Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

[srv656s]

First, apologize for the pictures of looking right at my ass.

I went shooting this past weekend and have usually gone alone in the past. Have always intended to get straight behind the rifle, but Branden noticed that I wasn't straight back and corrected my position. Felt really wrong, but it will take practice before it feels right.

Before I overhaul my position completely, I was hoping the experts here could weigh in and let me know if it looks right to you. First, some pics of my old position, then the corrected position.

What I thought felt straight:

After Branden corrected me:

 

[desertHK]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

the corrected position looks straighter to me.

 

[srv656s]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

Is it straight enough? Looking at it, it makes a straight line through my right leg... wondering if that's good enough.

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the corrected position looks straighter to me. </div></div>

+1

 

[Target In Sight]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: srv656s</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is it straight enough? Looking at it, it makes a straight line through my right leg... wondering if that's good enough. </div></div>

I think it is. I was more focused on your spine being parallel to the rifle, and it is.

 

[Short-bus]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

Gee Shawn, you look so cold! lol.

One thing that was explained to me was that the alignment really is the spine. The spine is in line with the rifle, and you're right leg is as well in this instance, but the leg position seems to come down to comfort and/or stability based on terrain. As long as the spine is parallel to the rifle, that's straight back.

Of course that's how it was explained to me. Keeping that left shoulder back is really the key to keeping the spine lined up.

Branden

 

[Sniper52]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

The corrected position looks better. Your hips still look a little canted to the left. It will feel different but you should notice a difference in the way you managed the recoil of the rifle when your body position is correct. The rifle will not jump near as much, and you should not sting shots left to right as much. Shooting with a can or break will hide poor shooting position. So you will not notice it as much in your results. I am by no means an expert but this is what I was taught and have noticed in my shooting. JAA

 

[Hawk45]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

If you can print one of the pics out you took.. or on a screen, take a ruler and make a line stright back.. everything should be in-line. There is a post over in the marksmanship forum on this topic and some very good responses. Someone put it best that you should lineup on the rifle so that if you split the rifle down the middle you would also split your body into two exact halves. THEN, move your WHOLE BODY to the right (if right handed) so you can shoulder the rifle. Now your center-line should just to the right all the way down.

I'm no expert but this is how I understood it. I'm working on my prone shooting also.

 

[chris223]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

The 1st pic you looked alittle off but the others looked good
looking at it again the 1st one could be the angle of the
camera.

 

[Hogstooth]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

The reason your corrected position feels uncomfortable is because your shoulders and elbows are still at an angle.

You need to square up behind the rifle not only just having your body and legs directly behind the rifle but your shoulders and elbows need to change position too.

This will probably change the way you grip the rear of your stock or bag, it will take some time to make that mental note and set up correctly each time.

Spreading your feet a little wider will also help

 

[VJJPunisher]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

position on the gun looks fine, but far from straight! sorry, couldnt help it!

 

[Shady_Jay]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

you may need to reposition your scope if you are having to dip your right shoulder in far to get a good sight picture

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

A shooting coat and ghey socks? Doesn't look striaght to me at all....

 

[tacshooter223]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A shooting coat and ghey socks? Doesn't look striaght to me at all.... </div></div>
hahaha thats some funny shit.. But as others have stated you still look like you're a little to the left [your left].

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

I shant reply, I'm of the "cocked knee position crowd"

 

[head2h2o]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

Pics 3 and 4 definitely look better. Slight shift to the left though.

 

[azdead]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

I wasnt aware that there is any one correct position to shoot from.

 

[GasLight]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Misguided</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wasnt aware that there is any one correct position to shoot from. </div></div>

It depends on what you are wanting to accomplish. From my understanding, being at a cant, your body is relying shoulder and neck muscle strength to load the bipod, when you are straight behind it, you can load it with the weight of your body and relax your muscles. The straight back also helps to manage recoil and spot misses easier.

YMMV

Dave

 

[mattj]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shant reply, I'm of the "cocked knee position crowd"

</div></div>

I'm not sure if your 'shant reply' is because you prefer unsupported/slung over using a bipod, or if you are in the "cocked knee" crowd even for supported shooting... if it is the latter, I'll throw this out there:

Shooting unsupported prone (including slung) vs. supported prone (such as a bipod) are two quite different scenarios.

Cocked knee is optimized for unsupported/slung prone, "straight behind the rifle frog-legs" is optimized for supported/bipod prone. Using either form in the scenario other than the one it was designed for is, well, sub-optimal...

I do however understand that a) physical limitations/body types can take certain things off the table for certain people, and b) some people have a whole lot of training/experience with slung/prone, and sheer comfort/experience can make it work pretty well for supported shooting as well. That doesn't mean, however, that it isn't still sub-optimal (sorta like a golfer's handicap can get worse for a while when they "improve" their swing, and then after a while they catch up to and surpass their old swing).

 

[Dantrom]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shant reply, I'm of the "cocked knee position crowd"

</div></div>

He's just got a lil captain in him!!!

 

[GUNZ n AMMO]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

how's your LOP on that position? from the picture, it looks like the stock is slightly short. Does it seem like you have to push the stock back to your shoulder but always have the gap? I've been having this issue before but now is good. I spread my feet a bit wider as I trained alot like it and I am more comfortable with it...

 

[.22 lefty]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

I found A good indicator that you are not properly aligned is point of aim travel when breathing. Instead of being straight up and down the reticle will travel low left to top right A simple reposition will remedy this.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Am I straight on my rifle?? (pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm not sure if your 'shant reply' is because you prefer unsupported/slung over using a bipod, or if you are in the "cocked knee" crowd even for supported shooting... </div></div>

Yes I shoot the "crooked leg" position even in the "supported position".

Reason being, it takes the pressure off the diaphram, and makes it easier to shift my head to glance at the spotting scope and make notes and other recordings without disturbing the position & natural point of aim.

<span style="font-weight: bold">To me</span>, the "crooked leg" position is more rock solid either with or without support.