DEVELOPING BETTER SHOOTING SKILLS

The best of hunters have missed shots from time to time.  No one is immune to forgetting the things we should do when hunting.  And nothing is more frustrating than missing an easy shot. None of us are perfect, and any hunter who claims never to have missed simply hasn't hunted very much or is simply being untruthful.  You can (and should) spend years to become a skillful marksman.  As you gain expertise in shooting with a rifle you will achieve greater confidence with your weapon.  The good news is that you don’t have to start by missing everything that steps in front of you - whether a 12-point buck or a cottontail.   Following I have listed some tips which I have learned can help you develop the skills to be able to hit your target more consistently.

1.  SHOOT WITH A .22 FOR STARTERS

Most of us really don’t realize it and may not be willing to acknowledge it, but the recoil and muzzle flash from a large caliber rifle is disagreeable.  However, the above mentioned evils are a part of the price for hunting big game.  The nice thing about it is that you don’t have to live with that loud BANG or the kick to your shoulder when honing your shooting skills.One of the best ways to develop into a really good marksman is to spend hours with your rim fire .22.  What you will immediately notice is that the report is meek and there is no recoil to speak of.  Here’s the best part. . . .22 bullets are cheap!  You can pick up a brick of 500 rounds for about $10 anywhere.It makes no difference if you plinking, shooting at targets or hunting small game, a .22 brings you back to the basics when it comes to shooting a rifle.  Take some time in the off-season getting used to the feel of a weapon and using it as a means to alleviate any shooting problems such as flinching.  I suppose the best benefit is that you can use this time to practice basic techniques.  Work on your trigger squeeze and controlling your breathing.

2.  SPEND TIME ON TRIGGER CONTROL

As most of us know, jerking the trigger is the most common problems that plague marksmen.  What’s more, it’s easy to fall into this terrible habit.  What is needed by all shooters is to apply steady, smooth, tender pressure right until the trigger “breaks” and the rifle fires.Professional shooting coaches insist that when firing a rifle it should be a surprise to the shooter.  What I mean by that is you can’t predict the shot.  What we all have to do is to learn to ignore the knowledge that the rifle is about to fire in spite of the fact that we KNOW the rifle is about to fire.The best way to develop proper trigger control is to use a dirt free, crisp, fairly light trigger.  A too light trigger increases the chance of misfire.  I find the best trigger pull to be about 2 ½ to 3 pounds.  That’s not what you’ll find in out-of-the-box rifles.  Take the rifle to a gunsmith and tell him you would like to have the trigger pull adjusted.  If this is not possible, don’t worry.  You can learn how to use good control on even a dreadful trigger.Be aware that it may be more difficult if you fire several rifles, one with a great trigger and another with a bad one.

3.  TAKE A DEEP BREATH

You can never become a good marksman while inhaling or exhaling.  You must learn to hold your breath when you squeeze.  This is no easy feat, especially after climbing up on your stand or reaching the top of a hill and big buck jumps in front of you.  Holding your breath is a must.  Practice until you don’t even have to think about it.Another thing to proper breathing is that when most people miss, it’s usually because they rush the shot.  Occasionally a hunter will have the luxury of time, but most often you will only have a few seconds to assume your position and take the shot.  Many times you have no time at all!  You shoot now or go home with nothing.  Learn this well.  If there is no real time to make the proper shot, don’t shoot!  You’ll probably miss anyway.  Having said that, to make the best possible shot take a few seconds and take a deep breath,  then let out part of the breath you just took and start the trigger squeeze.

SUMMARY

These are a few steps you can take to improve your shooting skills drastically so remember:1. Start off by shooting with a .22 rifle2. Learn to control your trigger control3. Take a deep breathIf you practice these things consistently in the off-season you will be pleasantly surprised when your moment comes to take your prize in the field!

Billy Willis

http://www.lonestarholsters.com