Keys to Good Shooting

Steve Light

Posted 01/15/2010

 

 

“Conditioning”

This article was published in the March-April 1983 issue of The Skirmish Line. Minor changes have been made to the article by the author in March 2004.

In most sports, body conditioning is an absolute necessity. For example, the need to condition the body to improve strength or speed is obvious for such sport activities as football, track or swimming. However, the need to condition the body to maximize shooting performance is not obvious and generally is not practiced by skirmishers. Thus, this critical element of shooting does not receive enough attention by the serious skirmisher. I contend that body conditioning is very critical to good shooting.

A shooting training program that is designed to improve your shooting skills is essential to maximizing your shooting performance. A man would not enter a long distance race without first spending many hours in conditioning his body for the race. Why is shooting any different? In the January issue of The Skirmish Line, I described the human side of the shooting equation as being equal or perhaps more important than equipment in achieving maximum shooting performance. Therefore, efforts to improve your shooting skills will result in better shooting performance. This article will discuss the parts of the body that need conditioning for improving your shooting skills and performance.

Conditioning the body for improving performance must be directed toward the required skills of the specific activity. Therefore, let’s describe the shooting scenario for an understanding of what we expect of the body in shooting a musket. The body must be able to hold a nine pound musket steady long enough for the bullet to exit the muzzle while the sights are still on the bullseye. The brain, eyes, and muscles must be coordinated to prevent any undesired body movement between the moment that the brain tells the finger to release the trigger and the exact moment the bullet exits the muzzle. The body conditioning requirements for the shooting activity just described may seem small when compared to the same requirements to play football. However, body conditioning for shooting is extremely difficult because the major conditioning requirement involves the precise coordination of the mental, muscle, eye, and nervous system functions. Also, during shooting, it is extremely important to keep your body functions as calm as possible since you want to keep your body from moving and wobbling. This is an extreme demand on the body that is unique in the sport’s world.

Although this article is primarily addressing training from the viewpoint of body conditioning, your training program must also include practice either by dry firing or actual range practice. It takes many hours of practice to tune the body to function smoothly for shooting. There’s no short cut or any other way to become proficient with a musket. As a beginner, you should practice about eight hours a week of actual shooting. When you become proficient with a musket, less time can be spent but weekly practice is still needed. Compete in as many competitive individual and team matches as possible since they are the best practice. Start your practice in early February and continue thru the shooting season.

The following paragraphs will describe the body functions that require conditioning to achieve maximum shooting performance. A caution is in order for all shooters! I do not recommend anyone starting a conditioning or exercise program without getting a physical checkup and your doctor’s approval. The major body functions that are important to shooting are:

A. Muscles

B. Cardiovascular and respiratory systems

C. Nervous system/mental control/physiological

D. Eyes

 

Thus, your training and conditioning program should address improving all of the above body functions as a total system and not just one of the functions. It helps to lift weights to strengthen the arms but maximum shooting skills can be obtained simply by systematically conditioning all of the body functions that are critical to shooting. Mental control, muscles, nerves, cardiovascular and respiratory systems are all so intertwined that a weakness of one will cause poor shooting regardless of how well you condition another.

A. Muscles

Upper body strength is needed to hold the musket steady and a strong back, legs, and knees are required to hold the body erect and motionless while shooting. A very noticeable improvement in your shooting performance can be realized by increasing your muscle strength and stamina by performing on a regular basis various muscle strengthening exercises.

A modest weight lifting program that is started in January and continued through the shooting season is an excellent way to strengthen the muscles. Upper body strength (arms, shoulders, and chest) can be strengthened by performing two or three times a week such weight lifting exercises such as curls and presses. There are many good books on weight lifting exercises and it is not necessary to detail them in this article. You should start out with small weights and gradually increase them as you progress from week to week. Use just enough weight so you have to strain to complete a set of 10 curls or presses. The objective of the weight training is not to become muscle bound but to tone up the muscles to increase your strength and stamina. The added strength will enable you to hold the musket and front sight on the target momentarily without wobbling too much off target.

