Chapter 3 - Basic Shooting Skills

choke

A ______________ allows you to fine-tune your shotgun for the type of game you're hunting. Built-in or attached to the muzzle end of the barrel, the _______________ is a constriction that controls the shot string, thus affecting pellet density at various distances.

8-inch target

An ____________________________ is about the same size as the vital area of a deer.

dominant

Before you sight in your rifle, you need to determine your ______________ or "master" eye.

100 yards

Deer hunters often sight-in their rifles to hit the bull's eye at ___________________.

Practice

Good marksmanship is built on three fundamentals: 1. Proper sight adjustment or patterning. 2. Proper shooting technique 3. __________________

shot size

In addition to the firing characteristics of the gun, the gun's choke, the brand of shotshell, the ______________________, and the type of shot also affect the pattern.

windage, elevation

Moving shots from side to side is "adjusting the _____________________." Moving shots up or down is "adjusting for ___________________."

good marksmanship

One of the essential skills of a good hunter is _____________________________, which is accurately and consistently hitting the target where planned.

gravity

Rifle bullets don't travel in a straight line. They travel in an arc, formed by the pull of ___________.

barrel

Sighting in procedure 1. Fire your rifle from a solid bench rest with the forestock, resting on a pad or a sandbag. Don't rest the gun on its _______________________-it will shoot higher than normal.

beginning student

Swing through - Point your shotgun at a moving target and swing with it. Increase the speed of the gun so that the muzzle passes the target and then fire. In other words, literally "swing through" the target and fire at a blank space in front of the target. Swing through is the best technique for the ______________________________________.

prone

The ________________ firing position is the steadiest position. (Laying on the ground)

slide and hammer

The ___________________________________ of a semi-automatic gun can deliver a bruising blow when held too close to the body. All handguns should be fired at arm's length.

Kneeling

The _____________firing position only has one arm braced on a knee

joint of the finger

The first ____________________________________ should take up trigger pressure, not the tip as is often done with rifles.

rest

The safest and most accurate shots are taken from _________ on an object

55 to 60%

The shotgun pattern should contain a sufficient percentage of the load, which should be at least ___________________________.

bead

The sight is usually a __________ on the front of the gun. Your eye must be in line with the barrel, so it's important to position your head properly on the stock.

full or Extra full

Turkey typically use ________ or _____________________ chokes.

powder flashing

When a revolver is fired, ______________________________ at the front of the cylinder can cause burns. Be sure to keep your fingers away from the front of the trigger area.

minutes-of-angle

When adjusting peep or telescopic sights, the rear sights or dials are adjusted by a certain number of ____________________________________ or "clicks" in a certain direction.

Stopping the swing

When shooting a shotgun, _______________________________ as you shoot will cause you to hit behind a moving target.

hearing and eye protection.

When shooting wear _______________________________________

adjusted

When sighting in a rifle Begin at 25 yards and repeat at 100 yards. The basic steps involve firing at least three shots carefully and consistently at a target. If the bullets form a relatively small group of holes on the target, but not where you were aiming, the sights will have to be _____________________.

hold

When you are ready to fire, draw a deep breath and exhale about half of it. Then _________ your breath as you squeeze the trigger.

gun fit

When you bring the gun to your face, the stock should fit snugly against your cheek with your eye on the side above the centerline of the gun. If you can't assume that position comfortably, you may need to adjust the "_________________".

Sitting

_________________ is where both arms are supported by your legs when firing.

Pointing

____________________ - Because targets usually appear suddenly and move quickly, there's no time to "aim" a shotgun. It's designed to be pointed, with the eye sighting along the top of the barrel or rib.

Standing

______________________ is the most difficult position for firing accurately.

Bore sighting-in

_________________________________ with bolt-action rifles: Remove the bolt, brace the firearm on sandbags, and look directly through the bore. Correct the rifle's position until you see the bull's-eye in the center of the bore. Adjust the sights to give you a good sight picture.

Shooting stance

____________________________________ - A shotgun is almost always shot at a moving target from a standing position. You must be able to swing freely over a wide arc and maintain control. That requires a relaxed balanced stance.

Sustained lead

____________________________________- This method is a little more challenging because it requires more experience. You estimate the length of the lead necessary to hit the target and maintain the lead as you swing with the target, fire, and continue the swing.

Trigger squeeze

____________________________________. To squeeze the trigger without jarring the gun, simply apply slow, steady pressure until the gun fires.

Collimator sighting-in

_______________________________________ for rifles without bolt actions: A collimator slips into the muzzle end of the barrel and allows you to adjust the sights much like bore sighting.

Sight Alignment

________________________________________ is the process of lining up rear and front sights.

Shouldering the shotgun

__________________________________________ - When you bring the shotgun to your shoulder, the stock should be brought to your cheek first and then back to your shoulder.

Leading the target

____________________________________________ - The two most common methods of leading targets at long distances are swing through and sustained lead.

Single-action revolvers

______________________________________________ typically load through a gate on the right side of the frame. To rotate the cylinder, pull the hammer back to half-cock. For a safer carry in the holster or hand, leave an empty chamber in front of the hammer.

Snap shooting

_______________________________________is a technique to use if you must make a quick shot and the target is straight ahead at close range. You simply raise the shotgun ad point where you think the target will be when the shot arrives.

swing smoothly

when shooting a shotgun, Keeping your knees slightly bent makes it easier to swing with a moving target. The bent leg to the rear supports the movements of our hips, allowing you to ___________________________.