Rifle Scopes DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

[JelloStorm]

So today I took out my new 308 and I noticed that I'm flinching when shooting it. Funny thing is, the recoil really isn't that bad but I'm still flinching thus killing my accuracy.

When first starting after zero, I was getting about 2.2" groups but by the end I was getting sub-inch groups but there was almost always a flyer due to me.

Do I just need to shoot it more? I did notice that without a sandbag with the gun on a bipod and tripod I was moving all around which doesn't help either.

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

Dry fire.

Build the muscle memory on an empty chamber. Your body will learn what right feels like. It doesn't happen over night and it needs to be practiced often to produce the best results.

When you find your self doing it at the range stop shooting and dry fire.

If you see yourself doing it and continue to do it, you are just teaching yourself bad habits.

Blind chamber drills are also great, but generally need a partner to do them.

 

[BirdmanOz]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

Shoot more and the noise and recoil will disappear.

 

[Dagsta]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

What Knight said. It is a normal reaction for the human body to react to an explosion 25+or-" from your face.

I even find after long periods not shooting a little bit of a involuntary flutter sometimes.

Dry Fire is the best cure for that cancer!!

 

[ORD]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KNIGHT11B4</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dry fire.

Build the muscle memory on an empty chamber. Your body will learn what right feels like. It doesn't happen over night and it needs to be practiced often to produce the best results.

When you find your self doing it at the range stop shooting and dry fire.

If you see yourself doing it and continue to do it, you are just teaching yourself bad habits.

Blind chamber drills are also great, but generally need a partner to do them. </div></div>

+1 on all this good advice...especially try having somebody else load your rifle/mags and put in a dummy round/snap-cap every couple rounds so you don't know when to expect the "click." You'll see the flinch/hesitation immediately.

 

[JelloStorm]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

Yeah all good advice! I got a snap cap so maybe I'll practice on that at home.

I know the recoil isn't bad at all but I still flinch. I noticed on my 17HMR I was keeping my eyes open the whole time.

I also think that I'm so used to the light trigger pull on my SAV-RAT 17HMR Trigger that the 2.5lb pull on my 308 (older Remmy trigger, not their accu-trigger whatever it's called) is too much right now.

 

[Bizill]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

OP, you were reading my mind by posting this. I was flinching big time. Mine is an AR-10t with an A2 stock that leaves much to be desired. Also I've got no muzzle brake of any kind. But in the end, it all comes down to me flinching.

 

[JelloStorm]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bizill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OP, you were reading my mind by posting this. I was flinching big time. Mine is an AR-10t with an A2 stock that leaves much to be desired. Also I've got no muzzle brake of any kind. But in the end, it all comes down to me flinching. </div></div>

Semi auto 308's aren't as bad as 308 bolt actions. Throw a few down a bolt action and then go back to your AR-10 and you'll be like "baby I miss you...".

 

[Don-n-Texas]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KNIGHT11B4</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dry fire.

Build the muscle memory on an empty chamber. Your body will learn what right feels like. It doesn't happen over night and it needs to be practiced often to produce the best results.

When you find your self doing it at the range stop shooting and dry fire.

If you see yourself doing it and continue to do it, you are just teaching yourself bad habits.

Blind chamber drills are also great, but generally need a partner to do them. </div></div>

I do the same thing. I stop doing it then I start again.

I would recommend snap caps. Go through your whole routine. Sighting the target,breathing, squeezing the trigger. And shoot a lot and often.

And do what KNIGHT says.

 

[JelloStorm]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

The kicker was, I knew the recoil wasn't nothing to fear yet I kept flinching. I was sort of getting pissed / disappointed in myself.

But, I think maybe a rear sandbag might help with that but a lot of good that will do in the woods..

 

[redirt78]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

Listen to Knight the others, get used to dry firing, practice more and try the dummy rounds as mentioned which will help a ton. Get some of the 30+db foam earplugs that way you don't start to anticipate as much of the bang either. Keep your body and weight behind the gun so the recoil has more of your body mass to deal with also. That will make shooting more comfortable. Good luck.

