General Question and Natural Point of Aim
Select Gate
READ GTA FORUM RULES BEFORE POSTING
GTA Forum Help Desk
GTA Announcement Gate
Dealer Area
GRIP
AirgunWeb Airgun Videos
Airgun Repository of Knowledge
Vendors and Vendor Videos
AirGun Expo 2021
Airgun Expo 2022
Contests and Giveaways!!!
Welcome New Members
In Memoriam
GTA Contributing Members
Shot Show Videos
Hajimoto Productions
Airgun Detectives
Air Gun Gate
BB Guns and Such
"Bob and Lloyds Workshop"
American/U.S. Air Gun Gates
European/Asian Air Gun Gates
PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside"
Air Archery
Vintage Air Gun Gate
Air Guns And Related Accessories Review Gates
Hunting Gate
Machine Shop Talk & AG Parts Machining
3D printing and files
Buyer's, Seller's & Trader's Comments
Bargain Gate
Back Room
Target Shooting Discussion Gate
Target Match Rules
Shooting Match Gates
Field Target Gates
The Long Range Club
100 Yard Match
Discussions By States
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
Did you miss your
activation email
?
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
Home
About
Help
Old GTA
Gallery
Search
Stats
Login
Register
Advertise Here
GTA
»
Target Shooting Matches, Discussion & Events
»
Target Shooting Discussion Gate
(Moderators:
gamo2hammerli
,
Hoosier Daddy
) »
General Question and Natural Point of Aim
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Down
Share This!
Author
Topic: General Question and Natural Point of Aim (Read 1023 times))
TwiceHorn
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 754
Real Name: Mark
General Question and Natural Point of Aim
«
on:
August 03, 2017, 03:46:56 PM »
I do a fair amount of shooting indoors at ranges under 15 yards. This is practice for field target, so I typically shoot 3/8" circles seated on bumbag, from sticks, and occasionally pure seated.
I usually do this shooting when I am relaxed, haven't eaten recently, and haven't guzzled any caffeine or sugar lately. I am usually able to obliterate the 3/8 bull in 4-5 shots. But on the third or fourth bull, I will start to see fliers, outside the 3/8. I can't really detect any particular problem with these shots, although I have usually slightly shifted focus to my "routine" and how I am mounting the rifle, etc. So, I get 15-20 good shots and then go a little wild. I may be getting "bored" at this point, too, so I usually just quit.
Would I benefit from pushing through this wildness? Is this indicative of some problem?
Also, I shoot hunter class field target now due to some occasional physical difficulties with pure sitting (no sticks). But I still dink around with sitting to see if "opening up" my position shooting with sticks has given me some insight on a more stable sitting position.
Anyway, with sitting, I have always had some trouble with natural point of aim. I understand the concept and have applied it quite successfully off sticks, shooting offhand, and shooting pistols offhand. But with sitting, it seemed like pushing, twisting, adjusting to get more than "on paper" was always necessary and almost unavoidable. I could look away, close my eyes, then return to scope and be "on paper," but not particularly close to the kill zone or bull. Is that just an indication of a poor sitting position? Or is the point of aim part of NPOA a more flexible concept in the more contorted positions like sitting and kneeling?
Logged
Texas
Daisy 753
Daisy 747
Benji 397PA (2000)
Daisy 99 Champion (1st gun)
HW97K
Diana 45
(all .177)
desmobob
Shape Shifting
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 967
yes
Real Name: Bob
Re: General Question and Natural Point of Aim
«
Reply #1 on:
August 03, 2017, 04:18:22 PM »
I have similar frustration with the sitting and kneeling positions. I do everything I can to come to a "natural point of aim," but sometimes I don't do too well.
When I used to shoot NRA 4-position indoor small bore, I had the adjustability of my rifle and sling, plus a shooting jacket and shooting pants to help make it happen. With a standard rifle stock and no other aids (and being larger than average so the average stock doesn't fit well) it is much more challenging. Throw in old age, a bad back and shoulders, and the challenge is formidable.
Have you reviewed any literature or videos on marksmanship positions and principles? It's all about body mechanics and you can usually find your own version of a standard position that offers the advantages of direct skeletal support, etc. I've added length to most of my rifle stocks with add-on recoil pads or spacers. It can be very helpful to have an expert analyze your position and offer help.
Tight groups,
Bob
«
Last Edit: August 03, 2017, 04:20:01 PM by desmobob
»
Logged
USA upstate NY, Lake George region.
Avatar: 1995 Ducati 900SS SP
ac12
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 2333
Re: General Question and Natural Point of Aim
«
Reply #2 on:
August 03, 2017, 05:05:27 PM »
That shooting good for 15-20 shots then going wild is telling you something.
REST and take a break.
You should pace yourself and allow time to take a break.
Stand up and shake yourself to loosen your muscles. Sitting in one position for a long time can lead to cramping which subconsiously affects the rest of the body.
When I shoot a 60 shot AP match, I don't stand on the firing line for 60 shots straight. I will take 1 or 2 breaks and walk around and sit down, then go back to the firing line.
«
Last Edit: August 03, 2017, 05:08:30 PM by ac12
»
Logged
San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA
10 meter target Air Pistol and Air Rifle
TwiceHorn
Sharp Shooter
Posts: 754
Real Name: Mark
Re: General Question and Natural Point of Aim
«
Reply #3 on:
August 03, 2017, 05:37:00 PM »
Thanks for your insights. I have done a bit of reading on positions, but haven't had that eureka moment for field target sitting. The variability in targets for me means an extra measure of "fiddling" to get elevation right, etc. I am shooting an HW97 in stock stock, so it isn't really ideal in a lot of ways.
Being new to hunter class, I have been a bit surprised at how little fiddling with sticks I have had to do to adjust myself to a comfortable and stable position with decent NPOA. I kind of expected to have to do quite a bit of that as I did with regular sitting.
Field target does kind of enforce stopping and doing something else for a few minutes, so I didn't think that an inability to string together 50 good shots in a single sitting was fatal to my efforts, but you never know, hence my question.
Logged
Texas
Daisy 753
Daisy 747
Benji 397PA (2000)
Daisy 99 Champion (1st gun)
HW97K
Diana 45
(all .177)
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Up
« previous
next »
GTA
»
Target Shooting Matches, Discussion & Events
»
Target Shooting Discussion Gate
(Moderators:
gamo2hammerli
,
Hoosier Daddy
) »
General Question and Natural Point of Aim