Improving my shooting

[Kevin Peacocke]

Hi all, as you know I shoot double rifles mostly, and I really enjoy our monthly Big Bore competition. Problem is, I was not good at it and it was really frustrating. Being a time as well as accuracy event, much as real life situations would be, I had the tendency to rush and snatch - result was awful scores.
So I have been working at a method to discipline myself and it is working wonders. I am calling it the ‘AAS Method’!

As you know I fitted a Trijicon 1 MOA really low on my Heym, and that was pivotal in improving things. I am not saying open sights, or even an un-illuminated cross hair wouldn’t work, but I think the dot works better.
The first A is not for aim, it is for acquire. Just get the dot on the target in roughly the right place and that is about all you can realistically hope for right off anyway. You are looking more at the target than the sights at this stage.
The next A is for adjust, consciously moving that little bit to get the red dot right on the correct spot. This is where the dot really comes into it’s own, it draws you in and I find that I am now totally focused whereas without this separate little exercise the finger came into play that little bit too early.
The S is not for shoot, it is for squeeze. Again a conscious action that you carry on into since you are already in thinking mode on the tail end of the Acquire thought.

So I guess it is like splitting it all up into three distinct controlled actions against a single event. It takes a second or so longer, but I think that may shrink a bit with practice.

 

[bowjijohn]

I’m going to ‘borrow’ that if I may

 

[RockSlinger404]

Great subject Kevin! We are no longer used to shooting off hand, it is a skill that needs a lot of practise. I use a .22LR with iron sights between load development etc in order to try and improve and also prevent a flinch with the big bores.

 

[spike.t]

Also about being able to put a lot of rounds down range, but we especially here don't have the luxury of large amounts of ammunition...either through cost or being limited in the amount we are allowed to have in our possession at one time, and allowed to buy in a year...as have mentioned before here we are allowed max of 150 rounds per year per rifle, (.22lr is 200) and 40 rounds max in our possession for that rifle at a time. Handguns 50 rounds a year each. Shotguns 200.....

 

[R eight]

Was taught this years ago…. Best advice I’ve ever received regarding shooting. Applies to both rifle and pistol.
I believe it’s lifted straight out of the Australian Army training manual.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

For quick acquisition, which I presume is important for this competition, shooting a gun that fits well is very important. Length of pull and, if applicable, eye relief are two factors that are easily adjusted. LOP by adding or removing recoil pads and scope can be moved in the rings to change eye relief.

 

[DWB]

Very much the same as what I tought myself at BASA.

Move fast and shoot slow!

 

[shootist~]

The expression "Smooth is fast" is very true. The tendency to snatch or jerk the firearm (be it pistol or long gun) into place is counter productive. That and tons of dry fire practice - including mounting and follow-through.

In our gun games the expression went: You can't miss fast enough to win.

 

[chashardy]

Great post Kevin. I use the Trijicon RMR on my double and fast target acquisition and sight picture is the key. I like AAS suggestion.

 

[BourbonTrail]

+1 on “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast”

Also, like with clays, you need to practice your gun mount at home. The sights need to be where you are looking, not 5 degrees away. That will require you to practice from different “ready positions.” I also recommend practicing reloading until you don’t have to think about it.

Don’t rush, focus on precision of movements, and then speed them up.

 

[375Fox]

I’ve found I shoot the same groups at low power as I do with high power, which really surprises me. I’ve decided your eye already knows where you want to shoot your brain is just trying to tell you to make it perfect, which is why confidence goes up on high power but I’ll usually take longer to squeeze trigger for almost same result. I almost find it easier to shoot offhand on low power because I can’t panic that I might not be perfectly on target as the trigger breaks. I listened to a good podcast a while ago on target acquisition/target panic, the guest on that podcast basically said the same. His advice was to simplify your job to squeezing the trigger instead of trying for perfection and the results would just happen. I try to dry fire as much as I can. I’ve loaded dummy rounds so I cannot tell any difference between them and real rounds. I learn more about how I shoot on a dummy than I do on a live round, especially when practicing reloading and shooting fast. The trigger control is what makes the difference for me, recoil can cover some bad habits you can’t miss with dry fire.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I’m going to ‘borrow’ that if I may

Sure, please let me know if it helps you. Kevin

 

[Tanks]

All 3 steps of "AAS method" can be practiced dry fire without firing a shot. Just make sure that you have fired your rifle with caps so the firing pins are not engaged.

 

[Doug3006]

A shooting instructor back in my hazy past helped me with a trick to improve my wing shooting average. He told me to think to myself, “look at the quail” while I shifted my feet to face the target, mounted the shotgun, acquired the target and any necessary lead, and squeezed the trigger. All at the same time and in a smooth but quick fashion. It was a dramatically effective way to avoid rushing and muffing the shot.

PS. If you say “look at the quail“ out loud your hunting companions will make fun of you. Just speculating. I’ve never actually done so. Really.