 

[redirt78]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JelloStorm</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I was sort of getting <span style="color: #660000"><span style="font-weight: bold">pissed / disappointed</span></span> in myself. </div></div>

^ That is when you need a break. Do something else to get your mind off of it for a minute. Continuing to shoot when frustrated, flinching and anticipating recoil is the worst. After a bunch of shots, (ones you are not happy with) , most times your form and execution becomes worse.

Shooting by yourself with piece and quiet before, during and after shots can make a big difference in getting over this too. Sometimes people get wrapped up in the fact that "their buddy is watching". My brother can get all out of whack when we shoot bows, he takes a day of shooting by himself to get right when that happens.

Do not get pissed and start snatching shots.

<span style="text-decoration: underline">With good dry fire practice and range time comes a better feel for your trigger also, no matter what the poundage is.</span>

 

[Don-n-Texas]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JelloStorm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The kicker was, I knew the recoil wasn't nothing to fear yet I kept flinching. I was sort of getting pissed / disappointed in myself.

But, I think maybe a rear sandbag might help with that but a lot of good that will do in the woods.. </div></div>

One other thing I took off my very kewl Harris Bipod and got a Caldwell Rock and a rear bag. That help a lot. Before I was moving all around trying to get on target and would end up shooting before I was settled in.

Now I'm learning to shoot and handle the recoil and then I will be able to go back to the bipod.

I did not like the sand bags. The rock and rear bag are a lot easier. I wish I had bought them the day a bought my rifle.

 

[JelloStorm]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

I honestly think the gun is better than I am. So with that in mind, instead of blaming the gun I need to be looking at what I am doing.

DEFINITELY more trigger time will solve the majority of the problem.

But, a rear bag will help me keep my shit steady.

I noticed that when shooting 100 yards that my cross hairs were doing counter-clockwise or sometimes up and down circles in the 1"x1" square I was shooting at.

This is shooting while sitting on a bench instead of prone.

I notice a lot of guys who have the lucky 3 or 4 leaf clover groups shoot prone. Unfortunately, I'm 29 and have chest arthritis (Costrocontritis sp?) so this is a pain in the ass (chest area) for me.

I can get down on my chest and shoot prone, but I'm going to feel it the whole time. So for me to shoot like the bad dogs on here, I think I need to use a rear bag.

If anyone finds a good one for cheap, let me know!!

 

[prplhaz72]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

I like to slowly build pressure til the trigger breaks. I sit and tell me self over and over in my head press, press, press, press, press, press, press, (quickly) until it finally breaks. Then I also make sure and call my shots every time. Where were my crosshairs when that shot broke? Did it move? Did it dip, drop, go to the left or right? Calling your shots will help you a lot.

I dry practice a lot as well, it helps tremendously. (how do you dry fire?)

If a person will dry practice 10 times for every round you shoot, your skill level will go up dramatically. Spend the week dry practicing then go out and shoot live on the weekends.

 

[Bizill]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JelloStorm</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bizill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OP, you were reading my mind by posting this. I was flinching big time. Mine is an AR-10t with an A2 stock that leaves much to be desired. Also I've got no muzzle brake of any kind. But in the end, it all comes down to me flinching. </div></div>

Semi auto 308's aren't as bad as 308 bolt actions. Throw a few down a bolt action and then go back to your AR-10 and you'll be like "baby I miss you...".

</div></div>

True, true. But I think I'd rather master one blunt recoil vs the reloading sequence of the AR. With practice I hope to do my best to mater this, as will you.

 

[Redmanss]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

Jello, here's a couple quick tips. If you're having pains in your chest from the prone, that is the time to go to a cocked leg prone position if you're not already. It's not a position I recommend for all shooters, but it is for shooters with big torsos or in your case a medical condition. It will ease the pressure and help you concentrate on your shots. Just bend your strong side knee up about 30*.

For the rear bag I used a old boot sock filled with sand for years. It works on the cheap until you get a nice one.

Echoing the dry firing comments, the practice works.

