What shooting position is commonly used when hunting with a shotgun?

Every hunter should strive to become a good marksman. Marksmanship is the ability to hit your target. By building confidence in your marksmanship skills, you will enjoy safe shooting. Learning when to shoot and when to wait will lead to successful hunting.

Becoming a consistent marksman requires practice and self-discipline. As a responsible hunter, you should know your limitations and the limitations of your equipment. Your goal, when the time comes to harvest an animal, must always be a "one-shot kill." This means you must be confident your first shot will cause a quick and humane death. If this is not the case, don't shoot!

Whenever you are shooting your firearm, it is important to be wearing both eye and ear protection. The loud noise created by your gun when it fires can damage your hearing permanently. Particles created by the guns discharge can also injure you eyes. Wearing glasses while you shoot may also help you see better. To prevent long term damage to your hearing, wear earplugs or muffs and protect your eyes from injury by wearing safety glasses when you shoot.

Accuracy in shot placement is obtained by practicing with a firearm that is sighted in properly. To understand bullet placement, you need to know about "trajectory."

Trajectory is the path of a bullet in flight. It is curved because gravity pulls the bullet toward the earth. The line of sight from a rifle's muzzle to the target is straight. The bullet begins to drop the instant it leaves the muzzle. To hit a distant target, a rifle barrel must be angled slightly upward. Aiming on this upward angle allows a dropping bullet to intersect your line of sight at the target.

A properly aimed rifle bullet will cross the line of sight first at a point close to the muzzle, and again at the target or zero point.

Body Positioning

The shooter, to be accurate, must assume a steady, comfortable position. This allows for total concentration on the target.

Erratic breathing results in poor shooting. With the firearm correctly shouldered, inhale and exhale a full breath. Then inhale another full breath, exhale about half, and hold your breath as you aim and squeeze the trigger. If your arms start shaking, lower the firearm, rest a few seconds, and try again.

Aiming

Practice estimating the range to various targets. Proper aim depends on the range of your shot. For maximum accuracy and safety, the shooter should aim with both eyes open. Take care to correctly align front and rear sights if your gun is not equipped with a scope. Once correct sight alignment is obtained, try to discharge the firearm within four to seven seconds. If you exceed this time span, eye muscle strain may cause the sights and target to blur.

Trigger Squeeze

The trigger squeeze you want is firm and gradual. You should not be aware of the exact instant at which the rifle will fire. This reduces the possibility of a flinch or trigger-jerk.

Follow Through

When shooting, the term "follow through" means to continue momentarily the previous action before the shot was fired. Imagine the golf player. He does not stop his swing when he initially comes into contact with the golf ball.

Sighting

Sighting in a firearm means to adjust the sights so that the bullet hits where you are pointing it.

When sighting in a firearm, fire the same ammunition that will be used while hunting. From a steady position, fire at a target 25 yards away. Check where the bullets strike and then adjust the rear sight so the next bullet strikes closer to the bull's-eye.

To adjust the position of impact of your rifle or handgun with open or peep sights, move the rear sight in the same direction the bullet must move on the target. For example, if the bullet hits to the left of center, you move the rear sight to the right. If the bullet hits low, raise the rear sight.

The same sighting in procedure applies to both open-sighted and scope-equipped rifles. But before a scope can be sighted in, it must be securely mounted to the rifle. Gunsmiths are highly qualified to do this work, and at the same time can "bore-sight" your rifle to make final sighting in at the range much easier.

"Adjusting" the aim of your rifle with a scope is very simple. Using the windage adjustment on your scope, dial the required number of clicks to move the shot group left or right until it hits the center line of the target. Also move the shot group up or down with the elevation adjustment. Be sure to read the scope manufacturer's instructions closely before sighting in a scoped rifle.

When sighting in a rifle always point it in a safe direction. An earth bank is the safest backstop to have.

Looking beyond your target

Looking beyond your target to see what is behind what you are shooting at is extremely important. Bullets can travel great distances and be a danger to other people and property. Make sure you are shooting in a safe direction and that your bullet has something beyond your target to stop it. The ground, a hill or earth works designed to stop bullets are the best backstops.

Shooting Positions-Rifle

Prone, sitting, kneeling and standing are the four main positions used in rifle shooting. In any particular situation, one of the positions will be the most suitable. When shooting from any of the four, the shooter must be steady, relaxed, and confident before firing. Always remember your breathing, aiming, squeezing, and follow through we discussed previously.

It is very important you practice shooting from all these positions because your "effective range" for a one-shot kill will change! It is your responsibility to know your limits with each position.

Standing or Off-hand position

This position is very practical for hunting, but offers the least amount of accuracy. The use of a sling while shooting off-hand will improve a person's aim.

Kneeling position

This position is not stable because one arm is not supported. Consistent accuracy is more likely when prone or sitting.

Sitting position

Often the most practical and reliable shooting position while hunting, particularly when grass and shrubs make the prone position unsuitable.

Prone position

The prone position offers the most body support and stability. It is the most accurate.

Using a rest

Rifle shooting accuracy is vastly improved by using a "rest." Look for a rest before deciding what shooting position to use. The shooter's forearm can be rested on a rock, a fence post, or against a tree. To obtain maximum accuracy, don't let the rifle barrel touch the rest.

Shooting Positions : Handgun

Most states make some provision for handgun hunting. Check local regulations before going afield.

Handgun shooting, as in rifle shooting, requires proper grip, stance, sight alignment, sight picture, trigger squeeze, breath control, and follow through. The correct firm grip gives you complete control of your handgun when it fires. Changing your grip will affect sight alignment and bullet placement.

Two-handed grip body position

A different two-hand grip is used for revolver and semi-automatics. Point the muzzle in a safe direction with your finger off the trigger.

On a semi-automatic, the recoiling slide could injure your hand if the firearm is not held properly.

Stand with your body facing the target squarely. Spread your feet about shoulder width apart with weight distributed evenly on both feet to give you solid balance. Keep your knees straight but not locked.

Stretch out both arms towards the target and lock your elbows. Keep your head up. Control your breathing in the same manner as when shooting a rifle. Inhale, line up the sights with target, breathe out partially and hold your breath while squeezing the trigger.

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