Practice Exercise 6: Putting it all together
Format: Shoot two 5 shot groups on two diagrams
Core focus: Everything that has been learnt up to now
Description: This exercise brings together everything learnt by the shooter through the previous exercises into a single exercise that highlights the importance of focus on each core skill for every shot fired
Method:
For the first 5 shots the shooter should do exactly what they feel is right and each shot should be fired using the technique they feel comfortable with.
The second 5 shot group should be shot by focusing on everything that has been learnt. Consciously thinking about every step for each shot may seem like a lot to think about but the checklist is used by top level shooters for every shot they fire.
- Get into the prone position with the rifle pointing at the target
- Close eyes
- Test and adjust the position until comfortable whilst keeping the eyes closed
- Open eyes and do not move the rifle
- Notice where the rifle is aiming in relation to the target
- Without adjusting the body close eyes again
- Adjust the body in the direction and by the amount that should bring the aim onto the centre of the target
- Get comfortable and open eyes
- Notice where the rifle is aiming
- Repeat steps 4 - 9 until the rifle naturally aims at the target and tracks vertically across the target when breathing.
- Breathing should remain steady and natural whilst the sight picture is aligned
- When the sights appear aligned take one or two slightly deeper breaths – not full deep breaths but just slightly deeper than the natural breaths taken
- After the deeper breaths the shooter should exhale until the sight picture is properly aligned. The target should appear to lower into the centre of the foresight
- Check the amount of ‘light’ visible on each side of the foresight. If the light is even on the left and right the sight is aligned centrally in the horizontal plane
- Check the amount of light visible on the side and the op of the foresight – of the amount of light is the same on the left, right and top of the foresight it is centrally aligned in both the vertical and horizontal planes
- Holding this position check the target is aligned in the centre of the foresight. If the target is not in the centre of the foresight the body’s natural alignment is not correct and should be corrected.
- When the sight picture is correctly aligned hold the breath (lungs half full)
- Check the sight picture is correct – this stage should take no more than a few seconds. If more than 4 seconds is taken the shooter should start to breath again and move the focus of the eye away from the sights without moving the head and then go back to step 4 and repeat the process
- Fire the shot
- Exhale and take another couple of slightly deeper breaths to replenish the oxygen in the blood
- When the sight picture is correct and the breathing is steady and held, squeeze the trigger smoothly, taking up the first stage of the trigger (if there are 2 stages), pausing when the second stage is reached, check the sight picture and then squeeze the trigger through the second stage firing the shot
- Hold the trigger for a further count of 2 and then gently release it
Usual result: This exercise can have two outcomes.
- Result 1: The second group (total focus) will be noticeably better than the first group because every single step for each shot has been thought through and executed in a smooth and natural way.
- Result 2: The second group (total focus) will be noticeably worse than the first group – this is because some people focus on thinking about each step rather than actually applying them. If the prone position is not set up correctly this too will cause the group to be worse because the shooter will remain in position for an extended period of time and any deficiencies in the position will begin to affect the shooter as either tiredness or discomfort.
Whichever outcome is achieved the exercises is a good one to do to show just how many things there are to think about when taking each shot.
Often an outcome of this exercise is that the shooter will become aware than they occasionally miss a step out when taking a shot and taking time to think through the shoot after it has been done will help to highlight anything which was difficult, forgotten or inconsistent – as well as highlighting the things that went well and felt good.
Additional focus: None – everything should be focused on in this exercise
Useful note
Do not stare at the sights, ensure the eye is relaxed otherwise the image will become distorted and the eye may begin to water.
Do not aim for to long, an expression sometimes used is ‘acquire but do not admire’, once the sight picture looks right take the shot. If the shooter focuses for too long on the sight picture it will become unsteady. The focus should be for no longer than the length of time the breath is held, 4 - 5 seconds.
Other information in this section:
Beginner exercises
- Practice exercise – Breathing: Half breaths and body position
- Practice exercise - Sight picture: Foresight and target focus
- Practice exercise - Trigger control
Intermediate exercises
- Exercise 1: Smooth trigger control
- Exercise 2: Natural alignment
- Exercise 3: Breathing
- Exercise 4: Sight picture 1
- Exercise 5: Sight picture 2
- Exercise 6: Putting it all together
Other exercises
The Information and images in these sections are taken directly from the early chapters in Smallbore Rifle Shooting: A Practical Guide (with permission from the author)
The book goes into each topic in greater depth than we cover on this site. For more detailed information on the book and how to buy it click here