Shooting Techniques

Extracts from John Dreyer www.bullseyepistol.com

(More detailed information on techniques for specific events will be online soon - AusPistol)

Slow Fire Technique:

Shot Sequence:
1. Settle Into Your Aiming Area. The normal area of movement is readily apparent. If it happens to be larger or have abnormal characteristics and you are unable to reduce it to normal, accept it and concentrate on the sights.

2. Find Sight Alignment. Your sight alignment must be exact and in such distinct focus that the target becomes a blurred grey mass somewhere beyond the front sight.

3. Start Positive Squeeze. Be determined that once started, a positive, constant rate of squeeze is to be completed without interruption. Any hesitation, change of rate, doubt about results or loss of concentration must be avoided.

4. Concentrate on Sight Alignment. Any distraction warrants lowering the pistol and starting over. Do not try to fire the shot if any controllable irregularity disturbs the existence of ideal conditions. Do not think of impending results at the target Any surprise shot within the aiming area with good sight alignment will be a good shot.

5. Try for a Surprise Break of the Shot. Your reflexes cannot act quickly enough to disturb sight alignment or a smooth, positive squeeze if the shot breaks as a surprise. Shots breaking in the aiming area with good sight alignment will form a group that represents the equivalent of your holding ability.

6. Additional Suggestions. It may be advantageous to rest or relax after three or four shots. Remember that you do not have to shoot before bringing your gun down to rest. When a shooter fatigues, runs short of breath or experiences difficulty in concentration, by all means he should lower his arm, relax, breathe deeply and try again. Some excellent slow fire shooters try two or three times before getting a shot fired. Do not expect ever to have a perfect sight picture. You can shoot groups only within your ability to hold. If you can hold within the ten ring, they should go there. With experience and practice your ability to hold will increase and your groups will consequently grow smaller. Sometime during the 6-12 seconds required to fire a shot in slow fire, your arc of movement will be sustained at a minimum. The shot sequence should progress at such a rate as to attain a surprise break during this period. Example: If a shooter's minimum arc of movement is reached at about eight seconds he should train himself to break his shots in 6-7 seconds.

Timed and Rapid Fire Techniques:

Prior to firing any string of timed or rapid fire it is imperative that you mentally run through the sequence of the string itself. You must be psychologically as well as physically ready to fire. You will find that this prior determination will assist in your rhythm, squeeze, and recovery and ease any match pressure that you are subjected to at the time.

1. Timed or 'Rapid' Fire.
Prepare your lungs by breathing deeply prior to firing and holding the breath with lungs approximately half full just as you align your sights. Make rhythm the prime object, try not to vary it. Adjust your recovery so that you'll have your sights aligned in time for the shot to go, but do not wait for the perfect sight picture. If you maintain your rhythm and fail to get the sight alignment just right, you may get nines, but if you make the weapon fire just as the sight picture is perfect, you will get the axe.

Immediate recovery of sight alignment and hold after each shot depends on perfection of uniform position and grip. Special attention to an uninterrupted, unchanging rate of squeeze will help develop for you, the coordinated start your squeeze before the sights become perfectly aligned. Make every effort to prevent extraneous thoughts, which may disturb rhythm and concentration.

3. Shot Sequence for Timed and Rapid Fire.
a. Start to raise your arm when the targets begin to face you. Raise your arm quickly but smoothly into your aiming area.
b. Find sight alignment. The front sight should settle naturally into alignment with the rear sight, vertically and horizontally. Concentrate on looking at the front sight.
c. Squeeze continuously. In rapid fire you can start your squeeze before you have perfect sight alignment. This does not mean that you subordinate sight alignment to squeeze. Start your squeeze as quickly as possible while continuously concentrating on and perfecting sight alignment. Your natural aversion to not firing without correct sight alignment will delay your squeeze until the sights are aligned.
d. Follow through. Correct recovery with the sights approximately aligned in the aiming area is obtained only if your position and grip are correct.
e. Concentrate on sight alignment. Any time the shot breaks with good sight alignment, it will strike the target within your area of hold.

In Summary : Accept a good sight picture in your aiming area. Focus on the front sight and squeeze the trigger all the way through until the shot breaks. Follow through.

Extracts from John Dreyer www.bullseyepistol.com

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