March 28, 2024
shot

Most people will admit they have good days and bad days when shooting. However, if you are hunting you do not want to miss your target; you may only have one opportunity.

While practice is essential to ensure you improve and make the most of your equipment there are several other techniques and accessories which can help to ensure you get the perfect shot every time.

  1. Mounting Your Scope

shot

If you are firing a rifle then you need to have a scope which will allow you to focus on and hit the target. It is important to get the best spotting scope that you can afford; many have night vision options.

However, getting the scope is not going to improve your shot by itself, you also need to mount it correctly. The first step in this process is ensuring that the scope you have bought has a mounting system which is compatible with your rifle.

Next mount the scope as close to your rifle barrel as possible; without touching it. Alternate the screws when tightening to ensure it remains level.

Now position the scope and tighten the bottom rings, leaving the top rings loose so that the scope can rotate. Slowly turn it until the reticle is in precisely the right spot vertically and horizontally.

Check the location compared to the position of your eye, you do not want it to hit you when the rifle recoils.

Tighten all the screws fully and insert a boresight to make any fine adjustments necessary. Now you simply need to test it.

  1. Supporting Your Rifle

To be accurate over any distance you must support your rifle adequately. A proper mount is the best idea as this will ensure the rifle stays steady while you focus on the shot you need to take.

Your mount must be on a level surface and be strong enough to support your rifle for you.

As a general rule a bipod is acceptable if you generally shoot lying down; if not then a bench rest is the best option.

  1. Modify Your Shoulder Pressure

shot

To take the shot your rifle must be resting against your shoulder. This will prevent it from moving backward and ending up somewhere different to where you are aiming.

However, the secret to getting the shot right every time is to keep this shoulder pressure consistent. The heavier you lean into your rifle the harder it will be to duplicate the pressure you are using. It is, therefore, best to keep the pressure as light as you can.

The amount of pressure you apply is personal and cannot be wrong, but the trick is to know how much pressure you are using and to be able to repeat it every time you shoot.

  1. Follow the Shot

shot

It is easy to think that as soon as you have pulled the trigger your shot has been taken and it is finished. However, this is not the case.

To fully appreciate the shot and ensure you are focusing on the same spot every time you need to keep your head stick to the barrel and watch the bullet until it tears through the target. Only at this point has the shot ended.

This approach will help to improve your focus and improve your accuracy. You can also choose a more specific area to shoot at on a target rather than just the whole target.

  1. Practice in Different Circumstances

If you are setting up your rifle or even a handgun you need to do it in the calmest possible conditions. It is usually advisable to do sighting and testing first thing in the morning. However, once you are sure that you have got your weapon set up properly it will be time to practice in as many different conditions as possible.

Whether you shoot in competitions or hunt, the ambient conditions will affect where your bullet ends up and you can only learn to compensate for them by practicing in as many different conditions as possible.

  1. Pressing the Trigger

Another common reason why people fail to shoot accurately every time is the way they pull the trigger.

The next time you get ready to take a shot concentrate on your trigger finger. You should never pull the trigger, Instead, you should focus on pressing it. The principle of this is that you stroke the trigger without disturbing the rifle in any direction; allowing it to remain focused on the intended target.

One way of achieving this is to imagine that you are moving your finger through peanut butter; it is soft but giving and will allow you to press the trigger without disturbing the rifle focus.

  1. Looking After Your Weapon

There is no doubt that the only way you will be able to ensure you get the perfect shot every time you need to learn to maintain your weapon properly. Cleaning your gun regularly will ensure that it works when you need it to, lasts for years and, perhaps most importantly, fires accurately every time.

Traces of lead and copper will be left inside your gun every time you shoot. Eventually, these will corrode the inside of your weapon making it useless. Keep it clean by regularly following this routine:

  • Make sure your gun is not loaded
  • You need gloves and a well-ventilated space
  • Start cleaning at the breech and work towards the tip of the muzzle; you will learn how much of this comes apart on your particular gun.
  • Gently clean with a cleaning brush first then run a gun cleaning chemical through your weapon
  • Always go through the gun and out the muzzle; do not back your brush up.
  • The chemical cleaning should be put through the gun on a cleaning patch. When it comes out clean you know your gun is clean inside.
  • Don’t forget to clean the outside and lubricate moving parts.

Take care of your weapon, follow these tips and you will hit the same spot, every time.

SaltLife.com