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Anyone can pick up a gun and pull the trigger, but it takes a true marksman to master the fundamentals of shooting.
Whether you’re aiming at paper targets or hunting for dinner, certain fundamentals must be followed in order to be successful.
If you’re interested in firearms or are just starting out, you need to first learn these fundamentals.
A solid foundation is the best base to build from and will serve you for the rest of your time in the field.
Here, we will discuss the basic concepts that you need to know in order to shoot a gun safely and effectively, such as stance, grip, sight alignment, and trigger control.
So whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a complete beginner, read on for some essential tips that will help you hit your target every time!
Why Is It Important to Master the Fundamentals?
When it comes to firearms, the fundamentals of shooting are key.
Your stance, grip, breath control, and trigger squeeze all play a role in whether or not you hit your target.
If you’re new to shooting, or just looking to brush up on your skills, here’s why it’s important to master the basics[1].
By ensuring that your stance is correct, your grip is firm, and your breath is controlled, you create a strong base from which to shoot.
From there, you can focus on squeezing the trigger smoothly to get an accurate shot. If you try to rush through the process or skip steps, your accuracy will suffer.
Even if you’re already an experienced shooter, it’s important to review the basics regularly.
As they say, practice makes perfect!
The more repetition you get, the more natural the process will become. And when it comes to shooting, accuracy is everything.
So whether you’re just getting started or are looking to fine-tune your skills, make sure you know the fundamentals inside and out.
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Shooting Practice Safety Tips
While the fundamental skills of shooting are relatively simple, they must be executed with precision and care to ensure safety[2].
When you’re shooting, always be aware of your surroundings and who or what is behind your target.
Make sure your target is in a safe direction, away from people, animals, buildings, or other valuable property.
When loading or unloading a gun, be sure to keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Finally, always handle guns with respect and avoid horseplay. Remember that once a bullet leaves the gun, you can no longer control its trajectory.
What Are the Fundamentals of Shooting?
Rifle firing is a complex skill that requires coordination and the use of various muscles.
The five fundamental elements of rifle firing are:
- Aiming
- Breath control
- Movement control
- Trigger control
- Follow-through
Each one of these elements[3] must be mastered in order to become a successful marksman.
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Aiming
Aiming is important in the shooting because it determines where the projectile will hit.
If your aim is off, the shot will not hit the target.
Many factors can affect your aim – wind speed and direction, the type of firearm being used, and the shooter’s own physical characteristics such as breathing, heartbeat, and muscle tremors are a few.
As a result, it is essential to take all of these factors into account when lining up a shot.
The best way to ensure accuracy is to practice regularly so that the act of aiming becomes second nature.
One of the most important things to remember when aiming is to always maintain a proper stance.
This will help you stay balanced and steady as you take your shot.
There are three main components to a proper stance: feet, shoulders, and hips:
- Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with one foot slightly ahead of the other.
- Your shoulders should be squared off to the target.
- And your hips should be slightly tucked under.
This will give you a stable platform from which to shoot.
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Breath Control
The process of taking a deep breath, exhaling slowly, and squeezing the trigger while maintaining focus on the target helps to steady the hand and minimize movement.
This is especially important when shooting at long range, as even a small amount of movement can cause the bullet to veer off course.
The first step is to take a deep breath and exhale slowly, allowing the body to relax.
Then, take a short, shallow breath and hold it for a moment before slowly exhaling again.
The key is to avoid moving the rifle while exhaling, as even the slightest movement can throw off your aim.
Finally, take one last shallow breath and gently squeeze the trigger while exhaling completely.
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Movement Control
When shooting a rifle, control is essential for accuracy.
The slightest twitch of the trigger finger can result in a shot that veers off target, so it’s important to keep your hand steady.
One way to do this is to grip the rifle tightly with both hands.
You want to make sure that your hand is high on the backstrap of the gun’s grip, and that your trigger finger is resting along the side of the frame.
This will give you the most control over the gun and help you avoid jerking the trigger when you fire.
Once you have a good grip on the gun, it’s time to align your sights.
You should be looking down the length of the barrel, with the front sight centered in the rear sight.
Take your time to line up the sights, and make sure the target is in focus.
Once you have a good sight picture, you’re ready to take your shot.
Another way to control your movement is to relax your muscles. This may seem counterintuitive, but tense muscles can actually cause you to shake more.
Finally, it is important to focus on your front sight. This will help you keep your eye on the target and prevent you from moving your head.
There are other things you can do for movement control. One common technique is to use a shooting sling.
A shooting sling helps to stabilize your rifle and gives you added support.
Another common technique is to use a bipod. A bipod gives you extra support and helps to keep your rifle steady.
Trigger Control
A properly placed shot can mean the difference between taking down a target and missing altogether.
Unfortunately, trigger control is often overlooked by new shooters.
This can lead to problems down the road, as a lack of trigger control can result in inaccurate shooting.
Fortunately, trigger control is something that can be learned with practice.
Simply put, trigger control is the act of keeping your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Then you want to apply straight, steady pressure to the trigger so that it breaks cleanly and smoothly.
If you jerk or quickly pull the trigger, you’ll likely end up with a poor shot.
So take your time, focus on the front sight, and squeeze the trigger slowly and evenly until the gun fires.
When your finger is on the trigger, there is a much greater chance of an accidental discharge.
Even if you are not pointing the gun at anything, a negligent discharge can still occur if your finger slips.
This can lead to serious injuries or even death. For this reason, it is vital to practice good trigger control at all times.
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Follow-Through
In marksmanship, follow-through[4] is the phase after the shot has been fired in which the marksman continues to point the gun in the same direction even after the trigger has been released.
The purpose of follow-through is to ensure that the bullet hits the intended target.
Follow-through is one of the most important steps in shooting a rifle.
After you have squeezed the trigger and the bullet has left the barrel, it is important to keep the rifle pointed in the same direction for a moment.
This will help to ensure that the bullet hits its target.
The follow-through also allows you to take a second shot if necessary. If you are not satisfied with your first shot, you can quickly readjust your aim and fire again.
Several factors can affect follow-through, such as grip, stance, and breath control.
By paying attention to these details, a marksman can improve their accuracy and make sure that each shot hits its target.
That’s why paying attention to your follow-through can help you make more accurate shots.
Final Thoughts
The five fundamental elements of shooting are aim, breath control, movement control, trigger control, and follow-through.
Aiming is the process of aligning the sights of the rifle with the target.
Breath control is the process of taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly to steady the rifle.
Movement control is the process of keeping the rifle still while aiming. Trigger control is the process of pulling the trigger smoothly and evenly to fire the rifle.
Follow-through is the process of keeping the sights aligned with the target after firing the rifle.
By following these fundamentals of shooting, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an excellent shooter.
Remember to practice often and always keep safety in mind. With a little time and effort, you’ll be hitting your target every time.
Resources
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/lesson-9-fundamentals-of-shooting-0/download
- https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/forms/hscsg.pdf
- https://www.hunter-ed.com/muzzleloader/studyGuide/Rifle-Firing-Techniques-Practicing-the-Five-Fundamentals/222099_88875/
- https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/follow-improves-shooting/
