Hi, I have just found this forum and is great. I am from Peru and getting information regarding smallbore shooting is hard. Even training is hard, so I can't do it every week. So, finding this forum is like heaven.
Last week we had a prone contest, I scored 544 with the following series: 91 85 93 86 94 95. I was dissapointed with my 85 and 86, but well I had just started again shooting that week. I was happy with that last 94 and 95, I remember that when I was shooting those series I was getting wonderful shoots and that my position was perfect.
In that last 2 shooting series I noticed that my prone position changes a lot. I am trying to mantain a fix prone position so the rear sight is always centered but I can't still. Any tips to get better?
Also I have another question. I am using now a shooting frame, but I don't feel confrtable. Can I shoot with contact lens? I feel it would be more confortable but some people told me that I shouldn't.
I have seen that a lot of guys in this forum recommends the Ways of the Riffle. Will try to get one here to Peru. Thanks for the attention paid to this post an sorry for my bad english.
Sergio
How to remember my prone position?
Moderators: pilkguns, Marcus, m1963, David Levene, Spencer
Sergio,
Get someone to watch you shoot - ideally a coach, and if possible get them to photograph you as well - throughout the course of a shoot.
Also get them to look at your shooting glasses - make sure you're looking through the middle of the lens and that the lens is square on and parallel to the rear sight in all directions. You don't really want to shoot with contacts, lenses are a much better option.
Regards the position and movement, it's just a matter of training and getting used to how it feels in a good stable position and repeating it. To start with you may need to write down notes as to leg and elbow position etc, but it will soon become more natural. Apart from that all I can advise is you don't shoot until you get the position right. Move yourself around until it's right, don't be tempted to muscle the gun around, it will lead to poor shots.
Rob.
P.S. If you do manage to get some pics taken, post them up here and you'll get some additional feedback & suggestions
Get someone to watch you shoot - ideally a coach, and if possible get them to photograph you as well - throughout the course of a shoot.
Also get them to look at your shooting glasses - make sure you're looking through the middle of the lens and that the lens is square on and parallel to the rear sight in all directions. You don't really want to shoot with contacts, lenses are a much better option.
Regards the position and movement, it's just a matter of training and getting used to how it feels in a good stable position and repeating it. To start with you may need to write down notes as to leg and elbow position etc, but it will soon become more natural. Apart from that all I can advise is you don't shoot until you get the position right. Move yourself around until it's right, don't be tempted to muscle the gun around, it will lead to poor shots.
Rob.
P.S. If you do manage to get some pics taken, post them up here and you'll get some additional feedback & suggestions
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Shooting Kiwi
- Posts: 321
- Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2007 3:33 am
- Location: New Zealand
Re contact lenses.
Are you a regular contact lens user? Do you get good correction with them? You will need a different prescription from your usual distance-optimised prescription, so that the front sight is comfortably in focus, with the eye relaxed. The objection sometimes raised to contacts is that they can move on the eye, thus producing different correction from shot to shot. I would expect that this is worse with stronger prescriptions. I believe that their advantages outweigh their disadvantages and am happy to use them myself.
Are you a regular contact lens user? Do you get good correction with them? You will need a different prescription from your usual distance-optimised prescription, so that the front sight is comfortably in focus, with the eye relaxed. The objection sometimes raised to contacts is that they can move on the eye, thus producing different correction from shot to shot. I would expect that this is worse with stronger prescriptions. I believe that their advantages outweigh their disadvantages and am happy to use them myself.
I think the other objection to contacts is that you really do not want to be switching contacts around - and you need a different prescription from your regular contacts. You don't want to be popping your fingers in your eyes any more than absolutely necessary. I'm sure there are other optical considerations which make lenses preferable, I just can't think of the specifics right now.
Rob.
Rob.
Sergio,
Welcome to the forum.
It sounds like you're not relaxing enough. This means you're using a lot of muscle for your first 4 series, and then you tire out for the last two and are forced to relax. I know a number of shooters who used to shoot 100 shot standing matches. They all say that the last strings are their best because they no longer have anything left to muscle the gun around.
You need to make sure the sling and your bones are doing all the work, not your muscles. Try working on two things:
1. Natural Point of Aim (NPA): Aim at the bull you are shooting, close your eyes, and relax for 5-7 seconds. Open your eyes and see where you are aiming. If you're right on the target, then your natural point of aim is spot on. If not, then you are using muscles to aim.
