Finding Your Sweet Spots
When I was getting my rifle certification, I remember my instructor talking about natural point of aim and how he would practice his positions before going to competitive shoots. So when I had plopped into my sitting shooting position, I was pretty convinced I was doing it wrong. When I finally shot using natural point of aim with a rifle, I was doing ok groupings but my groups were off the target. I was convinced it was because of my eye (I am cross eyed dominant and refuse to shoot left handed.) And I was right, because once we zeroed in the rifle to adjust to my eye, everything was better.
There are several books, videos, and instructors who can help you get set up to get you ready to take your first shot. The NRA swears by natural point of aim when you learn shooting through one of their certified instructors and even mentions it in their books, but to take all complications out, really, the way you position your body sets you up for your shot. Since everyone isn't manufactured at the same processing plant and differ greatly, we all will look different when we shoot. They key is to keep your rifle in the same position no matter what shooting position you take: have it parallel to the ground with sights aligned so that you can almost envision a line from your eyes, down the sights on the rifle, and straight to your target. Anyone can tell you how to get into a position, but you will know if you have it right by the way your body feels and when you've found your sweet spots.
What does that mean? Well, think of it this way: your body was built to work for you. It's no coincidence that we have pockets between certain joints and bones. If you raise one arm and bend it at the elbow, you can feel right below your elbow the way you have two bones, one small, one larger. If you move your hand slightly behind those two bones, you can feel a small flat area.
Often, when you're told to place a body part against another body part or on a surface you want to pay attention to your body's pockets (areas that squish in when touched with some pressure), flat areas (areas that are litterally that: neither hard nor soft, but neutral flat areas), and bones. There's a golden rule that goes hard on soft. You never want bone to touch bone. You never want pockets to touch pockets.
When you shoot prone, you should align the flat of your arm onto the ground. The ground is hard, your arm is soft. The flat area will stay in place.
When you shoot sitting, you want to have your elbow locked into place in the little pocket that is formed by your knee when your leg is bent. (You can do the same touch test to find this area like you did with your elbow.)
If you shoot standing and choose to have your support arm touching your body, some women find rather unconventional yet effective places around their upper bodies that work great to rest their support arm on from along the ribcage, on a hip bone, or even a boob. Interestingly enough, wherever you find your sweet spot, chances are it will naturally fit the golden rule of hard on soft.
For a visual of the concept I'm trying to explain, refer to this photo I took of me in the sitting position using a sling, barefoot in my living room with an unloaded rifle. If you have seen the NRA's Basics of Rifle Shooting Handbook, you'll appreciate my attempt to mimic the lady's outfit. Sadly, I don't have awesome mom-jeans, a poodle hair cut, or spiffy white sneakers. Back to business; the rifle is positioned in the pocket of my arm (hard on soft), my elbows are locked into place in pockets by my knees (hard on soft), my left leg is placed over my right leg and the flat part of my leg above my ankle is resting on the bone of my right leg (hard on soft... see a trend here?) My legs are supported by my bones and not muscle. This prevents movements from pulsing when your muscles grow tired of supporting you and why you use bones for support and not muscle when shooting rifles.
Some people say it takes a lot of practice to figure out your shooting positions. Others have it come naturally. Chances are, if you are one of those people like me who is overly aware of every part of your body, you will have a simple time finding your sweet spots and getting into your shooting positions. Once you figure it out, pay attention to it and practice. The more you practice, the quicker it will come to you. Then, when you get to the point you don't need to pay attention to your shooting positions, you can focus on mastering your other fundamenals. With time and practice, great shooting will be like a second nature and your rifle simply an extension of your body.
I won't lie, I'm still working on my shooting positions and marksmanship. I believe I have a ways to go, but I also believe I have a good starting point. It is better to learn something right the first way than to have to break old bad habbits.
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