It is also important to include exercises in your weight lifting program to strengthen the back, legs, knees since they are the fulcrum and support for holding the body erect and steady while shooting in a standing position. Presses, squats and sit-ups are good exercises to strengthen these areas of the body. Also, jogging is good for the legs and respiratory system. You must exercise on a regular basis to do you any good. For example, a good schedule is to lift weights for about one hour each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Jog each weekday and practice your musket shooting on the weekend.

Many athletic training programs use what is called an overload technique. The concept is to train using equipment that overloads the body more than is actually required for the game. For example, the baseball player practices with a heavier bat than the one used during the actual game to increase the speed of the bat during the swing. This training overload technique can be applied to musket practice. For example, practice dry firing with a weight tied to the end of the musket. Use your ammo cartridge box with the strap looped over the muzzle end of the barrel. Fill the box with one pound lead weights. Progressively add more weights as you get used to the weight while dry firing. Practice dry firing several times a week using the same sight picture and lock action as you do in competitive matches.

B. Cardiovascular/Respiratory Systems

The body’s engine (heart) must be at a slow idle if you are to be able to remain relaxed while shooting. A person whose cardiovascular and respiratory systems are in good shape will be able to keep the engine’s speed slow under pressure conditions. Shooting under pressure causes the heart to pump faster because of the added tension placed on the body. If the pulse rate is above normal under nonpressure situations, then it is likely to accelerate while shooting. As the heart rate increases, so does your breathing. The higher heart and breathing rates are counter-productive to achieving maximum shooting performance. Therefore, your body conditioning program for shooting must include exercises to improve your cardiovascular and respiratory systems. You can improve these systems by performing on a regular basis, various aerobic exercises such as jogging and swimming. Also, avoid smoking to improve the efficiency of your respiratory system.

C. Nervous System

The nervous system, which consists of the brain, autonomic nerves, spinal cord, and network of nerves, control our entire body functions, e.g., muscles, breathing, stomach/digestion, blood pressure/heart rate, etc. Thus, if the nervous system is not functioning properly, then the parts of the body that are required for shooting will not be able to perform to their maximum potential. It’s a simple fact that you cannot shoot well if you are nervous. It logically follows that the individual who is competitive and dedicated to good shooting will attempt to identify what makes him/her nervous and take steps to prevent nervousness during shooting.

An understanding of overcoming a case of bad nerves for a healthy person is to realize that it is not the nervous system that gets nervous during shooting. What causes nervousness is an outside force that places tension or stress on the nervous system. Such tension upsets the nervous system and causes various body functions to act abnormally. Examples are tightness in the stomach, higher pulse rate, shaky knees/legs, and poor muscle coordination that produce unwanted muscle reaction, e.g., a flinch.

The following paragraphs will describe the major outside forces that create tension. Also, some suggestions will be provided on how to minimize nervousness. It is certainly beyond the scope of this article and the qualifications of the author to solve chronic nervous disorders but most healthy shooters can improve their nerves and learn to relax while shooting.

The nervous system can be adversely impacted by three major areas of outside influence:

1. Mental

2. Physical condition

3. Physiological

 

1. Mental

The shooter’s mental attitude, if negative, can cause tension and anxiety that will lead to nervousness while shooting. If an individual is fearful that he will not shoot well in front of a crowd or in a must win situation for the team, the likely results are stress on the nervous system. The more the shooter is convinced that he will do poorly, the more likely he will. Also, avoid any hang-ups or phobias that will cause bad shooting. For example, many shooters will convince themselves that they cannot hit a particular target or that they will shoot badly on a given range. A shooter must have a positive attitude about his shooting ability. Any doubts about your ability, equipment or hang-ups on a particular target, will cause stress to be placed on the nervous system.

