Shooting skills and marksmanship

Open Sight

Featuring a notch or cut at the rear and a single post at the front or muzzle end of the barrel, open sights are common features on rifles and pistols. Many of the newer open sights have the front and rear sight made of fiber optic material of contrasting colors, that gather light and are easier to see in low light.

Fundamentals of safe shooting

Observe safe firearm handling rules. Learn how to properly adjust sights on a rifle. Learn different shooting positions. Learn how to pattern a shotgun. Learn how to point and shoot a shotgun. Understand that practice is one of the keys to safe shooting.

Shooting potions

Prone Position This is the steadiest of all positions, because it supports both the firearm and the hunter's upper body. The hunter's hips and legs provide a stable platform. This position is very comfortable and should be used to practice the fundamentals of good shooting. Sitting Position This is the next-best position for steadiness. With legs crossed at the ankles, the hunter's knees gives support to the arms. But a hunter's legs will start to shake if this position is held for a lengthy period. Standing Position In this position, the hunter's arms are not supported, making it difficult to take an accurate shot. With this position, there is an exaggerated movement of the barrel. Some hunters will use a tree, large stone or a "shooting stick" as a prop to help ensure an accurate shot. Kneeling Position This is an adaptation of the standing position, in which the hunter uses a rest to steady the firearm. The hunter will experience less barrel movement - a key to accurate shot placement. Handgun Shooting Position Handguns are different in the way the firearm is held when firing at game or sighting at a target. Handguns have the same types of sight configurations as a rifle. Since the handgun has a shorter barrel, accuracy is difficult to obtain. Sight in the handgun at 25 yards and then move out to 50 yards. Always use a two-handed hold with a handgun.

Sight picture

Sight picture is the rear sight, front sight and the target all in perfect alignment. Once a hunter masters the sight alignment and the sight picture, it is time to go to a range and sight-in the firearm.

Sight Alignment of a Rifle

The flight of a bullet is not a straight line to the target. Gravity, air resistance and energy loss all have an effect on flight. A hunter must always take that into consideration when sighting-in. A bullet sighted-in to hit a bull's eye at 100 yards might be one inch above the bull's eye at 50 yards. The hunter needs to know what type of game will be hunted and only sight-in with the ammunition that will be used in the hunt. The key to sighting in a firearm is to reduce all movement of the shooter and the rifle. The hunter needs a good solid bench to sit at, and a solid rest for the firearm - sandbags, carpeted wooden blocks or a tripod all work well. It is important that a hunter exercise breath control at the moment when the trigger is pulled because the rise and fall of a hunter's chest when breathing can influence a bullet's trajectory.

targeting and patterning with a shotgun

There are differences in targeting shotguns and rifles. While shotguns are pointed at a target, rifles are aimed. The trigger pull on a shotgun is quick - often described as "slapping" the trigger. It is important to know your dominant eye when using a shotgun, because you will have both eyes open when taking a shot. Patterning a shotgun is a very important element in finding out how the shot charge is being affected by the load and choke. Shotguns are usually used for moving targets. To pattern a shotgun, you will need to go to the range bringing with you your shotgun, shotgun shells and some pieces of paper at least 40-inches square. When you pattern your shotgun, be sure the ammunition you use has the appropriate size and type of shot or projectile. Using different ammunition will affect the outcome of the pattern. To assist in centering the pattern as much as possible on the paper you may wish to draw a black 2-inch dot in the center of the paper. Place the paper against an appropriate backstop at the maximum distance you expect to take your game; be sure to measure this distance accurately. If your pattern is found to be effective at the max distance, it becomes increasingly more effective the closer to the gun at which you shoot your game. Step up to the distance line, aim at the black dot and fire. Then walk downrange and draw a 30-inch circle around the densest registration of the pellets on your paper. You can use a 15-inch string tied to a pencil or felt tip pen to make an accurate 30-inch circle. Hold one end of the string against the center of the densest registration or pellet holes and with your other hand swing the pencil or pen in a full circle. If you find your pattern is substantially off the paper due to aim error or flinching, you must reshoot the pattern. To accurately evaluate your patterns, you must fire a minimum of three patterns of each load, shot size and choke at each distance of interest. This means one shot each at each of the three sheets of paper for a total of three shots to be averaged; never fire more than one shot at each sheet of paper. After firing your patterns mark through and count each pellet hole found inside or touching the 30-inch circle you have drawn on each of your three sheets of paper. Then average the three pellet counts.

