Thread: Technique Tips - Newbie

Finally found some time to get out and use my new rifle (only got my licence a few months ago). Having only ever fired a 22 and a air rifle the 308 was a bit of a learning curve. Does anyone know of any good resources for tips on technique. I found (and noticed in some video) I have a tendency to flinch and pull the rifle to one side or the other. The target in the image was at 100m before I sighted the rifle in (which I still haven't done 100%). I realise that the best way to get better is to get out and do it. Will also have to find some better places to shoot - I don't think I was to popular with the Puhoi locals.

Looking forward to perhaps meeting a few of you and learning more.

A flinch is a cunt of a thing to have mate. You can get rid of it, dry firing (practising) at home or at the range. Other options are to buy youth loaded 308 ammo or fit a decent recoil pad - limbsaver is a cheap option for T3's - if you do all that and you still can't tame the flinch it would be time to change caliber (imo) to say 243. Some people just dont like recoil, nothing to be ashamed of.

At least you have recognised the problem.

I would recommend some dry firing and more time at the range. Also what sort of ammo are you using? Ie 150gn sp or 165?

Thanks I will try that. Im quite tall and actually feel a little uncomfortable almost like the stock is to small. Unsure if its related but I will try again, as I say it was my first time firing a larger calibre. Hopefully something I can train out - I did manage to get a few where I was aiming.

Originally Posted by Timmay

A flinch is a cunt of a thing to have mate. You can get rid of it, dry firing (practising) at home or at the range. Other options are to buy youth loaded 308 ammo or fit a decent recoil pad - limbsaver is a cheap option for T3's - if you do all that and you still can't tame the flinch it would be time to change caliber (imo) to say 243. Some people just dont like recoil, nothing to be ashamed of.

At least you have recognised the problem.

I would recommend some dry firing and more time at the range. Also what sort of ammo are you using? Ie 150gn sp or 165?

Thanks I will try that. Im quite tall and actually feel a little uncomfortable almost like the stock is to small. Unsure if its related but I will try again, as I say it was my first time firing a larger calibre. Hopefully something I can train out - I did manage to get a few where I was aiming. I was using Remington Core-Lokt which I think was 150gn. I have some Winchester and Norma stuff as well. I was waiting to get to a proper range to see which works well - (I won the Norma, I don't think id want to use that regularly)

So get some ammo of Timmay

If its your first time shooting anything bigger than a 22 then those groups look OK. Definitely a limbsaver will help and then practice, practice.......................

@TimK A limb saver will add about 1/4-1/2" lop to the stock too mate so that will help. In fact the factory t3 recoil pad is shit, I hear they upgraded it in the T3x but I can't comment as I haven't used it.

A 308 as your first centre-fire can be quite a thing to deal with. Call reloaders in Auckland mate and ask for youth loads or track down someone to reload for you as a last resort.

Originally Posted by Timmay

@TimK A limb saver will add about 1/4-1/2" lop to the stock too mate so that will help. In fact the factory t3 recoil pad is shit, I hear they upgraded it in the T3x but I can't comment as I haven't used it.

A 308 as your first centre-fire can be quite a thing to deal with. Call reloaders in Auckland mate and ask for youth loads or track down someone to reload for you as a last resort.

Brilliant is reloaders the place to get a limb saver also?

Yea they will sus you a recoil pad, you might find that will be enough in itself

Putting a lot of shots on paper in a short time frame gave me a flinch. When shooting an animal I don't. I think it's because the mind is focusing on the animal, knowing it could move. The paper doesn't move, so the mind can wander and start thinking about the noise and recoil.
Not well explained, but now when sighting in I only put 4-5 down at a time. Also helps when people are around destracting in between shots

My suggestion, once you sort out the flinch, try a few types of ammo, my 308 loves hornady superperformance it is $3.50 a shot though

Lots of practise with the22 and convince yourself the 308 is the same, therefore no reason to flinch

I found their clip on shooting positions helpful. Except i won't be carting shooting sticks up the hill with me. Other stuff was helpful

Those groups are ok.
How well you shoot depends on a lot of things.
Those would be good to a 200m on a deer.
And it was your first go.

i went from a .22 to a .270 and blasted my way through a heap of ammo at nothing in particular... developed a good flinch that still gets me now and then! it really sucks. be mindful of whats happening when you pull the trigger and ask someone to load the mag with a snap cap randomly inserted. you will notice your flinch when you pull the trigger on the snap cap (you wont know which round is a snap cap until you use it) A mate did this trick on me and it really shows how bad the flinch is.

Also tag along to a club meeting (look up shooting clubs) try looking up the range calendar for the nzda range at weir road. there are all sorts of shoots there that will help.