In all three positions, the shooter extends the weapon directly out in front of them. Each position has advantages and disadvantages and it’s recommended that beginner shooters try all three to see which feels the most stable for them.
The web of your dominant hand (span of skin between your thumb and index finger) should be aligned with the wrist to properly absorb recoil. Squeeze the pistol in your hands firmly, but not too tight. If your knuckles turn white, you are squeezing the pistol too hard.
In close quarters situations, acquiring sight picture is often sufficient to accurately engage a target. Sight picture is imperative to accuracy. A common saying in military training is, “in a gun fight, you have the rest of your life to acquire good sight picture. ”
The front sight tip and rear sight aperture should be of even height, meaning neither appears to sit higher than the other in your perspective. With good sight alignment and sight picture, the target should be blurry behind the front sight tip, which is centered in your vision between the two posts of the rear sight aperture.
The design of the weapon, the type of ammunition, and the caliber of the weapon can all effect the amount of recoil your pistol produces.
Even a tiny amount of movement can send a round off target at a distance. Wait a second before moving on to a new target or lowering your weapon.
Rifle sight tips and rear sight aperture are often adjustable, as is uncommon with pistols. This allows you to adjust your sights to improve your accuracy. You should sight in your rifle to make sure it is aimed exactly where you intend. Sight picture and alignment also pertains to firing shotguns.
You can purchase scopes with varying levels of magnification based on the distance you intend to shoot. The higher the magnification of the scope, the more difficult it can be to establish proper sight picture.
If you are firing at a further distance than the weapon is zeroed for, you will need to increase the elevation in the scope to compensate for the round dropping in height as it travels between your weapon and the target. The elevation knob adjusts where your rounds will impact on the vertical axis (up and down).
Depending on the rifle, ammunition, scope and distance from the target, adjustments to your windage will move the round different amounts for each click of the knob. Look at the area between you and your target for signs of strong winds, then adjust your windage to suit.
Moving the barrel of the weapon even slightly can result in missing your target by feet over a large distance. Try to use your bones to support the weapon instead of muscle. Fire from a seated or prone position when possible with your elbows resting on your knees or the ground to eliminate wobble created by tiring muscles. Shoulder a shotgun in the same way you would shoulder a rifle.
Pulling a trigger can cause the weapon to jerk slightly, while a controlled squeeze allows you to keep the weapon on target. Act as though you are attempting to close your fist through the weapon’s handle to squeeze the trigger instead of pulling it.
You move the weapon slightly as you breath, and although it may be difficult to notice, it can have a dramatic effect on your accuracy downrange. Maintaining calm, steady breathing is important to ensuring you fire accurately, so practice firing during the natural pause between breaths instead of holding your breath as you fire.
If you find your natural point of aim is off to the left of the target, lower the weapon and move your feet to turn your whole body a bit to the right, then raise the weapon again. Finding your natural point of aim, then centering it on the target will make firing accurately much easier.
Treat every weapon as if it were loaded. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire. Keep the weapon on safe until you are ready to fire.
Look for ballistic rated or shatterproof eye protection. You can purchase ear protection that goes over the ear or inside it; either are acceptable.