Your conditioning program must also include mental control. A flinch is the body’s reaction to the anticipated recoil of the gun. A flinch is most obvious when the gun does not go off. The shooter does not tell the body to flinch but it does so anyway, subconsciously, as a protective device. I flinch as I believe most shooters do. The trick is to hold the musket long enough on the target for the bullet to exit the muzzle after your brain has told you to release the trigger. Only after the bullet has exit the barrel can you flinch. You must constantly remind yourself to hold longer and follow thru. Keep exerting mental control to preclude unwanted body reaction and movement. I have to constantly remind myself not to move my left arm because I have a tendency to drop the arm before the shot goes off which causes the shot to go low. Dry firing is an excellent training method to practice mental control to prevent the flinch. An even better way is to use a mixture of live and blank percussion caps in the cap box while practicing actual firing. Try it sometime and notice the mental thought that goes into keeping the flinch under control. If you have a bad flinch, then a body conditioning program that reduces nervousness and practicing dry firing are a must to improving shooting performance. Practice until you have mental control over your muscle’s reaction to the recoil.

2. Physical condition

An individual that is in good condition (physically and mentally) can withstand more stress of a competitive situation. Improving muscle tone, cardiovascular and respiratory systems will help cope with a stressful situation. One of the best ways to ease a nervous condition is to get yourself in good physical shape. Relaxing on the firing line can be accomplished by keeping the pulse rate at a moderate level and by proper breathing. Many techniques that are used to control tension involve a combination of breathing and meditation exercises. If you are nervous on the firing line, then inhale and exhale deeply and slowly prior to starting to shoot. Your mind should be free of any distractions or thoughts of how well you will or will not do. During the shooting event, breathe normally and concentrate solely on your shooting motions. With a little practice, this exercise and keeping in good shape should help you to relax and free you of any tension while shooting.

3. Physiological

Although it is not my intent to outline a health course for skirmishers, it is a fact that conditioning the body for any sport, including shooting, should include proper nutrition and health habits. A healthy body will be in a better condition to combat stressful situations such as competitive shooting. Also, any physiological disorders such as an upset stomach or body fatigue will act upon the nervous system to cause nervousness. Avoid foods or liquids that cause digestive problems during a shooting match. Digestive problems will cause bad nerves as the body reacts to combat the problem. Also, if you believe smoking is hurting your shooting by degrading the respiratory system, then stop smoking. If you believe eating certain foods or drinking certain liquids are harmful by causing nervousness, then avoid these items. The point is that each individual should map out his own health plan to suit specific deficiencies and to improve the nervous system and body for improved shooting.

D. Eyes

Although the eyes are not too susceptible to conditioning, their importance to good shooting demands proper care and action to correct poor eyesight. It should be noted, however, some medical opinion holds that the eyes can be improved by conditioning exercises. The book, Better Eyesight Without Glasses, by W. H. Bates, M.D. outlines various meditation exercises that are suppose to improve the eyesight.

The eyes have the impossible task of trying to focus three items at the same time, that is, target, front sight, and rear sight. Even with good eyes, some amount of fuzziness occurs. The fuzziness of the sight picture gets worse as the eyesight deteriorates with age. However, poor eyesight can be corrected to a tolerable level for shooting with prescription glasses. For example, I am near sighted and have difficulty seeing the target.

Therefore, I wear corrective lens to clarify the target. However, the corrective lenses for distance viewing have a tendency to blur objects that are close such as the rear sight. A few years ago, I ordered a stronger pair of glasses but couldn’t use them for shooting because they blurred the rear sight. Thus, I had to return to the older and weaker glasses as a compromise. I opted to see the neither the target or sights with 20/20 vision, but was willing to accept a slight blur on the target and sights. You should keep this problem in mind when you are selecting corrective lens.

