where to put left hand during prone..

[Minarix]

Where do you place your left hand while shooting prone with a bipod?

I personally use it to adjust my aim at the rear up under the butt of the gun, but i do notice stuttering when looking through the glass, i don't feel the gun moving, but i can see the cross hair moving slightly, even while holding my breath on a exhale.

i'm thinking this is due to my hands shaking even with my hand on the ground it still does uncontrollable twitches.

any fix for this?


also after firing, is it possible to keep focus on the target, i notice that upon firing the recoil causes me to lose my line up with the glass



any tips/helps?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: where to put left hand during prone..

Use a rear bag and squeeze. Thats what I use unless its support side shooting and close range...

 

[Garvey]

Re: where to put left hand during prone..

Hopefully you can find some buddies near by that will let you try out several rear bags so you can find the right size for you. The size of the rear bag correlates to how high your shoulder is off the ground at natural point of aim. In other words if you have a large chest and belly you need a bigger rear bag than a beanpole.

When you're using the bag your cheek should be pushing down on the stock and your non-firing hand should be lifting the stock. The stock is sandwiched in between the cheek and the bag. I use Eagle stock packs on every rifle. The cushion under the cheek weld is very helpful as well as provides me with a natural point of aim that places my eye in the center of the scope.

Losing sight picture takes practice to overcome. Get straight behind the rifle, eliminate the possible hinge caused by slanting your body. Load the bipod to counteract the recoil. Repeat shooting many rounds down range. Over time the distance will become shorter as to how close you can see your own impacts or misses.

 

[Minarix]

Re: where to put left hand during prone..

thanks for the tip, will have to look into a rear bag, my hands just arn't steady enough.

 

[trigger29]

Re: where to put left hand during prone..

Being a southpaw, usually near the trigger........ my right hand, if shooting field conditions, with no rear bag, is under the stock, by my shoulder, like yours. Not as steady as with a bag, but if it's all you've got, it's better than nothing.

 

[jeffersonv]

Re: where to put left hand during prone..

For starters I would say you might be able to benefit a good deal from the online training from this site.

For instance, you are breathing wrong.
I used to do it wrong myself.

You can also learn to begin to drive your rifle so you can improve on your follow through.

Beyond that there are many ways to grow from practicing proper form to taking classes to comps, etc.

My guess is that you will learn enough from the online training here that your present problem with your support hand might become water under the bridge way back when.

 

[81Z4ME]

Re: where to put left hand during prone..

I've really owned/fired two rifles with bipods.

My Rem 700 varmint special in .223 - I grabbed the sling, below where it attaches to the stock QD mount and pull rearwards/downwards to better "set" the rifle in my shoulder pocket.

My M1A - I have tried grabbing the sling the same way as the M700 (not really happy with the results). I've tried pulling downward on the sling below the front sling swivel attachment point (the rifle still pogoes upwards on firing). I've tried grabbing one bipod leg (the left one) and used it to drag the rifle back and forth quickly when working on targets in rapid fire with wide lateral dispersion. The rifle still pogoes upwards but it seems to make the following shots on following targets a little quicker if I move the front of the rifle as the "rough" adjustment and then move my body behind the rifle as the fine adjustment.

That's my gripe with a bipod, that pogo effect in rapid fire situations. Just using the sling is better for me, but then I'm not shooting past 400/500 yds. with it.

 

[Yustax]

Re: where to put left hand during prone..

I place it on my shooting arm to squeeze any pressure off my hold of the rifle.

 

[DPS]

I use a monopod, it's
something solid to hold on to and you can make quick elevation corrections

 

[Flying Goose]

As for coming back on the target are you familiar with "natural point of aim"? If your set up correctly you should recoil back onto target or at least pretty damn close. If your not lay down behind your rifle, get onto target, close your eyes, take a breath, open your eyes, and if your still on target that's the sign you have a good "natural point of aim". It's basically your position keeping you on target and not your muscles pushing you that way.

If you already knew what it was sorry for breaking it down "barney style" might help a noob.