TargetTalk

Hello everybody!

I just evolved from sporter to precision last week, and I am currently shooting consistent 93's in standing. What I am noticing is that after every shot I seem to get "out of place" and my NPA moves. Usually it is moves so that my front sight aperture touches the edge of the target. I am constantly pulling the rifle back into position because all of the corrections I try seem to way over correct. I really don't have a coach right now (I shoot individually), but is there any advice that you guys could give me about very small corrections to NPA?
Thanks!

Really train on putting your elbow in exactly the same spot on your hip. Also the left hand needs to be put in exactly the same spot every time or your NPA will be off.
Matt

Are you making your adjustments with your upper body (hand placement and arm placement), or with your lower body (feet)? Try keeping your upper body in the same place every shot, and move your foot SLIGHTLY (often a half bull adjustment just takes movement of your foot inside your boot). Run right toes forward in the boot if you have to go left.

Sounds to me like there's too much muscling involved, as muscles move, bone (essentially) doesn't. Difficult from a distance but try shooting or rather dry firing / standing in front of a mirror so you can see your stance. Also try and feel your inner position - can you feel that you are using muscle energy ? - should be especially noticeable after shooting for a longer period of time.

Rob.

Ditch the aiming mark and start dry-firing, building a physical structure which is consistently repeatable and develop a methodology for getting into position and rebuilding it consistently from shot to shot *and write it all down* It's not a methodology if you can't write it down. Now, spend a long time dry firing on a blank wall, focusing on the construction of the position, before you add anything like an aiming mark, then dry-fire on that for quite some time again before you fire a shot, then shoot groups without checking them (big groups, ten to twenty shots) to get used to the technique, the bang and there being a hole. By now, you should have your NPA shifting issues sorted and can start thinking about individual shots better because you have the process finely honed.

'Fury

There are several good points here: I will restate some and add a bit of my own.

First, as pointed out by Grizzly, you are striving to always have the same upper body structure from shot to shot, hence the emphasis on left elbow and hand placement. The consequence of this is that NPA right to left is controlled primarily with foot placement. Additionally, unless you need to make major changes, NPA is changed primarily by moving the right foot, and as already noted by very small amounts.

Next, realize that your vertical NPA is controlled by butt placement in the shoulder (high or low) and position of the left hand (distance in or out on the foreend)

Now, go one step further where IRL says "Ditch the aiming mark". Information coming in through the eyes can be a very influential thing so not only ditch the aiming mark but close your eyes. Yes, close your eyes!!! Start with the rifle on the stand or rest and close your eyes, then close the bolt and bring the rifle to your shoulder and settle in before you open them. When you are settled (I mean REALLY settled!!!) open your eyes... are you even looking thought the sights. If not you should study and adjust the rifle or adjust the way the rifle is held to the body to get it so you are looking through the sights naturally when you bring it up into the position.

After drilling with the blank wall for a while and as IRL points out, you feel you can comfortably repeat the same point of aim from shot to shot do not add a bullseye but add a vertical strip. This provides a reference mark so you can isolate and work on the the left to right consistency.

When tired of the vertical strip work with a horizontal strip. Then you can move on to the actual bull.

As you are doing this, occasionally keep your eyes closed for the entire bringing the rifle up and settling process. You might be surprised how much your body tells you when the eyes are not open to interfere.

Good Luck

'Dude