Galway Junior Rifle Club

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Basic Positions

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Prone

  • body (& mat) should be 15-20 degrees to firing line

  • forward forearm must be 30 degrees or greater from the ground- and not quite under the gun

  • straight line from forward hand to foot on same side (don't let your body bend!)

  • avoid "high" position- 35 degrees is good

  • Keep one knee bent- shifts weight off diaphragm and major arteries

  • Keep forward wrist straight, don't bend it sideways

  • keep sling tight and flat across hand

  • if possible load gun without removing it from your shoulder

  • set scope so that a minimum head move will let you see

  • when you adjust your position sideways use forward elbow as a pivot, other elbow moves, hips must move

  • check position carefully and truthfully every shot

  • prone is not a comfortable position, if your comfortable your position needs to be tighter

  • do not use your fingertips to move the gun from bull to bull

  • use these good habits to make a solid prone position

standing

  • head should not be tipped from side to side, may be tipped slightly forward

  • feet should be shoulder length apart

  • legs straight

  • weight even on both feet

  • body bent back just enough to balance the gun, no more

  • forward forearm should be nearly vertical

  • forward elbow should rest against ribs, forward hand relaxed

  • hips square to firing line (line from hips to target should be straight)

  • small horizontal position adjustments should be made by moving rear foot (less than one inch) in either direction

  • large horizontal position adjustments should be made by twisting both feet slightly

  • vertical adjustments made by moving rear foot in and out.

  • when feet are close together natural point of aim goes down

  • when feet farther apart natural point of aim goes up

  • sequence:

    1. lift gun off stand
    2. lean back
    3. settle front arm against ribs
    4. twist upper body towards target
    5. established tension in waist (tension should be the same for every shot)

kneeling

  • kneeling is toughest position due to two reasons:
    1. constantly changing as you grow, needs to be adjusted about twice a year
    2. you have to shoot scores just as good as prone

  • heel right on tailbone, if its on muscle its very unstable, bone is solid

  • forward leg vertical

  • forward forearm should be in a straight line with forward thigh

  • junction of left elbow and left knee slightly to side of rifle, not directly under it (left handed shooters: substitute left for right)

  • two legs 45 degrees apart

  • body leans forward to target

  • keep gun close to body, having gun off to one side creates imbalance and strains muscles

  • have another shooter/coach look at your position to help you

  • adjustments of hand stop and butt hook may be different for kneeling

  • a final test is to have someone push straight down on rifle barrel: elbow/knee should have no sideways movement

  • if you have sideways motion in this test move your front foot around to find a spot that eliminates the sideways motions

  • your foot will probably go to sleep, stretching and practice in this position will help over time

thanks to coach Boykin and his handouts for all the information.