Question about head positioning while shooting prone

[dlouie87]

Hello,

It's probably not a big deal but here is the "problem" I'm facing. I installed some Badger High AR Rings (1.125) with a 3.7-17x44 USO on a semi auto and when I get behind it, I need to tilt my head more than usual to be able to see through the scope. It feels like it's straining my neck a bit. If I don't tilt enough, the sight picture gets the black areas around the edges.

I would like to ask the more experienced shooters if they have any head tilt as they are looking through their scope or if their head is an upright vertical position looking through the scope.

I hope that makes sense.

Anyways, there probably isn't a wrong way but I would like to know what is the most correct and efficient way. People said that you want to get as squared as possible behind the rifle so does that mean square head positioning too? If so, I believe I would need higher rings than the ones I have right now.

Thank you.

 

[shovelstrokeed]

I don't know what you have for a stock now but I'll bet it is probably positioning your face too low on the gun.
You want your whole body as relaxed as possible when you are behind the gun. Having to muscle your head back ain't gonna do that.
You might try a PRS stock with an adjustable cheek piece and then, maybe, moving your scope forward a bit as your head is going to be closer (with a relaxed neck) to the scope.
I try, when mounting the gun in any position, to bring the stock to my face and then the stock to my shoulder. The dimensional difference of the stock position between prone and bench is actually pretty small as you are not rotating you shoulders very much. Work it out on the bench and then transition to prone.

 

[kraigWY]

Just like any other position, the head is straight, bring the rifle to the head, not the head to the rifle.

You should have a chip monk look to your cheek.

 

[dlouie87]

Thank you for all of your responses. I had and ACE socom on there and I just put on a PRS due to the adjustability. I will get out to the range again soon and I'll report back.

 

[J-ROD]

Can anyone post a picture of someone who is "straight behind the rifle" and brought the rifle to the head versus the other way around?
Seriously, my head is not over my shoulder pocket so I am finding it impossible to do the above

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[shovelstrokeed]

Good body and head position

Take a look at any of the teaser videos (they are free) that show LowLight shooting a huge variety of rifles.
You'll find the information you seek.

You might even want to sign up for the whole series, it ain't that much money.

I guarantee it will cost you less than the ammo you are wasting chasing the gun now.

I'm pretty new at this game but shot hand gun metallic silhouette for years 25 years ago and technique and consistency of technique is everything!!!!!!

Every trip to the range is a relearning experience for me. My gun used to leap about all over the place while I was busy flinching away and yanking the trigger and if I caught a glimpse of the target frame I was happy after the shot. Now, I can see bullet strikes on the target through the scope as soon as the gun finishes the recoil impulse. My trigger control has greatly improved. Just this past Sunday I managed consecutive groups of 0.6xx, 0.443 and 0.302 for 5 shots at 100.

My head isn't over my shoulder pocket either but I'm lined up pretty well on the gun based on its reaction to recoil. Still working on trigger pull, breathing and follow through. I'm doing more and more of my part though, my gun is just waiting for me to learn some more. Think I'll take it out of the case and dry fire a hundred times before I go to sleep.

 

[kraigWY]

Can anyone post a picture of someone who is "straight behind the rifle" and brought the rifle to the head versus the other way around?
Seriously, my head is not over my shoulder pocket so I am finding it impossible to do the above

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Here is a good one.

In this picture I couldn't get a front view, I was shooting a match.

 

[crowdog7]

OP, You Need The "Super High" AR rings. That's What Cured My Problem Due To A Prominent Cheek bone.

 

[40xs]

Wait until you start wearing eyeglasses. that is my most difficult part about getting behind my rifle. they don't make glasses with enough upper sight area and it strains my neck to keep my vision within the frame.

 

[Pinecone]

I wear glasses. I have Randolph Ranger frames. These sit higher on the nose with the center of the lens well above normal, specifically for shooting. They work well on long guns.

I get mine through Morgan Optical. Good people, who are shooters.

 

[40xs]

Thanks, Pinecone. I will check into that!

 

[shovelstrokeed]

Just an example of how little things on hold and position can effect POI.

Back in the day, when I was shooting a match with my MK40 Wichita Arms 308 pistol, I was running 38-40 on the first of 80 targets. Last two rams came up at 200m. I had been crawling up the ram from a hit about 3" above the belly to top of the back as tension got to me to shoot my first 40x. Spotter is giving me my hits and the 39th shot went right over the back. That is 12" higher than the first shot of the string. I loosened my grip on the last as my 40x was blown anyway and was right back to 3" above the belly. Yeah, this was an open sighted 13.5" bbl pistol but, same principles. BTW, I shot 40x for the second half. It's the little things that make a rifle shoot to different places.

 

[J-ROD]

Thanks for the pics Kraig, but I guess I should have been more specific....prone with bipod and rear bag, exactly straight behind gun. How are you supposed to bring rifle to head without moving chin up or rotating head. I find it physically impossible.

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[kraigWY]

This is close, no bipod but sand bags, if the picture was taken from the front you would see the head straight up. The AMU pushed that in their sniper school.

If you look close you can see the improvised cheek pad to allow your head to be straight to reach the high mounted scope on the M21.

 

[djskit]

It's not clear in your post if you are tilting you head up or down to get in line with the scope.

Here's one way and you can do it in your garage: Set your rifle up for prone. Get behind the rifle, but before you get on it, close your eyes, get in a comfortable position and relax. Then open your eyes - is the scope too high? Then get some padding (some pipe insulation and duct tape will work in a pinch) and add it until you are straight behind the scope when you open you eyes.

Scope to low? Get the next higher rings.

 

[J-ROD]

Kraig,
Again thank you for the picture but that shooter is not straight behind the rifle. The right and left shoulder seem to line up with the right and left elbow...which is definitely at a generous angle.
If I lie down straight behind the rifle, with my head straight and pulling rifle to shoulder, it's not an issue of high or low rings but looking at the side of the scope...so I have to roll my head.
I have yet to see a picture of anyone on the entire internet that is straight behind the gun and in a natural pull the gun to the head position.
Not being a hard ass just trying to get my form right before I develop bad habits

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[dlouie87]

I tried the methods mentioned and I believe I need to get higher rings. I'm a righty so I had to tilt my head to the right and move my cheek higher on the cheek piece to be able to see the complete sight picture without the black edges. If my head is squared on the cheekpiece the scope is a little low for me. I guess I learn something new everyday but I'm glad I'm aware about head positioning/body positioning now. There is so much to learn and practice but I need to continue to work on all the fundamentals Thank you all for you input again!