Advanced Marksmanship Bad Habits

[STG3robbie]

Hey Guys! First post. I have been reading for a while now. I just started shooting again after about 4 years. It seems I have developed some bad habits. I am shooting off a bipod in prone. Every rifle I own I am shooting far left. I have never had this problem before.

I think I'm anticipating recoil. Or I'm not pulling the trigger straight back. Maybe Dragging wood? I also could be muscling.

Should I try shooting sling prone to develop my fundamentals again to practice my correct NPOA?
I am doing this with Iron sights and scoped. I'm pretty frustrated. I have not had this problem before.

Any input would be appreciated. Thank You!

 

[blklabs]

Re: Bad Habits

If you are pulling the trigger back and to the right that should throw the shot left. I am not sure how left "far left" is, maybe you should define that as some additional information. Also if you haven't done so, sign up for the online training, they have a 10 min video dealing specifically with how to pull the trigger appropriately. Its well worth whatever the cost to sign up is these days.

 

[STG3robbie]

Re: Bad Habits

I watched the video here about finger placement yesterday. I think finger position and pull is 'part' of the problem. When I say shooting left, I'm mean about 2" left in a group.

I know how I'm supposed to get NPOA. I must be doing it wrong. I could be doing prone wrong. I was reading here about the prone position. I have been cocking my right leg up and not behind the rifle. This is how I have always done it, which I see is wrong. So that also could be part of the problem.

 

[tuckner]

Re: Bad Habits

Well, you have identified two issues, dry fire them into oblivion and shoot to see if you made improvements. I would not begin using the sling as a crutch to build fundamentals, you will just be hiding problems in your shooting if you are using it to hold the rifle where you want it, that is if your goal is tactical practical type shooting you shouldn't be slinging it.

 

[STG3robbie]

Re: Bad Habits

Thank you for the feedback. Especially about the sling. Thats what I needed to know. I need someone to do the 'ball and dummy' drill with also....Andy

 

[Etype]

Re: Bad Habits

Try focusing on pulling the pad of your trigger finger straight back to your shoulder. It's like having a longer sight radius, pulling it back to a farther target helps you straighten it out... or maybe it just has a great placebo effect on me.

 

[Mo_Zam_Beek]

Re: Bad Habits

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Etype</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Try focusing on pulling the pad of your trigger finger straight back to your shoulder.</div></div>

Say it again.


In the last 5 weeks I have fired a little over 5,000 rounds of pistol and carbine related to CQB. As a result I am really slapping the trigger.


Today was my first return to the bolt gun. Right out of the gate I shot a SH Practical Dot target on the clock with a 3 second par time per shot - eewwww. 50% dot hits and the other 50% 1/2 MOA low and left of the dot. I had to put the timer away for a couple rounds and really get back to making my brain and body understand 'straight press'.


Good luck

 

[gruntbull]

Re: Bad Habits

Well probably the hardest thing is to diagnose an issue on the net, but I will make suggestions anyways.

Do some due diligence and really put some dry practice in prior to range op. Go through your position, your funds, and principles. Get your body back into muscle memory.


1. Get a buddy.
2. Have said buddy fill your mag, have him insert randomly 1-2 inert rounds.
3. Shoot, have buddy watch your shoulder, cheek, and firing hand.
4. He needs to watch you not the paper, once you pull on an inert round, have him replay to you what you did.

If a buddy isn't an option, get a video camera, video you shooting in the prone.

Heck if you could upload it Id like to take a look (PM me on that one)

But I imagine you will see your error, is it a consistent impact to the left with both iron and optic, or is it left sporadic?

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Bad Habits

Here's my 2 cents worth, you could have a multitude of problems. Focus on the sight, and follow through. This will allow you to call your shot, and thereafter, by determining the call's corollary to the bullet strike, allow for analysis.

 

[ArifJDH]

Re: Bad Habits

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gruntbull</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well probably the hardest thing is to diagnose an issue on the net, but I will make suggestions anyways.

Do some due diligence and really put some dry practice in prior to range op. Go through your position, your funds, and principles. Get your body back into muscle memory.


1. Get a buddy.
2. Have said buddy fill your mag, have him insert randomly 1-2 inert rounds.
3. Shoot, have buddy watch your shoulder, cheek, and firing hand.
4. He needs to watch you not the paper, once you pull on an inert round, have him replay to you what you did.

If a buddy isn't an option, get a video camera, video you shooting in the prone.

Heck if you could upload it Id like to take a look (PM me on that one)

But I imagine you will see your error, is it a consistent impact to the left with both iron and optic, or is it left sporadic? </div></div>


Totally agree with you 100%!

Adding on Gruntbull's idea I would also recommend the old tried and true dime washer drill. The military uses the hell out of this method for our new soldiers and the snipers I work with do these drills almost everyday. The idea is that you move so little of your body that you barely apply the correct amount of pressure onto the trigger to get a perfect shot off.

All you really need is a metal rod to go into the front of the barrel and then place a dime on the end of the rod. When you dry fire the rifle the idea is for the dime to not fall off the rod in the rifle.

This is sort of complicated but the person placing the dime on the rod while you lay in the prone can be your mom if you want it to be because you'll begin to focus on your aiming, breathing and trigger pull to a extreme level. You'll figure out on your own a lot of your problems. If you think your trigger squeeze was an issue you'll quickly be pulling so slightly on the trigger that it will begin to suprise you when your fully engaged.

So get a rod, a dime and lay in the prone. Have your mom place the dime on the end of the rod while the rod is in the front of your barrel. Aim down your sights and pull the trigger. Repeat till you either drive yourself insane or finally get it right.

Hey even Tiger Woods had to take some time off to break his swing down to the most minute levels and fix it. It happens dude.

 

[Enumclawshooter]

Re: Bad Habits

Thats a great method-I'll be trying that soon...