Lesson learned - Proper Body Positiong

[Shooter_308]

Hey all, so i finally got around to shooting at the 200 yard line (unfortunately the farthest we can shoot her on Long Island). Now, i've been shooting 100 yards for pretty much my whole shooting life, anything from AR's to old milsurp rifles, never really paying attention to getting tiny groups etc, but only recently started getting into precision shooting within the last 7 months. Well, i always thought i knew what i was doing, was consistently shooting sub MOA groups at 100, and figure "200 yards, piece of cake"

Boy was i wrong. Even at 200 yards, every little thing exaggerates. I had my breathing right, wasn't jerking the trigger, had my heart rate slowed to to a relaxed beat but for some reason couldn't group less than sometimes almost 3"! So in my head i'm thinking "wtf is going on here... is my parallax off? Are my scopes screwed up?"

There was Zero wind so that wasn't the factor, and then it hit me: I'm not straight behind the rifle....i'm sitting off to the side of it. So i re-positioned myself at the bench (this range doesn't allow prone shooting, as my other local range does), Settled and pulled the trigger for 2 5-shot groups with my two rifles, WOW what a huge difference! I was very pleased as this was my first real attempt at 200 yards.

Top left and Bottom right were my average groups after changing my body position to behind the rifle

with my SPS-V

With my SPS-AAC, 2 rushed shots before cease fire

These groups were shot with two separate rifles and factory 168gr Federal GMM

Basically, lesson learned: It really does matter even shooting off a bench, to be behind the rifle in the proper position. Improper body mechanics will make things SEEM right, but the proof is in the groupings.

 

[DoctorBen]

Re: Lesson learned - Proper Body Positiong

Nice grouping! Brookhaven is such a nice range, but such a pain in the ass for practical shooting. Can't lay prone, but it's covered, and usually not overcrowded.
With Calverton, you can at least lay prone, but given that the entire firing line is covered with a layer of brass an inch deep, you might not want to. I got rather tired of the folks with birdshot painting the hill at 50yds, and the bump-fired AK's beside me at 200 raining brass down on my noggin, so for now I'm relegated to the awkward benches at Brookhaven.

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Lesson learned - Proper Body Positiong

Straight behind the rifle is not what is making your groups smaller. What makes groups smaller is making recoil resistance consistent. What your revised position did was allow recoil resistance to be consistent. Keep the bigger concept in mind as it is what you are seeking from any position. For example, If you were shooting prone with bone alone or with bone and sling support you most certainly would not get smaller groups being straight behind the rifle, as such a position, where the body was parallel with the barrel, would require extreme muscular tension and place the rifle barrel too far from the non firing elbow. However, in a proper bone supported prone position, where the non firing hand is placed on the forend, you would still want consisent recoil resistance and with some practive you'd be able to get it.

 

[Shooter_308]

Re: Lesson learned - Proper Body Positiong

Thanks DoctorBen, yeah Brookhaven is a great range but i wish they would let at least the 200 yard shooters shoot prone

. I'm tired as well with all the kooks at Calverton. Nothing says a day at the sand pit like 30 ricochets, falling target stands and 30 years of brass buried under the sand....

Sterling - Aha...i see what you're saying. Its more of a recoil management deal rather than position?

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: Lesson learned - Proper Body Positiong

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter_308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks DoctorBen, yeah Brookhaven is a great range but i wish they would let at least the 200 yard shooters shoot prone

. I'm tired as well with all the kooks at Calverton. Nothing says a day at the sand pit like 30 ricochets, falling target stands and 30 years of brass buried under the sand....

Sterling - Aha...i see what you're saying. Its more of a recoil management deal rather than position?</div></div>

It's about making the position muscularly relaxed, maximizing bone and artificial support, and letting the position fall into natural point of aim. The idea is to control the rifle without any unnecessary muscle until recoil has subsided. This reduces wobble induced by muscle, as well as better assures consistent recoil resistance. I believe consistent recoil resistance is the secret to winning in competitive events where multiple shots are fired at a stationary scored target. The hard holder who also understands wind and has perfected sight alignment can win, sometimes, even when handicapped with inferior equipment and/or ammunition.