Help Me Improve My Shooting Accuracy

gesch

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I am asking for some help: I have a theory that if I use a 22 caliber bolt action rifle for my practice sessions my shooting skills will improve on my larger Center fire rifles(270 and 300 Win Mag)? I theorize that because of inexpensive ammo—I will shoot more—and no recoil to speak of—I will shoot more. Does this theory have any validity? Or, do I just need to man up and shoot the bigger calibers more often? Any input is much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Brian

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In my experience - yes!
Do some meaningful training with box or two of 22lr, then when you are warmed up, switch to whatever more powerful rifle you have, 5 to ten shots is sufficient. and then finish the training session.

It is better to make for example, 10 sessions using 1o high power cartridges each time, (plus 22lr warming up) then to spend 100 high power cartrdiges at once, in one session.

Whatever skill you improve, it will evaporate with time.

So, keep training sesions on some regular basis throguh the year (once to 4 times per month) , and then before you go hunting, increase the frequency. Every day training, is suficent for one week, just before main event. (hunting, or match competition)

It works for me, including occasional competitons.

Additional note:
Write down the score in each session. Keep records. Calculate average score for each session.

Shooting results with regular and constant training are indeed sinusoidal, with ups and downs, but generally the average results with continuos regular training will increase, untill you reach your maximum.

Then on "such advanced level", with regular training frequnce, try to be around the average best score. Maintain that!

Getting tired during training has opposite and adverse effect.
If you shoot too much, and get tired, stop. Keep modest or moderate number of shots per each session. Dont "overshoot" yourself. In that case its waste of ammo.

Then, you will be ready for hunt in Africa!!!!
 
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Practice will certainly solidify whatever you are practicing. Whether that is helpful or not depends on what you are practicing. If your fundamentals are not good practicing will only make it harder for someone to undo for you in the future. A week of professional instruction from a good teacher before you start practicing can go a long way.
 
Absolutely. So will dedicated dry-firing. I am an old competitive shooter, and all rounds down range help. I go through a fifty - hundred rounds of .22lr ammunition a month on our little ranch. I long ago made it habit, to call every shot - where I think it hit. It forces proper trigger release and follow-through. Also, makes the conversation with the PH a lot more meaningful before taking up a blood trail. Finally, do that practice shooting from field positions - pqrticularly sticks if Africa bound.

If you are new to shooting, some quality instruction is invaluable, and easier to find now than it use to be.
 
Thanks for the encouragement and direction. I have been trying to do a short session once a week. I have never had professional instruction. I grew up as a shotgun person. I have read quite a bit and am trying to implement some solid technique. Thanks again for the imput.
 
i used to plink with a pellet gun in the basement, plastic bottle laid sideways and shoot into the bottle, may not have helped anything but breathing and focus while holding a gun, but sure was fun
Sidenote - replacing/patching drywall in the basement is a skill you also learn if the back stop isn't set up correctly
 
22 Trainer is a great tool. I made mine from a Savage FVSR. I try to shoot at least a box out of it every week. proves to be invaluable.
 
Shoot the .22. There's no substitute for trigger time.
 
You are ABSOLUTELY correct in your thinking.

The only way to be proficient at ANYTHING is to do it....whether it’s shooting a gun or playing a guitar
Make sure that you have the correct fundamentals down first

PS I would say that the bulk of my shooting proficiency was gained as a boy shooting my pellet gun an unknown thousands and thousands of times
 
Try THLR.NO on YouTube he has heaps of instructional videos, mainly aimed at shooting prone at longrange, but he really emphasises shooting technique and has some good drills to do.
One is a A4 sheet with different size targets on it, you fire one shot at each target. The targets are arranged in rows and decrease in size from 2" to 0.5".
 
I totally agree with your theory. I have a couple of Olympic grade Air Rifles that can be used in the basement when range days are inconvenient. Does your local club offer any classes to new shooters? If not I'll bet the bar tender or one of the group hanging out there knows a club member that would be more than willing to help you out. If there is a small bore league you might consider joining it. That is where I learned.
 
I even use an air rifle at home.

Everything helps.
 
I totally agree with your theory. I have a couple of Olympic grade Air Rifles that can be used in the basement when range days are inconvenient. Does your local club offer any classes to new shooters? If not I'll bet the bar tender or one of the group hanging out there knows a club member that would be more than willing to help you out. If there is a small bore league you might consider joining it. That is where I learned.
I am in a local rifle club. They do have a 22 group. I’ll check them out. Again thanks.
 
I even use an air rifle at home.

Everything helps.
I’ll think about the Air rifle as well. I knew I would get some practical advice. This is a very generous site! Thanks
 
Try THLR.NO on YouTube he has heaps of instructional videos, mainly aimed at shooting prone at longrange, but he really emphasises shooting technique and has some good drills to do.
One is a A4 sheet with different size targets on it, you fire one shot at each target. The targets are arranged in rows and decrease in size from 2" to 0.5".
I’ll check it out. Thanks.
 
22 Trainer is a great tool. I made mine from a Savage FVSR. I try to shoot at least a box out of it every week. proves to be invaluable.
I bought a Marlin XT to practice with. I’m really enjoying it thanks
 
Practice will certainly solidify whatever you are practicing. Whether that is helpful or not depends on what you are practicing. If your fundamentals are not good practicing will only make it harder for someone to undo for you in the future. A week of professional instruction from a good teacher before you start practicing can go a long way.
I like the idea of a week of training. I looked at the prices and freaked. It looks like a great training regimen. For now it needs to be do it yourself and informal instruction at the club. I appreciate your input. Thanks.
 
I somewhat agree. Any trigger time is good. But I would practice with a bolt action 22, so you also get the practice of working the bolt after each shot too. I am not so sure the trigger time with an autoloader would be that beneficial.
 
Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect - Vince Lombardi

Mastery in shooting is nothing more than a perfect application of the fundamentals..

Whether practicing with a 22 or a 458 win mag, methodically go through every step required to take a shot and make sure you do it “right”...

Go slow... make everything count...

Slow is smooth... smooth is fast...

Shooting 1000x rounds of 22 incorrectly will not make you any better of a shot than shooting 1 round of 270 incorrectly... it will just embed bad habits deeper..
 

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