There are several other considerations when ordering shooting glasses. Generally, gray/brown sunglasses should be used on bright sunny days and yellow or clear glasses when the lighting is poor. You can also order prescription lens that change with the lighting conditions, e.g., the lens darken when the lighting is bright and becomes clear when it is poor. The optical center of a prescription lens is usually in the middle of the lens. Because shooters tilt their head when sighting the target, they are not looking through the center of the lens. For example, when I am sighting the target, I look through the top left corner of the lens since I am a right handed shooter. Therefore, I had the optical center moved to the left corner where I got the maximum benefit from the prescription lens. You may want to have the optical center moved to the location in the lens where you sight the target.

Some shooters use an optical attachment on their glasses. The attachment consists of an adjustable peephole that is attached to the lens by a rubber suction cup. The peep hold can be ordered in a fixed size, or adjustable to any diameter from .020 to .155 inch. You can order a Merit Iris Shutter Optical Attachment from the Merit Gunsight Company, Sequim, Washington 98382 for about $50.00. The aperture on the lens will sharpen the rear sight but it does take longer to find and sight the target.

Another item relative to the eyes that is very controversial is whether to sight the target with one or two eyes open. I frankly don’t think it makes much difference. I shoot with one eye closed based on habit rather than any specific design for better shooting. The proponents of keeping both eyes open argue that it helps to reduce eye fatigue and aids in peripheral vision. Again, there is no consensus on this issue and each shooter should try shooting both ways to determine which is the most comfortable and effective.

An interesting article is in the March 1980 issue of the American Rifleman. The article, “Do the Eyes Have It?” by Frederick S. Daniels suggests that the dominant eye is more important than the dominant hand in shooting. Most shooters have a dominant eye and for right handed shooters, the dominant eye is usually (the article states that this is the case for 85% of the population) the right eye. This condition is called ipsilateral hand-eye dominance. You can determine your dominant eye by focusing your finger on an object. Close one eye. If the relative position of finger and object did not change, then the open eye is the dominant eye. If you are right-handed and your dominant eye is the left eye, then this condition is called contralateral dominance. The article suggests that ipsilateral people are better shooters than contralateral people. Further, the article suggests that beginning shooters may improve their shooting by shooting with the same

hand as their dominant eye. If you are a contralateral person, then the article is suggested reading.

Another controversial subject is whether to use an open or peep type of rear sight. I prefer a peep sight because you eliminate a major task for the eyes of maintaining the same alignment of the front sight with the rear sight. When using an open sight, you must keep the front sight aligned in the “V” notch in the same relative position. The shots will vary if the front sight position is moving up and down in the “V” notch. On the other hand, when using a peep sight, normally the eye will automatically center the front sight in the center of the peep. When using a peep, you just have to concentrate on keeping the front sight on the center of the target. However, with an open sight, you must concentrate on the keeping the front sight on the center of the target and aligning it with the “V” notch. Thus, the task for the eyes is easier using a peep sight. However, a peep sight is not without some disadvantages. A peep sight reduces your field of vision, takes longer to sight the target and it is harder to see the target on a cloudy day. One caution in using a peep sight is that the eye does not always align the front sight in the center of the peep hole when the rear sight is too far from the eye. This is why modern peep sights and the Model 1 Maynard offer an advantage by having the peep hole close to the eye.

In summary, the major point of this article is that conditioning the body to improve the body functions required for shooting will result in better shooting performance. I strongly recommend that the competitive shooter start (after the Doctor’s OK) a dedicated training program that includes the elements that are described by this article. You will see an improvement in your shooting and besides, it’s good for your health, if you don’t over do it.

Keys to Good Shooting

“Consistency in Shooting”

Steve Light

This article was published in the September-October 1983 issue of The Skirmish Line. Minor changes have been made to the article by the author in July 2004.

This is the third of a series of four articles that were published in The Skirmish Line, on “Keys to Good Shooting.” The articles do not discuss improvements to your shooting equipment (gun, powder, minie). The articles assume that your shooting equipment is capable of consistently shooting a tight group in the intended target. The theme of the articles is that your shooting scores can be improved by maximizing your shooting habits and skills. The first article, published in the January-February, 1983 issue, stated that the shooter with a competitive attitude would maximize both shooting skills and equipment to improve shooting performance. The second article, which was published in the March-April, 1983 issue and re-published in May-June 2004 issue of The Skirmish Line, described the need for physical and mental conditioning to improve shooting scores. This

article will describe the need to practice consistency in all aspects of shooting to improve shooting performance.