 

[chashardy]

Red dot sights are the real deal. I got a lot of practice recently on my Aussie buffalo hunt shooting offhand with my 416 Rigby Big Game. I did some culling on a big cattle station that has lots of donkeys, pigs, scrub bulls, etc. and I was surprised at how easy the Rigby was to shoot offhand. I have a Leupold 1-6X24 Firedot scope on it and the red dot--like the Trijicon RMR--gives almost instant target acquisition and makes a heavy bolt rifle like the Rigby easy to shoot offhand. It was the most practice at offhand shooting I have had since I bought the rifle. Surprised myself as how well I shot. Something to be said for a well-designed, balanced rifle that fits the shooter.

 

[Hillcountry63]

@Kevin Peacocke an excellent observation. As part of my daily professional duties, I am a LEO Firearms Instructor and we utilize a similar method. We teach both eyes open, which is the proper way to utilize a Red Dot or LPVO and focus on a small spot on your target (the red dot is used to verify proper body/weapon alignment not aiming) then use the phrase "press" the trigger rather than squeeze. From years of teaching, I've observed by using the term "squeeze" the shooter subconsciously squeezes the grip of the weapon platform which under stress causes additional muzzle movement. Once a shooter becomes proficient with the presentation of the platform on target and utilizes the red dot to verify proper body position and alignment then presses the trigger, we normally get the hit results we train for.....just food for thought.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

@Kevin Peacocke an excellent observation. As part of my daily professional duties, I am a LEO Firearms Instructor and we utilize a similar method. We teach both eyes open, which is the proper way to utilize a Red Dot or LPVO and focus on a small spot on your target (the red dot is used to verify proper body/weapon alignment not aiming) then use the phrase "press" the trigger rather than squeeze. From years of teaching, I've observed by using the term "squeeze" the shooter subconsciously squeezes the grip of the weapon platform which under stress causes additional muzzle movement. Once a shooter becomes proficient with the presentation of the platform on target and utilizes the red dot to verify proper body position and alignment then presses the trigger, we normally get the hit results we train for.....just food for thought.

Good idea @Hillcountry63, press makes sense.

 

[Frederik]

Kevin, I dont have a double to lend you but there is perfectly good 375 H&H that you can use on our BASA shoots.

Next one 14 October would be a blast to have you guys there.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Kevin, I dont have a double to lend you but there is perfectly good 375 H&H that you can use on our BASA shoots.

Next one 14 October would be a blast to have you guys there.

Thank you Frederik. Unfortunately I will be at the Kariba tiger fish tournament then, but one of these days I will make it to the BASA and really look forward to it.

 

[Inline6]

I’ve found I shoot the same groups at low power as I do with high power, which really surprises me. I’ve decided your eye already knows where you want to shoot your brain is just trying to tell you to make it perfect, which is why confidence goes up on high power but I’ll usually take longer to squeeze trigger for almost same result. I almost find it easier to shoot offhand on low power because I can’t panic that I might not be perfectly on target as the trigger breaks. I listened to a good podcast a while ago on target acquisition/target panic, the guest on that podcast basically said the same. His advice was to simplify your job to squeezing the trigger instead of trying for perfection and the results would just happen. I try to dry fire as much as I can. I’ve loaded dummy rounds so I cannot tell any difference between them and real rounds. I learn more about how I shoot on a dummy than I do on a live round, especially when practicing reloading and shooting fast. The trigger control is what makes the difference for me, recoil can cover some bad habits you can’t miss with dry fire.

We are talking about several factors that come into play. People (I'm not say you personally) tend to hold their breath while aiming at a target. The brain will see what it needs to so you will breath. It is more common their one might think. What I mean by that statement, the crosshairs maybe off target your brain tricks you into seeing it on target so you will shoot so that you will breathe.

Now the first part of your post I'm not 100% if you are talking about shooting offhand for your groups or maybe a bench? If bench I'm not sure how that works for you. I'm running scopes from 1x4 up to 4x40. Personally can rip off 10 rounds on target pretty quickly on 25X or higher while maintaining sub moa groups. When shooting off hand I'm looking for my site picture. Then getting my timing down, no one can hold it perfect. It is making sure the crosshairs are where you want when the trigger is tripped. I'm running 2 stage triggers as much as possible to help with that.

Your panic comment, ever shoot a 3 shot group and the first two are touching and that third shot you get into your mind and shank the last shot (same thing with a 5 shot group). Our brains do funny things, the only way I know to fix it. Dry fire, Dry fire, Dry fire. Your dummy rounds are definitely a training tool. Have slipped dead rounds in shooters mags to see if the flinch while firing. Going from big bore to 22 will tell you a lot too.

@Kevin Peacocke the best way I have found to get good at matches, is shooting matches. It just takes a lot of dedication and resources. It is hard to duplicate the pressure of a match on a range day.