Re: Question on prone shooting position
I'd like to make a few comments on prone shooting. I shoot NRA across-the-course, mostly with a space gun these days because I have a hard time seeing the front sight on a Service Rifle, Mid-Range Prone and Long Range, both using a coat and sling. I learned to shoot in 1959 at Ft Benning, GA, and we had something like 50 hours of marksmanship training before we went to the range and fired the M1's. We were taught the prone position fireing from an angle, with the right leg cocked (the lefty's were made to fire right handed). The reason we used that position was because we normally were fireing from behind something, and if you got behind your rifle straight, part of you was sticking out. We were taught to always use your sling, from all positions, getting into the sling if you could and using the hasty sling if you couldn't. Our slings were normally kept adjusted to the hasty lenght. I shoot Mid-Range and Long Distance using a 6.5X20 power scope and always use it at the higher power, only adjusting down for mirage, because I aim for the smallest point that I can see, usually the X in the X-ring. I have some trouble with pulse, these days, because I have a mechanical heart valve, but you just learn to adjust for things. I took second, out of 12, at a Mid-Range match, on Sunday, but had the highest X count, so I seem to be doing OK.