2. Progressive Relaxation: Get in position and adjust your NPA to your target. Now flex your toes, and then relax them. Then flex your ankles and relax. Do this for every muscle you can head to toe (calves, hamstrings, quads, abs, shoulders, etc). If you feel really different after flexing and relaxing, that means you had tension in that muscle. The more tension you can eliminate, the better your position will be.
As for contacts, I shoot in them myself. They're superior to glasses in that they automatically center on your rear sight, no need to mess with frames. The down side is that when something does wrong, it tends to go really wrong: one rips in your eye, falls out. Also, I have troubles on cold days when I get a wind from about 1 o'clock to 1:30. It really does a number on my aiming eye (I'm a righty). Overall though, I much prefer contacts to regular glasses. I have not tried shooting glasses though.
Good luck.
Welcome to the forum.
It sounds like you're not relaxing enough. This means you're using a lot of muscle for your first 4 series, and then you tire out for the last two and are forced to relax. I know a number of shooters who used to shoot 100 shot standing matches. They all say that the last strings are their best because they no longer have anything left to muscle the gun around.
You need to make sure the sling and your bones are doing all the work, not your muscles. Try working on two things:
1. Natural Point of Aim (NPA): Aim at the bull you are shooting, close your eyes, and relax for 5-7 seconds. Open your eyes and see where you are aiming. If you're right on the target, then your natural point of aim is spot on. If not, then you are using muscles to aim.
2. Progressive Relaxation: Get in position and adjust your NPA to your target. Now flex your toes, and then relax them. Then flex your ankles and relax. Do this for every muscle you can head to toe (calves, hamstrings, quads, abs, shoulders, etc). If you feel really different after flexing and relaxing, that means you had tension in that muscle. The more tension you can eliminate, the better your position will be.
As for contacts, I shoot in them myself. They're superior to glasses in that they automatically center on your rear sight, no need to mess with frames. The down side is that when something does wrong, it tends to go really wrong: one rips in your eye, falls out. Also, I have troubles on cold days when I get a wind from about 1 o'clock to 1:30. It really does a number on my aiming eye (I'm a righty). Overall though, I much prefer contacts to regular glasses. I have not tried shooting glasses though.
Good luck.
Thanks for all the responses, now I have a list of what to try on my next trainning session.
About the contact lenses, I have just started to wear them. I can't believe for how many years I used normal glasses, because I was afraid of putting my finger near my eye for contact lenses. It is for me a whole difference in terms of being confortable. Although I have still a hard time trying to put o removing them off.
Yes, I also heard that blinking would make difference when shooting to the 50 meter away target. So, I am still using the frames but I think I will try to shoot with contact lenses and see how it goes. Also I don't have a ot of myopia or astigmatism.
Yes, like I always try to start with my NPA in the bull but as minute passes I start loosing the aim of my NPA away from the bull. Most probably I am focing the muscles like you guys said instead of being in NPA. I will try to start all over again in my next session and try to find that relaxed position and do that flexing and relaxing of all my muscles that are invlve in my position.
Thanks guys for all this advices, I am sure I will increase my last score in one month with all this tips. I wil constantly post my advances.
Sergio
Shooting Kiwi Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:24 am Post subject:
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Re contact lenses.
Are you a regular contact lens user? Do you get good correction with them? You will need a different prescription from your usual distance-optimised prescription, so that the front sight is comfortably in focus, with the eye relaxed. The objection sometimes raised to contacts is that they can move on the eye, thus producing different correction from shot to shot. I would expect that this is worse with stronger prescriptions. I believe that their advantages outweigh their disadvantages and am happy to use them myself.
About the contact lenses, I have just started to wear them. I can't believe for how many years I used normal glasses, because I was afraid of putting my finger near my eye for contact lenses. It is for me a whole difference in terms of being confortable. Although I have still a hard time trying to put o removing them off.
Yes, I also heard that blinking would make difference when shooting to the 50 meter away target. So, I am still using the frames but I think I will try to shoot with contact lenses and see how it goes. Also I don't have a ot of myopia or astigmatism.