Most shooters have experienced the problem of their musket changing the point of impact from one day to the next. For example, you may have fine-tuned your musket so that it was shooting a very tight group in the black. You then leave the practice field with the warm feeling that you have the world of musketry by the tail and wonder why so many other shooters have problems. However, when shooting the same musket on a different occasion, such as the following day or week, your point of impact changes and the group is off target several inches. Does this situation sound familiar? I believe all skirmishers have experienced the frustration that goes with the point of impact changing for no apparent reason. I have even seen shooters so angry that they curse their musket and sling it to the ground in despair.

The reason the point of impact is changing is simple but pinpointing the attributing factor is not. For example, if the point of impact changes, then some “condition” must have also changed to cause the musket to shoot differently. Identifying the condition is the problem. Ideally, if all conditions remain the same, then a musket will shoot in the same spot from shot to shot or day to day. The main message of this article is that the degree of variation in the point of impact from week to week can be minimized if the shooter practices consistency in shooting. Therefore, this article will examine the conditions that can cause the point of impact to change and outline what you can do to shoot more consistently. It is important to note that to practice consistency in shooting requires knowledge about shooting, time, practice and a great deal of self discipline in maintaining consistent shooting habits. Also, maintaining consistent shooting and loading habits will help you mentally on the firing line. Your confidence will increase when you know that you have done everything possible to eliminate variations that could cause a bad shot. It is difficult to shoot good scores when you are worrying if the drop charger was accurate every time or if the new batch of powder that you are using for the first time will cause a change in your shot group.

There are three basic categories of conditions that will cause the point of impact to change from one shooting day to the next. They are: Individual, Equipment, and Environment. These categories and a brief explanation (each category and conditions are worthy of separate and lengthy articles) of the conditions that can contribute to inconsistent shooting are summarized in the following paragraphs.

1. Individual

A. STANCE: Choose the most comfortable shooting stance or position and then maintain this stance (relative position of feet and body to target) on every shooting occasion. Do not attempt to force your stance by placing your feet or body in a position that is uncomfortable. If you take a natural and comfortable stance, then you are likely to take the same stance on each different shooting occasion. The position that I find comfortable for me is generally referred to as the Army standing position. Your left side

is facing the target and the feet are spread shoulder width apart so that your body weight is evenly distributed on both legs and feet. The right foot is placed on a line parallel to the target. At this point, I open my stance somewhat by placing my left foot off a parallel line with the right foot. This stance turns my body or chest at a 45 degree angle to the target.

B. MUSKET HOLD AND GRIP: Always hold the musket at the same location and with the same grip of the hands. Never cant the musket in the hands. It is amazing to observe on the firing line how many shooters have their muskets at an angle when shooting. I prefer to rest the stock in the palm of my left hand and grip its side at the lower band with my thumb and all fingers to maintain good contact area with the stock. However, I have seen excellent shooters who use the NRA style grip with their thumb and first two fingers forming a tripod to hold the musket. I don’t know how it works but it sure looks pretty. Also, maintaining the same position of left and right elbows relative to the body. This is extremely important. An analogous case is golf. Golfers know that the slightest change in stance or position of arms relative to body or change in grip will cause a change in the flight direction of the ball. The same applies to shooting. For example, shoulder the musket and then purposely raise or lower the right elbow from your normal position. Raising the elbow tends to lower the front of the barrel which would cause you to shoot lower. Again, I personally favor the Army over the NRA style of holding a musket. My left arm is nearly underneath the gun away from the body to form slightly less than a right angle to support the weight of the musket. The right elbow is about parallel with the ground. The right hand grips the musket firmly with my thumb and fingers completely around the nape of the stock. The trigger finger moves independently from the right hand so any movement in the trigger finger does not move the stock. I have seen many different and successful styles of holding a musket. My point is not to recommend a specific holding method but whatever you do, do it the same way every time if you want to shoot consistently. It is extremely important to maintain the same grip and position of the arms relative to the body to shoot consistently.

