I need help beeing a better shot

spooner · 11-13-2007, 02:10 PM

any pointers to improve my aim.

Jeremy · 11-13-2007, 02:13 PM

What are you shooting (shotgun, rifle, bow, slingshot)?
What are you shooting at (ducks, deer, elk...)?

fishgetter · 11-13-2007, 02:14 PM

BEATHE, BIPOD, Good Equipment (Gun, Ammo), Breathe, Good distance Judgement....Breathe.....Calm down,,,,,,,shoot!!!!!!!!!!

leadeyedbugger · 11-13-2007, 02:23 PM

Practice, Practice, Practice.....oh yeah, and Practice. And that means practicing the kind of shots that you take at game, not just on a bench at the range, or exactly 20yds from your target with a bow etc......with rifle practice shooting off hand, sitting etc, from different ranges and different angles...same with bow.

pythonwill · 11-13-2007, 02:35 PM

And maybe a little more Practice

BONES · 11-13-2007, 02:45 PM

Practice is only good if your practicing proper form and technique. Practicing bad habits will only make them worse.

I have had a terrible time with my shotgun, so I found an instructor out of the Hillsboro trap and skeet club. I was doing everything wrong. I pretty much started over and wow, what a difference. I am taking a series of five lessons. I have two to go and am now shooting much, much better.

I think shooting well will be a lifetime endevour and I will always be learning. But as Bud (my instructor) said practice is only good if it is good practice... Best of luck!

Duckwheat · 11-13-2007, 03:14 PM

Get a gun that you enjoy shooting. Shoot it a lot. If you do not know how to set it up, have someone competent do it for you.

If is a shotgun, get one that fits. Buy about 10,000 rounds of ammo and start shooting.

Don't over think everything.

DW

SalmonJeff · 11-13-2007, 03:38 PM

nothing improves your shooting more then time at the range. then add a bi pod for stability and shoot allot more!

Tar Heel · 11-13-2007, 04:12 PM

No offense, but it's helpful when we use more specific thread titles. Assuming your a scattergunner, the DU web site has some good tips. Also, never take your eye off the target, not to mount, not to site, not to swing, and not to ''aim.''

DTSportsman · 11-13-2007, 04:15 PM

I'm no expert, and I also need all the practice I can get, but my usual tip to this question is pick 1 gun for big game, and 1 load for big game that will kill all species you are going to be hunting and practice, practice, practice. Different guns and different loads all shoot different get used to the one you're most comfortable with. For me 7mm with 165gr. Noslers accross the board for Blacktail, Mulies, and Elk.

Daryn

jnicholson · 11-13-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckwheat

Get a gun that you enjoy shooting. Shoot it a lot. If you do not know how to set it up, have someone competent do it for you.

If is a shotgun, get one that fits. Buy about 10,000 rounds of ammo and start shooting.

Don't over think everything.

DW

what? .... no barrel length suggestions

one suggestion that will keep you grinning in the blind, buy better than your hunting buddy.:smile:

beardbuster · 11-13-2007, 08:35 PM

This is what works for me.
When its time to make the shot, I concentrate more on the technique than the animals or targets. Pick a spot - one spot and focus on that. Two big breaths to calm the nerves. Squeeze the trigger at the end of the second long exhale. Keep your eyes on the crosshair or pin until the bullet or arrow hits the target. This will help your form and improve accuracy if you stay in the sight or scope. KNOW, that you are going to hit the target. I do the same technique for both rifle and bow.

Confidence in your equipment is a huge bonus.

adobe wall · 11-13-2007, 08:43 PM

yep we'll need something more specific.

Most shooting with rifles, handguns, or archery equipment starts with establishing a correct natural point of aim. Then build a position (and use a rest if possible), then work on breathing and trigger control.

Range time helps, a lot.

Controlling your nerves is a completely different problem though.

regards, aw

spooner · 11-14-2007, 01:07 AM

Oh sorry. Im shooting a 223 with a 3 to 9 power scope and a 30-30 open sights.hunting sitka black tail on prince of whales. thanks for all the help so far keep it coming

spooner · 11-14-2007, 01:11 AM

when at the range should I let the rifle cool beetween shots?

Shakey · 11-14-2007, 01:15 AM

Here is what my grandfather used to say until I got sick of hearing it and now I find myself repeating.

"Don't shoot at the deer, shoot at a SPOT ON the deer."

He was a very good shot. Heck he still is! He got his deer again this year at 93 year old.

Nightfisher · 11-14-2007, 07:32 AM

I've coached quite a few shooters, mostly muzzlestuffers, with the slow bp driven slug any flinch will cause a fly away, calm down, load a spent shell, aim, drop the hammer until you loose the flinch factor, when you get to the point that you dont even blink when shooting, you'll be a much better shot, I'm not happy until I can hit a pop can at 100 yds. off a rest of course. just my 2 cents

uhmw · 11-14-2007, 08:27 AM

Practice pulling the trigger with a dime on the barrell and your irons on the target. See how many times you can do this in a row laying in the mud in the pouring rain at o dark thirty- try it in all the shooting positions and you should be qualifing expert at 500 yards in no-time. Thats how I learned in 60 days( oh yes you must do 25 pushups each time you cant do 10 in a row). lastly-if you are constantly lame try shooting from the oppisit side. Im a righty for every thing but shooting.

Duckwheat · 11-14-2007, 08:31 AM

JNicholson brings up a good point. I am from the Church of the Short barrell. He bought a very nice shotgun that will have multiple uses with that 28" barrell. He can attach a hook to the underside of the barrell and retrieve decoys with it. He can use it to get items off the top shelf for the wife. He can swat ducks that are overhead and save money on shells. Ducks that are swatted do count in the daily bag limit or possession limit. You could use it to push your skiff along on those early morning hunts. The uses are endless.

