I am hoping that we can start a discussion of what constitutes good techniques for maximizing off-hand shooting performance. Techniques that can be used specifically for BPCR Silhouette and shooting these types of rifles at the Chicken target.

Although I have been competing in this sport for over 15 years I am still a novice when it comes to off-hand shooting. One technique that I have been slow to learn is the natural point of aim (NPA) where you position yourself to shoot at the chickens but you do so at first with your eyes closed and then open them to see where your sights are pointing. You then adjust your feet to align more with the target and again, with your eyes closed you then open them to see if you are naturally pointing at the target. You keep doing this process until you are pointing at the target. You would then put the rifle down to relax your muscles before aiming again for your first shot. I have also heard something about describing figure "8s" with your sights, while trying to steady/time the shot let off, but I am not quite at this point yet! 

What techniques have worked for other?!

Hep--  try eg (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) authored by the USAMU--pretty good shooters

the best thing is practice  etc etc and more practice to build muscle memory, hand eye coordination AND muscle strength-- remember that BPCR rifles are usually heavy close to 12 lbs --20 years or more ago shooters prayed not to be embarrassed at the chicken line  ie 1-3 chix--now most top shooters spend 15 minutes or so daily just in dry fire offhand practice and expect to hit 6-10 chix

Schuetzenmiester wrote on Jun 25^th, 2018 at 3:07pm:


Schuetz- I agree with all you say here. I have been lifting weights (for about a year but just once a week), been dry-firing my competition rifle in my basement at an airgun silhouette target at 33', and trying to get trigger control while using both my competition rifle and also an Olympic-style air rifle that I added additional weights to at the muzzle. But still the hardest technique to master is when to pull the trigger at the right time and without jerking! The air rifle shooting really brings this out but the two rifles are vastly different in weights and balance! Oh, the horror! 

Dave Stahl once told me that his advice was "don't move."

Just act like you are going out to shoot another tree squirrel for dinner and quit trying so hard. 

JLouis

Wasn't meant to be a smart ass remark when I was a wee lad I used to shoot Walnuts out of the little grove of Walnut trees out at Grandpa's ranch and got to where I did not miss very many shooting offhand. Used the same approach in competition as it wasn't really any different than shooting walnuts out of the tree for me.

JLouis

Practice, practice, practice is it.  I asked Dennis Martinen, Yakima, WA, numerous  silhouette championships and records both state and national, what it took to shoot like he did.  He said shoot 6 days a week to maintain and 7 to improve.  This is supposed to be fun, not work.  I never came close.  When I shot a lot it was only once or twice a week. 

I did notice my offhand greatly improved after I got serious about archery hunting. I did shoot my bow nearly every night summer and fall for a couple of years. I could do that in the backyard.   I attribute the improvement to improved follow through.  Shooting flintlock for many years was also a follow through exercise. That occasional click, pause, boom that scores a 9 or 10 rather than putting you out of the match is first class follow through   

Practice is really important since:

1. It developes and maintains muscles you use shooting offhand that normally do not get well developed (except for painters and dry wall installers).

2. It burns the image of your sights centered on the bullseye and this speeds up your brain to send the message to squeeze the trigger at the right time - reflex shooting.

Yes the NPA indicates when your body is aligned with the least amount of body tension in your muscles.

It is the body tension that pulls your shots off.

When you are naturally aligned you will not have muscle tension in your arms and hands etc.

You do not use your arms and hands to readjust your point of aim since this causes muscle tension.

Instead you move left or right by moving your feet.
You change elevation by the amount of breath you hold or by pivoting at the hips.

Also for people with longer arms that cannot use a palm rest; it is best to shoot off your finger tips instead of holding the forearm on your palm hand. 

This eliminates the tension in your hand holding the rifle.

And most importantly you need to center and shoot quick.
The oxygen in your eye is depleted after seven seconds and your point of aim actually starts to change.

Never hold your shot too long.