Shooting is a very important skill to have, whether you’re in the military or just want to be able to protect yourself and your loved ones. Here are nine tips that will help you improve your shooting skills and make you a better shoot.
1. Practice Makes Perfect
Even if you think you’re a natural-born marksman, the only way to really improve your shooting skills is through practice.
Make sure that you practice with both hands since many people are right-handed but left-eye dominant, which means that they tend to focus more on objects with their right eye and less on objects with their left eye.
This can cause you to miss slightly when shooting because the brain compensates for the lack of sight from one eye by shooting high or low, depending on where the focus lies.
2. Don’t Use Too Much Powder
Using too much gunpowder will produce a bullet that travels faster than usual, and thus it will be more accurate and go further.
The only problem with that is that it can cause your shot to fly off course because there’s too much speed and not enough mass in the bullet.
3. Have a Good Stance when Shooting
You don’t have to be a Navy SEAL to have a good stance. Keep your feet shoulder-length apart and at a slight angle so that you’re ready to move at any time.
Standing up straight when you’re shooting, getting low to the ground when necessary, having good balance when standing, and stepping into the shot instead of leaning back are all important things to remember for a good stance while shooting.
4. The Best Way to Aim Is by Closing One Eye While Keeping the Other Open
When using both eyes open, people tend to focus on either their front or rear sight, which breaks their concentration.
When you use one eye and keep the other open, you can focus on your target much easier, and it will help you to see things more accurately and improve your shooting.
5. You Have to Focus on Your Breath
Taking deep breathes and exhaling slowly while keeping your shoulders and chest relaxed, so you don’t get tired too fast is important when shooting a rifle since heavy breathing can cause you to miss since it moves your body every time you breathe in or out.
6. The Trigger Pull Is Just as Important as Accuracy
When pulling the trigger, it’s best to be steady and do it slowly. The trigger pull affects accuracy because if it takes too long between shots, then your target will move, which forces you to lose control of where the muzzle goes when firing.
The best way to pull the trigger is to use your index and middle finger and let them rest on top of the trigger guard. Then, slowly put pressure on it until you feel a slight bit of resistance. When you feel that resistance, stop applying pressure and keep holding until you’re ready to shoot.
Once you’re ready, make sure that your sights are on target and then apply constant, even pressure until the bullet leaves the gun.
7. Keep Your Eye Primarily on Your Target When Shooting
When shooting, it’s important to try not to focus too much on the front sight since this will cause you to lose sight of your target or where your shot might end up going, which will be bad for accuracy later.
8. Stay In The Shooting Position Until Your Shot Is Completely Off Target
It’s easy to stand up from a crouching position when you’re done shooting since it can be tiring and your legs might buckle if you stay in that position for too long, but you have to remember that sometimes the target will fly off, so it’s important to stay in a crouched or standing position until your shot is completely off target.
Once your shot is gone, don’t forget to lower the rifle slowly while keeping an eye on where your pellet hit. This will help you get ready for the next shot without wasting time by staying low.
9. Have the Right Equipment and Wear Protective Gear When Shooting
You should always have a spotting scope when you’re going to the indoor range so that you can see your shot and adjust accordingly. Make sure that you have the right indoor shooting range equipment so that you don’t miss your shots too often.
You should always wear protective gear like glasses and gloves when shooting because splinters can fly up to 50 feet.
Shooting is something that everyone can learn how to do, and you’ll find yourself getting better at it the more time you spend practicing. The article provided nine tips for improving your shooting skills which should help get you started on achieving this goal.