How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

[reximus]

I'm not sure where to put this (please redirect).

I started shooting bulls eye pistol marksmanship competitions last year. It was my first time shooting competitively. I compete in the International Olympic style events at the NRA collegiate level.

During the competitive season, I developed skills that helped me place in the top 20 in two different events at collegiate nationals.

I am just wondering how much of what I have learned shooting bulls eye pistols will transfer to rifles?? i.e. sight alignment, trigger control, concentration, mental game...

Please let me know if 'natural ability' in shooting applies in rifles too. How much more is there to learn and where can I get good instruction? It seems like there are very few fundamentals in pistol shooting (at least the events I've participated in so far), and success comes with mastering the tiny details.

What can I do to become a better rifle shooter?

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

Similarities.
Breathing control
straight back trigger pull
concentration

Non Similar
Grip pressure
time between shots (maybe?)
standing, kneeling prone
Scope and irons (depends)
relaxation of body frame
anyone want to add some?

 

[harbinger]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

I believe your point about sweating the tiny details is correct. A high degree of ability with a handgun does not necessarily transfer over to shooting rifles. However, understanding the fundamentals of marksmanship does. Building a stable platform, sight alignment/sight picture, breath control, trigger control and follow through, while not exactly the same mechanically in rifles and pistols, are equally important in both. If you understand how they effect pistol shooting then you will be ahead of the curve when learning to shoot rifles.

Knowing what is or could possible be causing less than perfect results is the first step in correcting those problems. Find a shooter that knows the ropes and have them give you a lesson on the basics, that will give you a place to start. Check out the marksmanship sections of this board or the online training and you can gain a ton of information that will help you transition. Good luck, and enjoy the ride

 

[reximus]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

Thank you very much for the input and pointers. I was addicted to long range precision from my first long range round down range. I love the new challenge and really look forward to learning both here and in the field.

Now, I need to find somebody who knows what he's doing to show me the ropes! Haha, and thanks again! I hope my marksmanship skillz and knowledge from pistol shooting will truly help me pick up the rifle platform quickly.

I listen well and take corrections with enthusiasm, so once I find a friend/coach to teach me the basics, I should be able to run with it.

Can you (or someone) please elaborate on how these particular techniques differ from pistol to rifle?

Grip pressure
time between shots (maybe?)
standing, kneeling prone
Scope and irons (depends)
relaxation of body frame
anyone want to add some?

Thanks. I'm enjoying the ride so far!

 

[RedGoat]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

Patience
Determination
Ability to learn a skill

Just to add a few I didn't see

 

[Eagle Eye 72]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

I coach 3P air rifle for 4H. The previous coach used to have the new shooters start out in 10 meter pistol. This taught proper sight alignment, breathing and trigger control. I would say you would do well in transfering those skills over to long gun.

 

[Topstrap]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

Just found this post and kinda fits in with what we are doing. I've been shooting some type of competitive pistol shooting for 30+ years including IHMSA silhouette with handguns. and we've been training my son since he was a wee lad. A friend decided to start having 1000 yard steel plate matches on his farm. We've always liked to stretch out our bolt action pistols and gave it a try. Surprising they did very well with very little modifications from the IHMSA rules. This year we built two long range Savage rifles in 260 and have found it to be a lot easier than anticipated.

I really think that all those years of pistol shooting have helped developed excellent trigger and grip control that helped make the transition to LR rifle very easy. If you can squeeze off a shot consistently with a large caliber handgun that moves around a lot then shooting a rifle is a piece of cake when it lies there and you can watch your hit or miss. We've had to learn about reading wind and the other factors involved in shooting these longer distances but executing the shot is still nearly the same as all the handguns we've shot.

I've posted this video before showing my son with an early version of our stock XP100 in 7-08 recoiling with a light grip in a thread about learning trigger control and overcoming recoil sensitivity. He just put 3 shots on top of each other on a 400 yard target during a match at Rayners.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeHKot1scgQ

He has excellent trigger/grip control which is needed for placing hits on top of one another or hitting small steel out to 1000 yards. I think you'll surprise yourself with how easy the transaction will be for you with your competition pistol background. Like a couple others have mentioned there will be some things you'll have to learn or adjust to on various positions for different types of matches being able to control your body and make it do what you're wanting when shooting makes all the other aspects much easier to learn.

Topstrap

 

[reximus]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

So far, I have found that my pistol training has crossed over quite well into rifle skills. A lot of the fundamentals are the same. I really appreciate all the comments and help from everyone. It is nice to have such a helpful community. It is nice to know that my hard work and many many hours training with bulls-eye pistols will help me in the long-range game.

Thanks for the reassurance and pointers.

Keep the similarities/differences coming!

 

[Sgt. 0811]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

Front site focus (just turn it into reticule focus

Trigger control

Breath control

Do not anticipate recoil

Discipline

shot call

All of the basic fundamentals are the same and in many cases amplified with a pistol.
The major differences are in wind calls and precise bullet drop compensation.

The fundamentals never change

 

[reximus]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sgt. 0811</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The fundamentals never change </div></div>

Good call! I'm glad there are so many similarities. I'll focus on what I know and then pick up the differences...

Anything else??

 

[plant.one]

Re: How do pistol skills transfer to long range rifle?

i can tell you that my house of dry fire time to learn trigger control with my pistols helped take my rifle shooting up a notch. I shot long guns most of my life and didnt get my first pistol until about years ago. i had dinked around with handguns but not enough to say i was proficent with one before that.


i used to shoot ok, but never really worried about trigger pull... now that i'm thinking about the consistency i took the time to learn on suqeezing the trigger without moving the sights on my pistol paid off into an increase in my accuracy/consistency in rifle.