Johann Jules asked: Even the top hunters miss easy targets from time to time. Remember that nobody is perfect, so if anyone claims he or she has never missed a target, it could be that he or she doesn’t really hunt that much, or just plain lying. It takes years of experience in order for one to become a skilled shooter. As you acquire experience in shooting with a rifle, you become more familiar with the characteristics of your rifle. This familiarity makes it easier for you to anticipate things that affect your shooting.
For someone who is new at rifle shooting, do not be dismayed with the time you should spend improving your skill. There are many ways a newbie can easily and quickly develop his or her shooting skill. Although patience and consistent practice are the two main things every new shooter has to have, knowledge of caliber, trigger control, breathing, and upgrading your gun barrel through cryogenic treatment are but a few things that can help you as you start out.
In this article, I will explain to you the things I mentioned above. I hope that these tips will help you develop the skills needed for you to consistently hit your targets in the future.
1. CALIBER
Recoil, as well as muzzle flash, are two unpleasant things a shooter encounters when using a good sized caliber rifle. Both are unquestionably the price one has to pay for hunting big game.
But for new shooters, you really don’t need to use high caliber rifles. Remember, you are just starting out. You need to start, and become familiar with the basics first. With that said, start with a caliber.22.
Aside from the fact that the bullets are really cheap,.22 caliber rifles eliminates the noise and the strain on ones shoulder that comes with every shot made with higher caliber rifles. Shooting with this caliber will teach you all the basics of shooting distant targets and at the same time let you hunt small game.
2. TRIGGER CONTROL
Experienced shooters will tell you that jerking the trigger is the main problem encountered by marksmen. And the thing is, it is easy to develop this bad habit.
The right way do it is to use constant, gentle force right up till the trigger “breaks” and the gun fires. Seasoned firing instructors firmly insist that whenever firing a rifle, the action must be a surprise to the individual.
What I’m trying to say is that, you as the shooter won’t be able to predict the shot. You need to master how to let go of the awareness that the gun is going to fire, even though you are fully aware that it is about to. I know that it sounds more like a zen thing, but that is a fact.
The most effective method in developing correct trigger control is to utilize a dust free, sharp, relatively light trigger. Be careful though, a trigger that is too light raises the possibility of misfires. Most shooter agree that the most desirable trigger pull is around 2 1/2 to 3 lbs.
Out of the box, rifles don’t have this set-up. So you have to take the unit to a gunsmith and inform him that you want your trigger pull modified.
3. BREATHING
This has to be one of the hardest things I had to master when I was starting out. Just like in trigger control, this has to become second nature to the shooter.
To do this, the shooter takes in a few deep breaths, then let out part of it while simultaneously squeezing the trigger. The idea might be easy, but I tell you it is not. With this one, constant practice is the only solution.
Now we come to the last piece of the puzzle. Unlike the first 3 tips, this one is not a skill that needs to be developed, but an upgrade to your unit. This upgrade is Cryogenic Treatment.
Cryogenic treatment is a process where metal is subjected to ultra low temperatures, which changes its structural components. The outcome is a metal that is stronger, and more resistant to wear and tear.
I subjected one of my rifle barrels to this process almost a couple years back, and till now, it still performs well. It also tends to keep the accumulation of residue at a minimal, making barrel cleaning a breeze.
Create a video blog…instantly.