Thread: Simple practice shooting question

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

The only negative to practice with a 22 is that it can be shot with a lighter grip than a centre fire. The negative being that the brain is trained to a soft grip. Knowing that, if a concious effort is made to pull the 22 hard to the shoulder and grip the fore-end firmly, the practice will be transferable and valuable

Hey Moa - if you try and practise you can shoot even "snotty" rifles with a light hold, and guess what, they'll shoot better for it - the firm hold thing is a function of your sub conscious being uncontrolled.

25 years ago I got a flinch shooting a 7x57, and I fooled around a lot to alleviate it (things like light loads etc) but after a while I went after the problem from a psychological perspective and that both permanently cured the flinch and improved my shooting. Physiological things like top notch earmuffs, suppressors and muzzle brakes can help too.

As a range officer I see heaps of guys "clinging" to their rifle, I get them set up on the bench, explain natural point of aim, have them dry fire till they are doing it with a totally relaxed trigger hand and then enjoy it as their next group is half what they previously shot!