"Aim small, miss small"

[lizzie]

I know that most of you guys already know this, but we may have some members who aren't familiar with the concept. I am relatively new to shooting, and I know leila is more of a novice than I.

When I started shooting my AM77 last summer, someone told me to use small targets to improve my skills, so I started using beer bottle caps suspended from wire, hanging from one of those garden stakes that serves as a plant hanger. I found it very useful for improving my aim and concentration, rather than using the larger targets.

Today, I was so excited when I took the FWB out to the bench. I use the ShootNC targets, and they come with little stick-on dots that are about the size of a penny or so. I stuck a few of them up, and with the first shot I hit it.
I know that to most of you this is probably no big deal. To me, it was phenomenal!

So for anyone here who is new, or is having trouble with accuracy which is based on shooting skills, and not the gun itself, I recommend following the aim small, miss small approach. I really think, based on my own experience over the past year, that it helps.

[Addictedtoair]

Very effective training advice Lizzie. You hit on the very foundation of this forum,...passing on and sharing information and shared experiences. Great job.

Brett

[lizzie]

Thanks Brett

[jonnnyboy]

Brett's right, Lizzie.  You hit on one of the best secrets of shooting well.  I never really began to improve my shooting until I learned to "Aim small."

For a lot of fun, check out some dime-sized targets.

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,17461.0.html

joe

[amb5500c]

Sound advice Lizzie.
Richard

[althawk]

Yes very sound advice.

Whenever I get fancy with the targets (drawing animal outlines, odd shapes) I tend to see shot-gun patterns.  When I make nice targets with CD centers as dots...I get quarter sized holes or patches (unless i'm just having an off day, then its shot-gun pattern).

[mav72]

How about "Aim big, Don't miss." LOL I'm just playing...

As I mentioned on the other thread, I carry around my orange sharpie when I shoot and make dots as targets to shoot at... Or if I'm too lazy to get the sharpie, I shoot a pellet and make a hole and then I try to do one hole shots... A small swinging grape on a noose is always fun because they splatter...

[tom96]

....paint balls on golf tees @50-75 yards make for a fun, challenging game.... so do peppermints,jawbreakers,smarties,and most all hard candies...


once i learned to aim at a tiny dot (can barely see it through the scope) i got good, now i can very easily hit 135yd. spinners 10/10 times. its all aboout practice and learning your gun.

@mav72.............how bout aim small never miss...just fun...anyone else like shooting flies?

[mav72]

....paint balls on golf tees @50-75 yards make for a fun, challenging game.... so do peppermints,jawbreakers,smarties,and most all hard candies...


once i learned to aim at a tiny dot (can barely see it through the scope) i got good, now i can very easily hit 135yd. spinners 10/10 times. its all aboout practice and learning your gun.

@mav72.............how bout aim small never miss...just fun...anyone else like shooting flies?

Haha awww man... I used to shoot flies all the time... There's so many of them you never run out of targets... My eyes don't work as good as they used to so I'd need to get myself a stronger scope to do that nowadays... I could barely see a pellet hole at 10 meters using open sights... I'm always walking up to see where it hit... It get's annoying...

How about weed waking in the garden with a pellet gun? I used to do that too... My nephew always brings up how I used to be able to dissect a plant with my scoped 766... I once got in trouble because I shot down one of my dads chili plants, just to see if I could do it... I didn't think it'd fall over like that... Boy he was perturbed...

[lizzie]

How about "Aim big, Don't miss." LOL I'm just playing...

As I mentioned on the other thread, I carry around my orange sharpie when I shoot and make dots as targets to shoot at... Or if I'm too lazy to get the sharpie, I shoot a pellet and make a hole and then I try to do one hole shots... A small swinging grape on a noose is always fun because they splatter...

Hah- it's likely to be a looong time before I can do that.
(but I keep trying)

[dk1677]

True words lizzie!  ( the first post    )

[SAADE]

"I know that to most of you this is probably no big deal. To me, it was phenomenal!"

Lizzie,

No, that is a BIG DEAL! The eye/sight picture and aim point relationship is huge. Next, try the 10 meter NRA air-pistol targets, those will challenge anybody! (tiny, tiny, tiny)

[bobtodrick]

I was really surprised how true this turned out to be.
I'd heard the phrase 'aim small, miss small' a couple of years ago.
At the time at 30metres I was using a standard rapid fire pistol target with my 631 Slavia.  
I followed the advice of my friend and started using (at 30m) the ISSF 10m Air Rifle Target.  I was amazed how much smaller my groups became.
The only thing I can figure is that there is some part of the brain that, when it sees the larger target, just allows ones whole shooting procedure to 'open up'.

[EJB]

....paint balls on golf tees @50-75 yards make for a fun, challenging game.... so do peppermints,jawbreakers,smarties,and most all hard candies...


once i learned to aim at a tiny dot (can barely see it through the scope) i got good, now i can very easily hit 135yd. spinners 10/10 times. its all aboout practice and learning your gun.

@mav72.............how bout aim small never miss...just fun...anyone else like shooting flies?

Haha awww man... I used to shoot flies all the time... There's so many of them you never run out of targets... My eyes don't work as good as they used to so I'd need to get myself a stronger scope to do that nowadays... I could barely see a pellet hole at 10 meters using open sights... I'm always walking up to see where it hit... It get's annoying...

How about weed waking in the garden with a pellet gun? I used to do that too... My nephew always brings up how I used to be able to dissect a plant with my scoped 766... I once got in trouble because I shot down one of my dads chili plants, just to see if I could do it... I didn't think it'd fall over like that... Boy he was perturbed...

That is why I keep spoting scope close by.  I have the same problem.  If using less than 9X can not see holes.  On my 800 mag have only 2X so use spoting scope alot when shooting this.

[dpricenator]

I can't wait to try those dime targets.  And I'm thinking a bag of paibt balls will be in my near future.

[leila]

Thank you Lizzie! I started my smaller stick-on targets this morning and I do like them much more than the bigger ones. What I noticed is that I am pretty good at 10 feet with my 1377, but when I moved back to 20 feet I was all over the place again... maybe with practice. There is no way I would hit a fly at 10 feet that's for sure... lol, maybe if I would add a scope. I also got better without peep sight as well. After good target shooting in the basement, I tried to hit a starling this morning too, but it was about 20/25 feet in the grass and all I did was just scared it away.

[chronic]

This is a very good training technique, it forces you to shoot better. I know if I aim at a pen standing on end, I'll group my shots tighter then aiming at the 1" spinner at the same distance.

[lizzie]

That is why I keep spoting scope close by.  I have the same problem.  If using less than 9X can not see holes.  On my 800 mag have only 2X so use spoting scope alot when shooting this.

I keep a pair of 8x binocs at the bench, because I get tired (bored) with walking back and forth to the target, lol.

[lizzie]

The only thing I can figure is that there is some part of the brain that, when it sees the larger target, just allows ones whole shooting procedure to 'open up'.

I suspect that is exactly the case. I also think that focusing on a small point aids concentration.

[lizzie]

Thank you Lizzie! I started my smaller stick-on targets this morning and I do like them much more than the bigger ones. What I noticed is that I am pretty good at 10 feet with my 1377, but when I moved back to 20 feet I was all over the place again... maybe with practice.

Definitely with practice. And more practice.
Also, the practice will help you develop consistency, one of the keys to success in shooting. Try to be aware of every little detail when you are shooting- how you sit or stand, the angle of your body in relation to the gun, using the same point on your finger to pull the trigger, resting your cheek in the same place. These all will help improve your skills.