PA Safety Course - Unit 9

shotgun patterns

No two shotguns will shoot identical pellet patterns. To select the ammunition that provides the best performance, you must "pattern" your shotgun. The goal is to produce a pattern of pellets with even density and a sufficient percentage of the load within a 30-inch circle.

shotgun vs. rifle

Point a shotgun. Pull the trigger. •Aim a rifle. Squeeze the trigger

3 fundamentals of good marksmanship

The three fundamentals of good marksmanship are proper sight adjustment or patterning, proper shooting technique, and practice. These fundamentals apply to rifles, shotguns, and handguns.

optional sighting in techniques

Use bore or collimator sighting-in initially to line up the rifle on the paper target. However, these techniques alone are not sufficient to sight-in a rifle. You must make final adjustments by firing the rifle with the same ammunition you plan to use in the field.

Shooting from a rest

When shooting in the field, the safest and most accurate shots are taken from a rest—a log, large rock, or other stable object. Don't rest the barrel directly on a hard surface, or it will shoot higher than normal—put some padding, such as a hat or a jacket, under the rifle.

firing positions

prone, standing, sitting, kneeling

position & grip (handgun)

Body position and grip are vital to hitting your target. With both hands, hold the handgun high on the grip and at arm's length. Use a stable object as a rest when hunting. The pistol shooting fundamentals of breath control, trigger squeeze, and follow through are almost identical to those in rifle shooting.

sitting

Both arms are supported by your legs. Next to the prone position, this is the steadiest position.

ear & eye protection

Ear and eye protection are essential when shooting any firearm.

sighting in procedure

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 barrel—it will shoot higher than normal. Ideally, use an adjustable shooting tripod with sandbags. A spotting scope is also useful. Sight-in instructions are printed on some targets available from retail outlets or manufacturers. The sighting-in process for most centerfire rifles begins at 25 yards and then should be repeated 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 adjusted.

Other than ensuring accurate shots, sighting-in a rifle has other advantages:

Forces you to practice • Makes accurate shooting possible • Helps identify problems with your shooting technique • Helps determine the farthest range at which you can hit your target • Improves safety by helping you know where your rifle will shoot • Builds confidence in your shooting ability

woodcock, rail, or snipe

Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 8 (in heavy cover) Lead 7½ (open areas)

loading a handgun

Many of the fundamentals of rifle shooting also apply to handguns. The way you load a handgun depends on whether it is a single-action revolver, a double-action revolver, or a semi-automatic.

parallax

Optical bending of telescopic crosshairs in relation to the target

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.

sighting-in a rifle

Rifle bullets don't travel in a straight line. They travel in an arc, formed by the pull of gravity. "Sighting-in" is a process of adjusting the sights to hit a target at a specific range. Deer hunters, for example, often sight-in their rifles to hit the bull's-eye at 100 yards. All rifles should be sighted-in before every hunt using the ammunition you plan to use, especially rifles with peep or telescopic sights. Guns you sighted-in prior to your last outing could have been knocked out of alignment by a single jolt. That misalignment could mean the difference between a successful hunt and a disappointing experience.

snap shooting

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 and point where you think the target will be when the shot arrives.

which is the steadiest rifle-firing position? which is the most difficult rifle-firing position?

The four standard rifle-firing positions are prone, standing, sitting, and kneeling. Prone is the steadiest position, and standing is the most difficult.

prone

The prone position is the steadiest of the four positions. Because it's the easiest to hold, it's the best position for mastering the fundamentals of shooting—aiming, breath control, trigger squeeze, and follow through.

leading the target with the sustained lead method

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 that lead as you swing with the target, fire, and continue the swing.

aligning an open sight

When properly aligned, the front sight should be centered in the rear sight with the top of the front sight even with the top of the rear sight. The front and rear sights should form an "E" lying on its side.

telescope sight

With a telescopic sight with a crosshair reticle, you line up the target with the crosshairs of the sight.

kneeling

With only one arm braced, the kneeling position is less steady than the prone and sitting positions.

Breathing

Your breathing can move the rifle just enough to throw off your shot. When you're ready to shoot: •Take a breath. •Exhale until comfortable. •Relax and hold your breath. •Squeeze the trigger within six seconds—if you hold your breath too long, your heart beats faster, which increases your pulse and causes the rifle to move. •Remove your trigger finger after six seconds if you haven't fired. •Take a few breaths and repeat the process from the beginning. •Sometimes the excitement of spotting game will make it more difficult to control your breathing. Try to relax and follow the correct procedure.

sight alignment is

the process of lining up rear and front sights on a rifle. The sight picture is the image you see when the sights are aligned correctly with the target. To ensure that the bullet will travel to the target in your sight, it's necessary to sight-in your rifle using your dominant or "master" eye. All rifles should be sighted-in before every hunt using the ammunition you plan to use.

aiming

•At the shooting range, many handgunners use a sight picture that places the bull's-eye on the top of the front sight, rather than placing it in the sights over the center of the target. However, hunters should hold the alignment directly over the vital area. • Scopes with long eye relief have become popular with handgunners and offer exact sighting for hunters. Scopes may take longer to align on a target than open sights, but they're usually more accurate.