Yes, I feel like my right elbow changes position everytime. I try to remember where it was, but a lot of times I feel that I am not confortable where it is now and I change it. I willl try to move until it is right, because as you said I am forcing muscles instead of doing it right. Also have same problem but in a less degree with the right leg. For my next training I will bring my camera and ask my friend to photograph me and I will post the pics here :DRobStubbs Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:08 am Post subject:
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Sergio,
Get someone to watch you shoot - ideally a coach, and if possible get them to photograph you as well - throughout the course of a shoot.
Also get them to look at your shooting glasses - make sure you're looking through the middle of the lens and that the lens is square on and parallel to the rear sight in all directions. You don't really want to shoot with contacts, lenses are a much better option.
Regards the position and movement, it's just a matter of training and getting used to how it feels in a good stable position and repeating it. To start with you may need to write down notes as to leg and elbow position etc, but it will soon become more natural. Apart from that all I can advise is you don't shoot until you get the position right. Move yourself around until it's right, don't be tempted to muscle the gun around, it will lead to poor shots.
Rob.
P.S. If you do manage to get some pics taken, post them up here and you'll get some additional feedback & suggestions
Soupy44 Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:57 am Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sergio,
Welcome to the forum.
It sounds like you're not relaxing enough. This means you're using a lot of muscle for your first 4 series, and then you tire out for the last two and are forced to relax. I know a number of shooters who used to shoot 100 shot standing matches. They all say that the last strings are their best because they no longer have anything left to muscle the gun around.
You need to make sure the sling and your bones are doing all the work, not your muscles. Try working on two things:
1. Natural Point of Aim (NPA): Aim at the bull you are shooting, close your eyes, and relax for 5-7 seconds. Open your eyes and see where you are aiming. If you're right on the target, then your natural point of aim is spot on. If not, then you are using muscles to aim.
2. Progressive Relaxation: Get in position and adjust your NPA to your target. Now flex your toes, and then relax them. Then flex your ankles and relax. Do this for every muscle you can head to toe (calves, hamstrings, quads, abs, shoulders, etc). If you feel really different after flexing and relaxing, that means you had tension in that muscle. The more tension you can eliminate, the better your position will be.
As for contacts, I shoot in them myself. They're superior to glasses in that they automatically center on your rear sight, no need to mess with frames. The down side is that when something does wrong, it tends to go really wrong: one rips in your eye, falls out. Also, I have troubles on cold days when I get a wind from about 1 o'clock to 1:30. It really does a number on my aiming eye (I'm a righty). Overall though, I much prefer contacts to regular glasses. I have not tried shooting glasses though.
Good luck.
Yes, like I always try to start with my NPA in the bull but as minute passes I start loosing the aim of my NPA away from the bull. Most probably I am focing the muscles like you guys said instead of being in NPA. I will try to start all over again in my next session and try to find that relaxed position and do that flexing and relaxing of all my muscles that are invlve in my position.
Thanks guys for all this advices, I am sure I will increase my last score in one month with all this tips. I wil constantly post my advances.
Sergio
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Guest
I just wanted to let you all guys know how I did yesterday in a 50m cpone contest after following your advices guys. I did my best score in my life. My series where 97 96 97 92 91 91. I had to do what you guys told me all at one yesterday because there are not many chances to practice.
I noticed that was very difficult to keep the NPA in place. Like everytime I was loading the riffle I had to find again where my right elbow, my left hand palm or my cheek was before. So It took me a long time to shoot, in fact I had to go in a faster rate the last series in order to shoot in time.
I also noticed I have 2 ways of the riffle to rest in my palm. One near the thumb and another in the middle of my palm. I need to try to always put it in the same place. I will try to get better in the NPA in the next contest.
Again thanks for the advices,
Sergio
I noticed that was very difficult to keep the NPA in place. Like everytime I was loading the riffle I had to find again where my right elbow, my left hand palm or my cheek was before. So It took me a long time to shoot, in fact I had to go in a faster rate the last series in order to shoot in time.
I also noticed I have 2 ways of the riffle to rest in my palm. One near the thumb and another in the middle of my palm. I need to try to always put it in the same place. I will try to get better in the NPA in the next contest.
Again thanks for the advices,
Sergio
Try to always use the same hand position on the forestock. It should be more on the heel of the thumb, as getting it in the palm of the hand can cause the wrist to bend and get sore. You can put a small piece of tape or moleskin on the cheekpiece to help get your face in the same spot every time. Getting the right hand and elbow the same every time is a matter of building up a kinesthetic sense of how it feels to be in the proper position.