 

[longguntoter]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

Sometimes it just comes down to getting your mind in the set where you block all out. I have a model 91/30 Mosin that can beat me up a bit, so I just tell myself that it is going to do that and set up and lightly pull the trigger until the recoil surprises me, and hits me, but do nothing or think about nothing except keeping my eyes on the sights and keeping the sights on the target. The older I get the more I dislike heavy recoil, but thats the price we pay for shooting larger calibers. I do that same "mind over matter" game with myself with a couple of other heavier caliber rifles I have. I don't know if that is right or wrong, but it works for me.

 

[steve123]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

The best anti flinching training device is a air rifle.

Also when shooting air rifle you learn to follow through on the shot which is critical for consistant accuracy with them.You cannot flinch and follow through at the same time.Tranlates directly to centerfire and solidifies a proper shooting form.

 

[JelloStorm]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

My 17HMR is like an air gun, just goes "bang".

I think more trigger time behind the 308 will help the most.

If you guys want to donate 308 ammo to help me, I wont mind!

 

[earthtrekker1775]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

I didn't read all the responses so, hopefully not repeating.
If you are not already, double-up on ear pro. and wear shooting glasses, more psychological than anything but every little bit helps. Also, like other posters said, spend a good bit of time dry firing and or more time behind a .22 or other very small caliber. I am not sure of your experience level or background but taking the time to get a very good, solid and neutral (skeletal support, not muscle support) shooting position may help. I have found I am more likely to flinch when my fundamentals are not being used. When I am trying to muscle the rifle to keep the crosshairs in the black I am more likely to slap the trigger, expect the shot, etc. If you find yourself working to keep on target close your eyes take a breath and exhale to neutral open your eyes and see if you are on target. If not, make small adjustments to body position and retry. Hope some of this is useful, you may already know all of it, just a few things that helped me get over a flinch courtesy of a lightweight .375 H&H Mag. with a thin, hard recoil pad.

 

[JByrd]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KNIGHT11B4</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Dry fire.

Build the muscle memory on an empty chamber. Your body will learn what right feels like. It doesn't happen over night and it needs to be practiced often to produce the best results.

When you find your self doing it at the range stop shooting and dry fire.

If you see yourself doing it and continue to do it, you are just teaching yourself bad habits.

Blind chamber drills are also great, but generally need a partner to do them. </div></div>

listen to this guy, he kinda knows what hes doin

 

[steve123]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JelloStorm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My 17HMR is like an air gun, just goes "bang".

I think more trigger time behind the 308 will help the most.

If you guys want to donate 308 ammo to help me, I wont mind! </div></div>

I'm an avid shooter with air rifles and centerfires.Current state champion in the Field Target discipline.Believe me when I tell you your 17HMR is not the same when it comes to identifying problems in your shooting form.With a air rifle the smallest mistake is amplified.That's why it's such a great tool for training and it's fun as well.

Think about it.You're flinching because you are anticipating the shot.You are anticipating the shot because you are afraid of the recoil and noise.Again...one cannot flinch and follow through at the same time.

 

[Boondocker308]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

Lots of good info here. I also find my self anticipating the shot (DPMS 308) and often times my whole body will tense up. The dry firing technique sounds like a good place to start for corrective action.

 

[Bearwalk]

Re: DAMNIT. I'm flinching with my 308

I have fought flinching for years. More shooters go through than will admit it. It is also cummalitive, so don't let it go without addressing it. The earlier, the better.

I have found that <span style="font-style: italic">less</span> shooting is better until you have it back under control. As Knight and others have said, dry firing and/or air rifles are best medicine. After you think you have it back under control, start re-introducing some center-fire and <span style="font-style: italic">alternate</span> with dry-firing.

More hearing pro has helped me as well. I use foam plugs in addition to my muffs.

Finally, really, really focus on follow-through and building a sound position. I have found that if I am confident that I have a solid position, I am less concerned about recoil and what is going on with the rifle.

The funny part...I'm a really big guy who grew up shooting 12 guages as a youngster, so this flinching thing can happen to anyone.