Four fundamentals for an accurate rifle shot

1.Aim carefully, aligning your sights. 2.Take a deep breath, and then release about half of it. 3.Squeeze the trigger slowly. 4.Follow through.

To determine your dominant eye:

1.Form a triangular opening with your thumbs and forefingers. 2.Stretch your arms out in front of you. 3.Focus on a distant object while looking through the triangular opening and keeping both eyes open. 4.Bring your hands slowly to your face, keeping sight of the object through the opening; the opening will come to your dominant eye naturally.

shooting a shot gun

1.Point a shotgun. 2.Focus your eye on the target. 3.Pull the trigger.

rabbit

Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 5 or 6

grouse

Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 7½ or 8

shooting a rifle

1.Aim a rifle. 2.Focus your eye on the crosshairs or front sight. 3.Squeeze the trigger.

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-in.

Essential skill needed to be a successful hunter

An essential skill needed to be a successful hunter is good marksmanship, which is accurately and consistently hitting the target where planned. Ethical hunters know their personal accuracy and limit their shots accordingly.

turkey

Full or Extra Full Lead 4, 5, 6

pheasant

Improved Cylinder or Modified Modified or Full Lead 6, 7½ (over dogs in heavy cover) Lead 4, 5, 6 (in corn fields, long range)

goose

Improved Cylinder or Modified Steel 2, 1, BB (over decoys) Steel BB, BBB, T (pass shooting)

duck

Improved Cylinder or Modified Steel 6, 4, 3 (over decoys) Steel 3, 2 (pass shooting)

dove

Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 7½ or 8 Steel 6 (in waterfowl areas)

squirrel

Modified or Full Lead 5 or 6

patterning your shotgun

No two shotguns will shoot identical pellet patterns. In some cases, the pattern will be off-center. In other instances, there may be gaps in the pattern. In addition to the firing characteristics of the gun, the gun's choke, the brand of shotshell, the shot size, and the type of shot also affect the pattern. In order to select ammunition that provides the best performance, it's necessary to "pattern" your shotgun.

Leading the target with swing-through method

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 beginning student.

patterning shotgun

Shots at game birds in flight should be limited to your "maximum effective range." This is the distance at which you can hit the target consistently. Shooting beyond this distance leads to an increased number of birds wounded and lost. Also, firing at game too close may destroy the meat.

Sight alignment

Sight alignment is the process of lining up rear and front sights. The sight picture is the image you see when the sights are aligned correctly with the target. To ensure that the bullet will travel to the target in your sight, it's necessary to sight-in your rifle. Before you can do that, you need to determine your dominant or "master" eye.

when is your shot patterning correct?

The pattern of pellets within a 30-inch circle should be of a proper, even density to ensure a clean kill. The pattern should contain a sufficient percentage of the load, which should be at least 55% to 60%. Continue this process, trying different choke and load combinations, until you get an even pattern density with a sufficient percentage of the load within a 30-inch circle while shooting from the distance that you expect to be from your quarry.

minutes-of-angle

The standard measurement unit of shooting accuracy; one minute-of-angle (MOA) is 1/60 of one degree, or approximately one inch, at 100 yards

correct rifle-firing techniques will help

Using correct rifle-firing techniques will help improve your accuracy. The four basic fundamentals you should master are shooting from a rest, controlling your breathing, squeezing the trigger slowly, and following through with the shot.

adjusting your sight

When adjusting peep or telescopic sights, the rear sights or dials are adjusted by a certain number of minutes-of-angle or "clicks" in a certain direction. Read the sight's instruction manual to see how much each click changes the sight at 100 yards. The rear sight is moved in the same direction you want your shot to move on the target. Moving shots from side to side is "adjusting for windage." Moving shots up or down is "adjusting for elevation." Specific instructions about trajectory and what fractions or inches you should be above the bull's-eye at 25, 50, or 100 yards are usually included on sight-in targets. You also might consult a ballistics chart or get help from an experienced shooter.

