the rear of the rifle(or has the tendency to). The majority of folks say a straight cut design and the height bit lower on the table so your upper body position will tend to lean forward into the gun while sitting, making it like more of a prone position but just the upper body. It also will force you to be directly behind the gun to absorb recoil straight back instead of sideways.
It all started with a guy asking about a shooting bench height. None of those guys that offered him the advice had to get more in depth on building a better table that in turn will help in technique, but they did.
I finished off my career in my trade as an apprenticeship instructor. All the students complained that their journeymen hardly showed them anything, wouldn’t let them look at the blueprints, and if they could have them do brain dead work such as duct seal all day they would to keep the students from advancing knowledge wise, but the structure of the program wouldn’t allow it. The students had to be at a certain level of skill set at a certain level of apprenticeship and if not, the hammer would come down on the company they worked for.
I never understood why someone would keep someone else from advancing. Just like money, toys and what not, you can’t take it with you when the last breath is exhaled, so why not pass on your knowledge?
You say insecurities, yes, I get that also. I tend to lose all respect once I sense that in someone, and I’m quick to pick up on it.
I just happen to go on snipers hide, as I was researching typical shooting bench heights. Those guys over there don’t seem to hold back any info towards better shooting technique. One of the things I learned in the five minutes being there is it’s better to shoot off of a bench with no cut out for right or left hand seating, as the stress goes sideways at the rear of the rifle(or has the tendency to). The majority of folks say a straight cut design and the height bit lower on the table so your upper body position will tend to lean forward into the gun while sitting, making it like more of a prone position but just the upper body. It also will force you to be directly behind the gun to absorb recoil straight back instead of sideways.
It all started with a guy asking about a shooting bench height. None of those guys that offered him the advice had to get more in depth on building a better table that in turn will help in technique, but they did.
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I do this too. No one ever told me to, I just kind of started doing it. I’m not sure it helps with accuracy—there are other techniques listed above that I use for that—but it adds a whole new dynamic to shooting. It’s exhilarating for me, to imagine myself hurtling downrange with each shot. And as soon as I impact my target, I SNAP back into my body.I know this sounds dumb.
But I'm gunna say it
No matter what I do it boils down to when I very first started shooting. My dad said: BE THE ARROW(we were bow shooting). I was so confused until it hit me: pretend YOU are the projectile, now think. If you were the projectile in these conditions...
I KNNNOOOWWWW it sounds dumb. But in my nrain; it triggers my body into shooting mode(calms me down i guess). Sort of like a mantra for me now. I calmly tell myself: be the pellet(what ever projectile i am using; arrow, bullet, pellet, etc.)
It's just something I didn't see mentioned. Idk if it will help you but maybe you can make a use of it too
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While common wisdom is to practice and practice but I learned from my golfing days that bad practice makes things much worse than no practice, more specifically bad practice build really bad habits. It’s not for everyone but try to understand the mechanic or physics behind everything and then try to improve the practice towards your goal.
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