Section 5.0

1. Section 5.0 Learning How to Shoot

2. Preliminary Steps • Decide Which Eye & Shoulder to Use • Understand Shot Technique • Learn How to Use a Sling

3. Which Eye & Shoulder to Use • New shooters should do an eye dominance check • Shoot from the same shoulder as your dominant eye • Be alert for cross-dominant shooters (translucent eye cover may be necessary)

4. Understand Shot Technique • Shoulder the rifle • Align the sights • Exhale & Aim • Trigger Contact & Center • Press Trigger & Call Shot

5. 1. Shoulder the Rifle • 1st step after loading • Place butt of rifle in same location for each shot • Return to firing position

6. 2. Align the Sights • Head Position—lower head to look through the scope or see the rear sight notch • Align Scope Sight—look through center of scope • Align Open Sights—center top of post or bead at top-center of U or V notch

7. 3. Exhale and Aim • Breathe normally as you bring the aligned sights onto the target • Exhale the aligned sights onto the aiming point and stop breathing Breathe normally as you bring the aligned sights to the target Exhale and stop breathing as you begin precise aiming at the target

8. Telescope Sight Aiming Center crosshairs in central aiming area (10-ring) on the target. Adjust telescope focus so target and crosshairs are both clear. Center crosshair movements on the white aiming mark (steady positions) or over the black bulls-eye (less steady positions)

9. Open Sight (O-Class) Aiming: Sight Alignment: Align sights as shown (top) Sight Picture: Point aligned sights at target as shown (bottom) Focus: On front sight!

10. 4. Trigger Contact & Center When aiming at the target begins: • Move finger to trigger and apply initial pressure • Center front sight movements over aiming point

11. 5. Press Trigger & Call Shot Trigger Pressure 5b. CALL the Shot when the shot fires 4b. CENTER sight picture movements 5a. PRESS Trigger Apply smooth pressure until the shot breaks 4a. When aiming begins, contact the trigger and apply pressure Time

12. Calling the Shot • What did you see when the hammer fell? • Where was the front sight or crosshairs? High? Low? Left? Right?

13. Shot Technique Review • Shoulder • Align • Exhale & Aim • Contact & Center • Press & Call “They looked good!”

14. The First Position – Prone or Supported • Prone Position: • Normal first position • First position in Rimfire Sporter Course of Fire • Supported Position: • Fire from bench or prone supported • Offers steadier starter position • Excellent way to sight in rifle • Advance to prone when ready

15. Learn to Use a Sling • All top shooters use slings in prone and sitting/kneeling positions • Slings help you hold your rifle steadier! • Recommended Slings for New Shooters: Military web sling or Daisy “web position sling” (1 ¼” or ¾”) • To adjust a new sling: Start with a “long & loose” sling—tighten the sling only after your position is established

16. How to Put a Sling on Correctly: • Extend sling, form loop, turn loop ½ turn to left • Place loop high on arm • Tighten loop on arm • Extend left hand and wrap it over sling and under the fore-arm • Get into position with sling loose 1 2 4 5 3

17. The Prone Position CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS: Body orientation to target Left elbow location Head position & butt-plate location Left hand location Sling adjustment and use

18. Steps to Build the Prone Position • Establish Position Foundation • Place mat at 20-30° angle • Put on sling (long & loose) • Lay on mat--extend left arm • Left Elbow—Locate under left side line • Head Position--butt up-head up • Rifle Height--Adjust left hand location to raise sights to target level • Sling--Tighten till it supports the rifle • Position Orientation--Pivot position on left elbow until sights point at your target

19. Prone Step 1: LAY OUT MAT AND GET INTO POSITION Try to form straight line with left side of body 1a: Lay mat at 20-30 degree angle 1b: Kneel on mat and put sling on (see previous slide)--keep the sling “long and loose” 1c: Extend body forward to lie on mat

20. Step 2: FIX THE LEFT ELBOW POSITION Align the left side of the body so there is a straight line from the left hand to left foot Place the left elbow directly under this imaginary line An imaginary plane cutting through the left arm and sling must be vertical, not tipped to either side

21. Step 3: HEAD AND BUTT-PLATE LOCATIONS Keep the butt-plate up in the shoulder up in the shoulder so the head is erect and the eye can aim comfortably--a good head position is a key to success!

22. Higher Lower Step 4: ADJUST RIFLE HEIGHTBY CHANGING LEFT HAND LOCATION With the sling loose, shift the left hand forward or rearward to raise or lower the rifle and sights so that the sights point at target level.

23. Step 5: TIGHTEN SLING UNTIL IT SUPPORTS RIFLE Adjust and check—adjust and check until the sling is tight enough to hold up the weight of the rifle The sling should do all the work in holding up the rifle—the left arm should be completely relaxed.

24. Step 6: ROTATE POSITION OVER LEFT ELBOW UNTIL THE SIGHTS POINT AT YOUR TARGET Use the left elbow as the pivot point--use the feet and legs to lift body and shift the rifle so that the sights point naturally at your target

25. THE PRONE POSITION--READY TO SHOOT!

26. Practicing & Shooting in Prone After building the position and orienting it on your target, dry fire several shots (practice the position at home or in a dry fire session at the range first), then proceed with live firing.