04-05-2013, 03:43 PM
Buck2732 Wrote:It was oh to easy for our instructors to know if we where following through, as both the L1A1 and L85 A1/A2 make a distinctive click when the trigger is released after the working parts have cycled. Following though after we converted from the L1A1 caught a few of the old and bold out when we first shot the L85 in auto.
I have a friend a current EOD serving operator I shoot with most weekends, though he has a great of potential as a rifle shot he suffers from never having any formal marksmanship training. I have spent many hours trying to get him to follow though his shots. Even to the point of standing beside him and cocking his weapon after he has taken his shot so he can hear and feel what should happen (remember these are side pull neutered AR15s). He just starts to get it, then he goes back to work and shoots his L85 and forgets everything. Frustrating, as we are supposed to be shooting as a pair in a comp later in the year.
Buck:
Here is a technique I have had success in using with a variety of people.
Tell the guy you want him to take his shot and hold the trigger back until he has his sight picture again. When his eyes are seeing that he is maintaining a second sight picture, he may release the trigger until it clicks, etc.
That said, he needs to know why he should do this. Otherwise he will soon dispense with it. For tactical situations, the reason is obvious. For precision applications not as obvious. Basically, some guys tend to break position before they finish their shot. In other words, as they are pulling the trigger, they break position. By 'following through', a person is less inclined to break a position or screw up a trigger pull because his focus is on the shot through the entire shot. I have found breaking position before the shot is done to be pretty common with bolt gunners who are doing rapid or sustained fire.
I tend to have people focus their attention on their sight picture through the entire process. Some are conscious they are pulling the trigger and others, not. It doesn't matter because if they are maintaining their sight picture when the shot is fired and they have a good zero, etc., then their shot will be good. Focusing on sight picture during the breathing and lead-in is also a good way for guys to clear the brain from chatter and focus it on what needs to be done for good performance. In a couple of breaths, a person can relax themselves, clear chatter, and make a good shot. Even after severe physical exertion.
I have other techniques as well that work with some folks but this one seems to work very well with a variety of shooters involved in a variety of shooting requirements.
LR1955