Good marksmanship is built on three fundamentals:

•Proper sight adjustment or patterning •Proper shooting technique •Practice

sight alignment

•Sight alignment, which is important in rifle shooting, is even more important in pistol shooting because of the shorter distance between the sights. Typically, handgun sights consist of a square rear notch sight and a heavy square front blade sight. This arrangement is easy to align. • Most handguns are initially sighted-in at 50 feet.

6 steps for an accurate rifle shot

1.Aim carefully. 2.Take a breath. 3.Relax. 4.Release half of your breath. 5.Squeeze the trigger slowly. 6.Follow through.

Follow Through

Proper follow through prevents you from jerking the gun before the bullet leaves the barrel. After you fire: •Continue to squeeze the trigger for two or three seconds. •Hold the shooting position and sight alignment.

The tighter the constriction, the greater the distance that the cluster of pellets stays together. The looser the constriction, the faster the shot pattern spreads. Recall that the most common chokes, ranging from tightest to most open, are:

•Full •Modified •Improved Cylinder •Cylinder (unchoked)

If you're dominant hand is not the dominant eye

•If you are left-handed with a right master eye (cross dominance) you can learn to shoot right-handed or "distract" your dominant right eye by closing or squinting it and forcing your left eye to take over. •If you are right-handed with a left master eye (also called cross dominance) you can learn to shoot left-handed or "distract" your dominant left eye by closing or squinting it and forcing your right eye to take over. •Before trying to learn to shoot with your non-dominant hand, get help from a certified shooting instructor.

choosing the proper choke

As with rifle shooting, good shotgun marksmanship begins with proper preparation, which includes adjusting your gun and ammunition for maximum performance and mastering shotgun techniques. A choke 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 choke is a constriction that controls the shot string, thus affecting pellet density at various distances.

Shotguns - choke

Built-in or attached to the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke is a constriction that controls the shot string. The most common chokes are full, modified, improved cylinder, and cylinder (unchoked). A choke allows you to fine-tune your shotgun for the type of game you're hunting.

handgun loading and handling

Hunting with handguns has been growing in popularity in recent years. Many of the fundamentals of rifle firing also apply to shooting handguns. •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. •Double-action revolvers have cylinders that fall downward, exposing all chambers for loading. •Semi-automatics usually fire rounds stored in a magazine that is inserted in the grip or handle.

protect your vision and hearing

Shooting a firearm can cause immediate and permanent hearing loss and can damage your vision. •When shooting any firearm, always wear properly fitting ear protection. For target practice, use an earplug or earmuff (or both) with a high Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). When hunting, use electronic or non-linear devices that allow normal or even enhanced hearing but block damaging levels of sound. For more information, visit the National Hearing Conservation Association website. •Always wear suitable eye protection, such as shooting glasses with high-impact lenses, to prevent injury from a ruptured shell or firearm malfunction. Wear eye protection also whenever disassembling or cleaning a handgun.

quail

Improved Cylinder or Modified Lead 7½ or 8

Trigger Squeeze

Jerking the trigger or quickly pulling the trigger hand can move the gun enough to cause a miss. To squeeze off a shot smoothly: •Place the first section of your index finger on the trigger. •Don't tightly squeeze the stock with your trigger hand. •Apply slow and steady pressure on the trigger until the firearm fires. •Don't anticipate the shot—you should be surprised when the gun fires. •Practice will make holding your breath and proper trigger squeeze habitual.

leading the target

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

handgun shooting position and grip

Use eye and ear protection. Assume a stable position. Grip the handgun with both hands. Do not cross the thumb of the supporting hand behind the slide of a semi-automatic. •Body position and grip are vital to hitting the target. The hand position on the grip of a pistol is especially critical. Although the grip configuration of the revolver and semi-automatic are different, the gripping procedure is the same. •Hold the handgun high on the grip so that the recoil is directed back to the hand and arm in a straight line. This allows better repeat shots and more accurate shooting. Use a two-handed hold whenever possible, applying pressure from front to rear. •When hunting, use a tree trunk, steady limb, or other stable object as a rest. Placing some padding, such as a hat or a jacket, on top of a hard rest helps with your aim.

telescopic sight

With a telescopic sight with a dot reticle, you line up the target with the dot of the sight. The dot must be centered.

What is the standard target for establishing deer hunting accuracy? Why?