lead and the shotgun

To be able to hit a moving target, a hunter must learn several firing methods - and with each one, the hunter sees a target, shoots ahead of it and follows through with the shotgun in constant motion. Let's start by looking at the swing-through method. When using this method you must consider several factors: From clay pigeons to live game, your target has a particular speed. It will take time to find the moving target in your field of vision, and set up for the shot. Once you're in proper stance and you've slapped the trigger, there is a delay in firing your shot, due to the sequence of the firing pin striking the cartridge, the powder charge igniting and the shot starting to travel down the barrel. When the shot leaves the barrel, it takes time for it to travel to a target. The farther away a target is, from the hunter, the longer it takes for the shot to hit it. It is very important to continue swinging your shotgun after the shot. This process is called the follow-through. Step 1. Hunter sees target. Starts to swing. Step 2. Swings through target, pulls the trigger, and continues the swing, spreading shot in front of target. Step 3. Target and shot come together as the hunter follows through.

Aperture or peep sight

Usually mounted at the rear part of the rifle action, this sight has a base and a raised ring. It is adjustable for vertical and horizontal movement. Aim at a target by mounting the firearm and peering through the peephole of the rear sight, centering the front sight within the circle of the rear peep sight. The front sight can be a metal post with a ball on top or just a metal post. This category of sight is common on target rifles.

telescopic sight adjustment

When using a firearm with a telescopic sight, make adjustments by using the dials on the top and side of the sight which can be turned to compensate for wind or inaccuracies. The elevation (up and down) is usually on the top and affects the bullet's point of impact vertically. The windage is usually on the right side of the scope and affects the bullet's point of impact horizontally (left and right). If the bullet needs to go towards the top of the target, adjust the elevation dial in the same direction (as indicated on the dial). If the bullet needs to go towards the right side of the target, adjust the windage dial in the same direction (as indicated on the dial).

Shotgun stance

A hunter's shotgun stance is similar to that of a boxer - in a standing position with feet apart at shoulder width. For right-eye dominant shooters, the left leg will be slightly forward and the left foot pointed toward the anticipated target. For left-eye dominant shooters, the right leg will be slightly forward and the right foot will be turned slightly. The hunter bends forward at the waist. The forward leg of the hunter is bent slightly, not locked. The hunter raises the shotgun to the cheek under the dominant eye first and then back to the shoulder. The positioning of the shotgun on the cheek is critical. If the shotgun is not placed correctly against the cheek, the shot will either be high or low. A general rule to follow is that the stock be held comfortably - not too tight or too loose - against the cheek, just under the cheekbone. The hunter's head has to be held straight, not canted to the left or right. Have someone check the fit before you purchase a shotgun. Some shotguns have shims or adjustable stocks to help with this alignment.

Open sight adjustment

After firing a number of shots, check to see where the bullets are grouping. Adjust the sights if the shots are not in the center of the target. Remember that with an open sight, move the rear sight in the direction you want the shots to move on the target

Shooting a rifle

Always follow firearm safety rules. Always wear eye and ear protection. Using a steady rest will increase the accuracy of the shot. When in the field, a steady rest could be a stump, log or even your coat. Obtain the sight picture and hold it. Control your breathing. Take a deep breath, and exhale about half-way. Squeeze the trigger with a steady pressure. Jerking the trigger will change the sight picture, which will cause the bullet to miss the center of the target. After the shot is fired, continue to squeeze the trigger. If you lift your head or jerk the rifle, the shot may be thrown off-target by the movement of the rifle. This waiting period is called the follow through.

Telescopic sight

Consisting of a main tube with lenses to magnify distant objects, it has line reticles for lining up the center of a target (i.e., where the horizontal and vertical reticles meet). This sight is mounted on top of the barrel or action of a firearm. Since it is easy to use, it is a good choice for novice hunters. The telescopic sight is available in fixed powers and some models have an adjustable ring that the hunter can use to select different powers of magnification.