Video of Squad Designated Marksman Training by President's 100 Shooters

[Buck2732]

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

LR1955,

Thanks that looks like a really great way of getting him to grasp the idea. Before I left the RAF I was a firearms instructor and coach for 13 years, he is proving by far the hardest pupil I have ever had.

The thing is we both shoot clays, birds and practical shotgun. He shoots all these better than I (a life long rifle shooter). He is the other way around. Although he has had some training on the use of the rifle, he has never had the same amount of training on marksmanship I did had during training.

He has never shot over 100 yards so the lack of follow through has not had much impact on his shooting. I want to get him to Bisley, on the longer ranges there in an attempt to show him that it will double the error. Thus spoiling his acceptable groups at 100 yards. We could then get on to the 1200m point with his .308 rem 700 and my Grendel, with some confidence that he will have some fun. As I say he has great potential, if only he could become consistent. It may even help him if he gets involved on the two way range again.