An 8-inch paper plate is the standard target for establishing deer hunting accuracy. An 8-inch target is about the same size as the vital area of a deer. You need to be able to hit the paper plate consistently at the same distance and from the same shooting position you will be using when hunting. The fact that you can hit an 8-inch target at 100 yards from a bench rest does not mean you will be able to do the same from a standing or kneeling position.

handgun-shooting techniques

The pistol shooting fundamentals of breath control, trigger squeeze, and follow through are almost identical to those in rifle shooting. There are, however, some important differences to remember. •The first joint of the finger should take up trigger pressure, not the tip as is often done with rifles. •When a revolver is fired, powder flashing at the front of the cylinder can cause burns. Be sure to keep your fingers away from the front of the trigger area. •The slide and hammer 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. Remember... •Use a good holster with a safety strap. •Draw a handgun only when you see game. •Cock your gun only when ready to shoot. •Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

two most common methods of leading targets

The two most common methods of leading targets at long distances are swing-through (best for beginners) and sustained lead. A third method is snap-shooting.

proper technique (shotgun)

Using proper shotgun-shooting techniques will help improve your accuracy. The four fundamentals you should master are standing in a relaxed, balanced shooting stance; pointing the gun with your eye sighting along the top of the barrel; shouldering the shotgun by bringing the stock to your cheek and then back to your shoulder; and pulling the trigger quickly as you continue to swing the gun.

aperture sight

With an aperture sight, you line up the target so that the front sight is within the rear peephole.

open sight

With an open sight, you line up the target with the blade or bead of the front sight within the notch of the rear sight.

patterning procedure

Patterning can be done with a simple homemade target. All that is required to make the target is a marker, a nail, a two-foot length of string, and a sheet of blank paper large enough to hold a 30-inch circle. Hang the blank sheet of paper on a backboard or smooth wall. Tie the marker to one end of the string and the nail to the other so the two are 15 inches apart. Hold the nail in the center of the target while swinging the marker around the paper in a full circle. •Fire at the center of the blank paper from a distance of 40 yards, which is close to the maximum range for shooting game birds. At this range, the pellets should be spread fairly evenly on the paper. •Hold the end of the nail close to the center of the pattern. (This is not necessarily the center of the paper!) Stretch the string out from the nail and place the marker on the paper. While holding the nail in the center of the pattern, swing the marker around the nail on the outstretched string to draw a 30-inch circle on the blank paper. •Count each of the pellet holes in the paper, while marking them with the marker. •The pattern of pellets should be of a proper, even density to ensure a clean kill. •The pattern also should contain the correct minimum amount of pellets, which should be at least 55% to 60% of the total number of pellets in the load. •To determine the percentage of pellets that hit the target, count the number of pellet holes in the circle, and then divide that number by the number of pellets in the load. Continue this process using different choke and load combinations until you get an even pattern with a sufficient minimum density. After you have determined a proper choke and load combination for this distance, repeat the exercise at 30 yards, and then finally at 20 yards.

Pointing, Shouldering, and Pulling the Trigger of a Shotgun

Pointing a Shotgun •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. • The sight is usually a bead 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. • When you bring the gun to your face, the stock should fit snugly against your cheek with your eye on that side above the centerline of the gun. If you can't assume that position comfortably, you may need to adjust the "gun fit." 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. •A common error is lowering the head and cheek to the stock, instead of bringing the stock all the way up to the cheek. When done properly, with your head naturally erect, the gun butt always should come to the same spot on your shoulder. Pulling the Trigger •Unlike rifle firing, quick trigger action is important when hunting with a shotgun. Slap the trigger rather than squeezing it. •Because the trigger is pulled quickly and the body and gun are typically in motion, breath control isn't necessary. •Continue the shotgun's swing as you pull the trigger. Stopping the swing as you shoot will cause you to hit behind a moving target.

shotgun shooting stance

Unlike rifle shooting, quick reflexes and flexibility are essential for effective shotgun shooting. Proper shotgun techniques will help you develop the rapid, fluid response you need to hit your target. Use a relaxed, balanced stance with your feet shoulder-width apart and your weight slightly forward on your left foot (if you're a right-handed shooter), and lean your body in the same direction. •A shotgun is almost always fired 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. • Stand with your feet spread about shoulder-width apart and your knees bent slightly so that you are balanced perfectly. Bring your left foot slightly forward (if you're a right-handed shooter), and lean your body in the same direction. The position of the feet is important. The toes of your forward foot should point at about 45-degrees toward the target. Take the time to place your feet properly, even for a quick shot. • Keeping your knees slightly bent makes it easier to swing with a moving target. The bent leg to the rear supports the movements of your hips, allowing you to swing smoothly.

standing

With neither arm supported, this is the most difficult position for firing an accurate shot. Rather than trying to hold the barrel steady, which is impossible, try to keep movement of the barrel to as small an area as possible. Smooth, natural motion will produce the best shot.