Thread: Technique Tips - Newbie

I was in the same situation as you, only shot .22s then bought a .270 and got the 'family' .303 at the same time. Quite a different ball game. I had a hell of a flinch to start with and was shooting worse than you are.

Lightening the trigger can help a flinch if it's too heavy to start with. I found with a heavy trigger it felt fine with no round in the chamber but as soon as I knew there was a round in there, it felt like it took a huge amount of effort to pull and it just wouldn't fire with the pull that "felt" right. The lighter trigger brought the feel of the dry fire and the live fire much closer together. All in the head, but it was much easier to get to know when it was gonna go and I could keep my trigger hand much more relaxed.

I solved my flinch with a combination of lightening the trigger on the .270 and taking my .303 (with brass butt pad) and just chucking a whole bunch of cheap rounds through it, without even really caring too much where they went at first - focusing on getting in tune with the trigger rather than the sights. It carried over to the .270 even though they're completely different in how they feel. I struggled with the scope on the .270 - I'd only ever shot with v-notch sights before and using the scope felt claustrophobic because of the recoil and jittery because of the magnification. I think that had a lot to do with my flinch. If that sounds familiar try backing off the magnification a bit (until you're used to it) so it increases the eye relief on the scope and lets you ignore a bit of jitter, and try keeping both eyes open.

Are you using hearing protection? It's better for your ears and most likely your shots, even with the suppressor.




Oddly enough, as soon as I pointed the gun at an animal rather than paper I had no issues. I wasn't thinking about the recoil or the tight groups that I wanted, so the gun felt more comfortable and easier to aim. Your results might vary, especially if you're easily excited

I at one stage developed a flinch for no reason at all, even used to flinch shooting an air rifle.
I found for some reason noise was the thing that was making me flinch/jump.

Get some decent earmuffs and shoot your 22 consciously thinking about not flinching and keep looking through scope to target even after pulling the trigger.
Definitely put a limbsaver on your Tikka, the lightweight in a 308 does jump around a lot.
Even with your suppressor on wear earmuffs and just concentrate on not flinching, if you start to tense up let go of the trigger and try again.
Think about trying to shoot the smallest group possible and tell yourself you don't care how much the gun kicks, you just want small groups.

That's what I did anyway, eventually you get to the point that even with a heavy kick the desire to hit what you are aiming at is more important that the kick the gun is going to give you.

You look like on the original photo you're double grouping which is likely down to your eye relief an position on the stock especially if it it feels weird.

Try grabbing a hair tie ( off a sister or missus) and put it over the barrel end and roll down to your point where you line up on the stock as a physical reminder of the correct cheek weld and eye relief where there's no shading and the black around your eye box is equal on all sides. You can use a rubber band but they don't tend to last as long. That should stop the double grouping.

Trade in you bipod for a bag of rice or your daypack (filled in side ) to shoot from til you get accuracy and grouping happening. You've got a surpressor and limb saver may help but first put the souck into the crook of your elbow and finger on trigger. This will tell you if it's too short or too long in terms of length of pull.

Re your trigger pull, if you use the rice bag etc you're well supported so be confident in that practice the pressure squeeze pressure on when on target hold as it moves off it'll come back so don't fight it then continue pressure til you get the break and it will be on target cos that's when you're adding pressure. If you feel like you're hooking it try to imagine you're squeeze is between you're index an thumb it's easier to visualise and control so will be smoother.

Give these a try...
Hope these couple of little tricks and tips help. Spend time at the local nzda range or farm.

As VC said but as an addition, wear ear plugs AND muffs.

I developed a flinch with my bow after shooting bulk targets. Something that has really helped is to really focus on following through, both with rifle and bow.

Eg think about where the bullet is going to go, not what's going on at the rifle. Envision the bullet getting all the way to the target and at the same time your index finger going all the way through to your shoulder. That means squeezing off the shot and remaining with the trigger depressed for a few seconds...like five seconds.

I do the same with my bow (trigger release) and let my forward arm relax as I imagine squeezing my shoulder blades together.

Another cool rifle trick I saw on a @Norway video is to do a press up in your prone position before commencing your shot process.

Have fun


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Also in terms of left/right bullets in paper from pulling, my shooting got ten times better after @7mmsaum taught me to relax my thumb on my master hand. Imagine that there's wet paint on your stock and you don't really want to apply any real pressure with that thumb.

By doing this, you will avoid clenching and therefore torquing the rear of the rifle.

Again this has translated to my bow shooting and I have never had an issue with torquing my bow with my leading hand.


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Has someone got a pic of the 'clock' can't remember details. I.e. your shots are to the right your using to much finger, to the left not enough etc

https://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgu...act=mrc&uact=8 there we go, google shooting error charts. Is the reverse for us lefties

My best tip would be that instead of concentrating on keeping the rifle absolutely still, steady your breathing (DONT hold your breath as many seem to do) concentrate instead on pulling the trigger as you breath out at the correct time ie: as the cross hair pass your desired point of aim. Concentrating on keeping a rifle still will just make you tense and you will be jerky and more likely to flinch. My dad taught me that when I was a young fella and it is the single piece of advice that made the most difference on my shooting.

Brilliant, thank you all for the great insight and info. Watched a number of good videos and got some ready to do. Out of interest, does there exist training courses, coaching on rifle competency etc.... I found Sparrowhawk but they don't look to be that active?

Join your local fullbore club if you have one otherwise smallbore as the basics are the same!!

The other thing is to relax and enjoy shooting your rifle, apply the tips these guy's and girls have suggested and enjoy, don't over focus on groups and the recoil, the accuracy will come as you become more familiar with your rifle.
Shooting is all about enjoyment and the challenges. Good luck

@TimK
I'm using Smallbore as a training tool for F/TR.
All of the above info from the other posters, is excellent. @zimmer sent me a fault identification/correction chart, which I've been practicing.
Still have nights where I do all the things you've mentioned, and nights where it all 'comes together'.
Developed my flinch firing 303 while in the Air Training Corps - brass butt plate, loose hold (too lightly built), blinking when shot goes off, noise, etc.
Keep at it mate - I've gotten better (after 30 years away from shooting) - just shooting the 22 has helped immeasurably.

Maybe a silly question but is there generally a class or group in small bore clubs where you can use say a beat up JW15 with a scope for practice instead of jumping right into it with a target rifle?

Thanks again all, I have ordered a limbsaver and decent hearing protection. Will look into joining a club and just get more time with the rifle!

Originally Posted by Chilli_Dog

Maybe a silly question but is there generally a class or group in small bore clubs where you can use say a beat up JW15 with a scope for practice instead of jumping right into it with a target rifle?

Yup in Auckland any ways - out West in Swanson Waitakere Sporting Rifle has 2 Mondays a month open for those licensed to come along and have some trigger time on the mound either working through their own "work on's" or there's plenty around to offer suggestions and shooting tips to those there. Safe also as new shooters unknown to the club will be asked to be checked for safety and we'll brief as to the Do's and don't on the range. RO's also in attendance keeping an eye on things...

Thursday Nights are Club nights where actual 50 shot details are shot in a mandated fashion also controlled and called by the RO. If interested PM me...