If you actually want to kill something, get a Berretta or Benelli with a 24" barrell. If you sign a transfer tag you can share some of those birds with JNicholson so he can train his dogs and feed his family.

Duckwheat, a soldier in the 24" Revolution

Got One! · 11-14-2007, 08:40 AM

Typically I shoot standing, so if you want to hit something this way, here is how I do it. Your not going to hold the cross hair or sight on the target without moving....no one does while standing. You want to take in a few deep breaths slowing letting it out each time. on the second to last inhale breath, look through your scope and let your breath out. Follow how your cross hair moves. You typically I want it to come down from top to bottom over the target. As you take in your last breath slowly come up, and let it out slowly coming down across your target spot, time your exhale to your squeeze of the trigger as your breath is out. I shoot the same way with a rifle every time and have had the same rifle now for quite a while now. As stated, practice, the key is to practice the same way every time. No matter how you do it. If you use a stand, or lean on a tree its much the same way.

For me shooting a shotgun or pistol is completely different as both my eyes are open and its always a natural lead or timing of my sights coming over the trigger squeeze "spot". Once again it was practicing from a child to now to get where I'm at, however I stopped shooting for a couple years, but when I had started again, it was just a little rust and right back to the same way and accuracy.

scottishsetter · 11-14-2007, 10:15 AM

22lr is cheap to practice with; just shoot to a bullseye and try to improve your offhand shooting 'groups'.

where's your bobber dude · 11-14-2007, 10:28 AM

Spooner,

I have hunted Sitkas on POW a lot and what I see is that the local hunting culture is different than down south. Just stick with the basics: stay calm, get a good rest, pick your spot, and don't shoot until the deer has stopped (which is easy with Sitkas). I know that many people up there use a "back up" guy ready to shoot the deer if you miss. That is very wrong. If you miss and the deer isn't running you should be able to calmly take a second shot. There is no need to have someone putting added pressure on you waiting to shoot your deer. Sitkas just stand there and stare at you anyway. Shoot at the range enough so you are familiar with your gun. Focus on the vitals and not the horns, stay calm, and take a clean shot. good luck

Chesapeake · 11-14-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spooner

Oh sorry. Im shooting a 223 with a 3 to 9 power scope and a 30-30 open sights.hunting sitka black tail on prince of whales. thanks for all the help so far keep it coming

Are you missing deer or targets? Are you missing at all, or just asking for suggestions?

Krijack · 11-14-2007, 11:07 AM

I couldn't hit anything with my gun. Tried and tried. Would get it sited in and then start missing agian. The more fustrated I would shoot the more fustrated I would get. I am learing this on my own so I had no idea what was I was doing wrong. Finally figured out the scope was sticking. Got a new site, 5 shots later I am in the bullseye and thats it. Until I figured out what was going on I found myself nervous and tightening up with each shot. When you start missing papper at 50 yards it isn't very good for your confidence. I was able to take the head off a grouse this year so I now I am at least getting better.

spooner · 11-14-2007, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chesapeake

Are you missing deer or targets? Are you missing at all, or just asking for suggestions?

all three. I went to the range befor hunting and shot a pop can three times at 50yards to see if the gun was sighted in. but i mised a coupe of deer that were pritty close, it may be just buck fever.shooting the can i was at a bench and shooting at the deer i was down on one knee and standing. i was mostly lookinng for suggestions. thanks

Chesapeake · 11-14-2007, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spooner

all three. I went to the range befor hunting and shot a pop can three times at 50yards to see if the gun was sighted in. but i mised a coupe of deer that were pritty close, it may be just buck fever.shooting the can i was at a bench and shooting at the deer i was down on one knee and standing. i was mostly lookinng for suggestions. thanks

Sounds like alot more practice would help. Also sounds like situational excitement (fancy term for buck fever) may have played a part.

The one thing that has worked the best for me is a rest. I currently cary a monopod while hunting. It serves double duty as a walking stick. No matter the distance, my goal while hunting is to get a rest of some sort if at all possible.

scottishsetter · 11-14-2007, 01:40 PM

Remember the recoil will never kill. Put the crosshairs on the target; focus on those crosshairs;;; and skweezze. Again; just let the recoil do its' thing But you focus on the crosshairs and forget about any 'kick' it just is not there, let the gun go off.

LiveLarge · 11-14-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chesapeake

The one thing that has worked the best for me is a rest. I currently carry a mono pod while hunting. It serves double duty as a walking stick. No matter the distance, my goal while hunting is to get a rest of some sort if at all possible.

Me too....The best place I have found for a nice rest is in the shade with a light breeze.

..I do snore though and am a little worried about attracting a bear.

Seriously though. use a rest if you can. If I have time and am making a particularly hard shot, I take a couple of deep breaths, and on the last I let enough out to be comfortable, hold it, and squeeze off the shot.

goforchrome · 11-14-2007, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottishsetter

22lr is cheap to practice with; just shoot to a bullseye and try to improve your offhand shooting 'groups'.

This is your best starting place.
Shooting loud guns with recoil will make you develop bad habits.
And it's expensive.
buy a brick of cheap 22lr and shoot it through a gun that is somewhat similar to your centerfire guns and shoot, shoot, and shoot somemore.
you can shoot 500rnds of 22lr for less than 20 rnds of the others.
And you will develop good habits, like sight picture, trigger control, breathing.
Can't go wrong....unless you forget to back off the scope when touching off a hot one.