Unit 3: Basic Shooting Skills

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shotgun shooting

Unlike rifle shooting, quick reflexes and flexibility are essential for effective

simply apply slow, steady pressure until the gun fires

how to trigger squeeze without jarring the gun

50 ft

most handguns are sighted-in at

prone position

the steadiest rifle firing position because it's the easiest to hold

to select ammunition for the best performance

why do hunters pattern their shotguns

- swing-through - sustained lead

2 most common methods of leading targets at long distances

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.

Four Fundamentals for an Accurate Rifle Shot

The pattern should contain a sufficient percentage of the load, which should be at least 55% to 60%.

The pattern of pellets within a 30-inch circle should be of a proper, even density to ensure a clean kill.

a choke

a constriction that controls the shot string, thus affecting pellet density at various distances

sighting-in

a process of adjusting the sights to hit a target at a specific range

sitting position

a rifle firing position when both arms are supported by your legs. Next to the prone position, this is the steadiest position

kneeling position

a rifle firing position with only one arm braced, less steady than the prone and sitting positions

standing position

a shotgun is almost always fired at a moving target from a

snap-shooting

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

good marksmanship

accurately and consistently hitting the target where planned

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.

bore sighting-in with bolt-action rifles

shotguns

breath control isn't necessary with this type of gun because the trigger is pulled quickly and the body and gun are typically in motion

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

difference between shooting a shotgun vs. a rifle

wind, heat, and parallax

factors that can affect your accuracy

meat

firing at game too close may destroy the

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

good marksmanship is built on three fundamentals

semi-automatic

guns that usually fire rounds stored in a magazine that is inserted in the grip or handle

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

handgun shooting aiming

1. draw a deep breath and exhale about half of it. 2. then hold your breath as you squeeze the trigger. 3. if you hold your breath too long, your heart beats faster, which increases your pulse and causes the rifle to move

how to breath when shooting

sight picture

is the image you see when the sights are aligned correctly with the target

- full - modified - improved cylinder - cylinder (unchoked)

most common types of chokes

adjusting for windage

moving shots from side to side

adjusting for elevation

moving shots up or down

1/60 of one degree, or approximately one inch, at 100 yards

one minute of angle degree

bullet goes high and left of target

open sight misalignment

bullet goes high of target

open sight misalignment

bullet goes low of target

open sight misalignment

bullet goes right of target

open sight misalignment

sight correctly aligned on target

open sight misalignment

parallax

optical bending of telescopic crosshairs in relation to the target

- Average the pellet counts within the 30-inch circles (add the three counts from the previous step and divide the sum by three). - Then divide the average pellet count by the number of pellets in the load for the ammunition you are using, and multiply this result by 100.

percentage of load calculation

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

double-action

revolvers that have cylinders that fall downward, exposing all chambers for loading

single-action

revolvers that typically load through a gate on the right side of the frame

- relaxed, balanced stance - feet shoulder-width apart - weight slightly forward on your left foot (if you're a right-handed shooter) - lean your body in the same direction - toes of your forward foot should point at about 45-degrees toward the target - knees slightly bent

shotgun body position

maximum effective range

shots at game birds in flight should be limited to your

bring the shotgun to your shoulder, the stock should be brought to your cheek first and then back to your shoulder

shouldering a shotgun

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

steps in shooting a rifle

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

steps in shooting a shotgun

- prone - standing - sitting - kneeling

the four standard rifle firing positions

standing position

the most difficult rifle firing position for firing an accurate shot. It's impossible to hold the barrel steady, but try to keep the movement as small an area as possible

sight alignment

the process of lining up rear and front sights

a log, large rock, or other staple object

the safest and most accurate shots taken in the field are from a rest. ex?

minutes-of-angle (MOA) / clicks

the standard measurement unit of shooting accuracy; one is is 1/60 of one degree, or approximately one inch, at 100 yards

rifle bullets

these bullets don't travel in a strait line, they travel in an arc

your breathing

this can move the rifle just enough to throw off your shot

it will shoot higher than normal *so put some padding like a hat or jacket under the rifle

this happens when you rest the barrel directly on a hard surface

a collimator

this slips into the muzzle end of the barrel and allows you to adjust the sights much like bore sighting-in for rifles without bolt actions

quick trigger action *slap the trigger

this type of trigger action is important when hunting with a shotgun

follow through

to prevent you from jerking the gun before the bullet has left the barrel, after the bullet fires, it's important to continue the squeeze or

keep your fingers away from the front of the trigger area

when a revolver is fired, powder flashing at the front of the cylinder can cause burns

targets usually appear suddenly and move quickly, so shotguns are designed to be pointed

why is there no time to aim a shotgun

sustained lead

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

dominant / master eye

you need to aim with this eye for the most accurate shooting

ruptured shells or firearm malfunction

your eyes can be damaged by

1. Fire one shot at the center of the target (or bull's-eye) from the distance that you expect to be from your quarry (for example, 35 yards if hunting game birds). Repeat this two more times, each time with a new sheet of target paper. 2. On each of the three targets, draw a 30-inch circle around the densest part of the shot pattern. (This is not necessarily the center of the paper.) 3. On each of the three targets, count the number of pellet holes that fall within the 30-inch circle, marking them with the marker as you count each one. 4. Calculate the percentage of the load that is expected to land in a 30-inch circle at the distance that you expect to be from your quarry.

To pattern your shotgun, follow these steps:

- grip the gun with both hands - don't cross the thumb of the supporting hand behind the slide of a semi-automatic

handgun shooting grip and position

- 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 - use an adjustable shooting tripod with sandbags. A spotting scope is also useful - process begins at 25 yards and then should be repeated at 100 yards

sighting in procedure

8 in. paper plate from 100 yards away

standard target for deer hunting accuracy