C. CLOTHING: Variation in the thickness of the clothing could create a different recoil condition or positioning of the stock thereby causing a change in the point of impact. Personally, I believe this is not a major problem but shooting in the same uniform or thickness of clothing will eliminate clothing as a possible factor in causing the point of impact to change.

D. BIOLOGICAL (Nerves): A remedy for nerves is difficult since biological traits of individuals vary. For example, some skirmishers find that a good night’s sleep produces good shooting the next day, while others don’t mind a hangover since it deadens the nerves. The point is that the shooter must realize that a case of good or bad nerves results in good or bad shooting. Also, the things that cause bad nerves for a shooter should be avoided.

2. EQUIPMENT

A. MINIE: The lead composition of the minie should be as pure as possible. Buy from a reliable and consistent supplier of lead. Make sure the lead is absolutely pure if you are using a thick skirted minie with low powder charges such as the Hodgdon bullet. Do not trust ingots from metal companies that melt down junk lead to make lead ingots. Sometimes the lead is hard as the junkyards use all types of lead including wheel weights to make the ingots. Size all bullets but be careful not to size too much off on one side. Inspect all minies and discard those with imperfections and the ones in which the groove rings are rounded or not sharply defined. Cast at a constant temperature. Use the same lubricant that has produced good results.

B. POWDER: The chemical composition and quantity of the powder should always be the same to produce consistent shooting. I weigh each charge to eliminate variations. Buy powder in large lots such as a keg if permitted by Federal, State or local laws. The Federal law permits fifty pounds but some states limit purchase or possession to five or ten pounds of powder. Powder varies significantly from one batch to another even when produced by the same manufacturer. Check the granular size since it varies sometimes from what is indicated on the bag or keg. My article entitled; “What Skirmishers Should Know About Black Powder.” that was published in The Skirmish Line describes the many reasons for powder to change from one lot to the next. My experience is that no two kegs are exactly the same relative to granular size of the powder. I shouldn’t have to say this, but keep your powder dry. It doesn’t take much moisture for powder to cake in the tubes. Clean the tubes after each shoot and make sure they are air tight at the bottom.

C. MUSKETS: I always remove my barrel from the stock for cleaning but I am careful to ensure that it fits back into the stock exactly as it was before it was removed. Glass bedding will help ensure good and consistent barrel-to-stock fits but it is not necessary as long as you have good contact at the breech end of the barrel. Tightness of the bands is not particularly critical. My musket is not glass bedded and the front end of the barrel is loose with about ¼” free movement. Use constant torque on the tang screw. I mark a position of the screw relative to the tang to ensure that constant torque is used each time the screw is removed and replaced. Do not shoot the musket with the ramrod in the stock. Most ramrods are out of round and could cause varying shifts in the barrel and the point of impact.

D. CAPS: Always use the same caps and keep the nipple in good condition. If the hole in the nipple enlarges too much, discard and replace the nipple with a new one.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL

A. LIGHTING CONDITIONS: More than any other factor, lighting conditions will cause the point of impact to change. Also, more than any other factor, the affect of lighting on the point of impact is the most controversial. The direction or lack of sun can optically distort the position of the front sight and cause a change in the point of impact. The lighting condition also distorts the image of the target as seen by the shooter and can cause a change in your shot group. Also, most shooters are aware how target shadows on pigeons can cause shooters to shoot into the shadow rather than the pigeon. Sunlight

on the front sight will cause, by most accounts, the shot group to move in the direction of the sun. Therefore, you should not accept the various rules that are stated by authoritative sources on how lighting conditions change the point of impact. The problem is that the influence of various lighting conditions varies among shooters because of the variables involving the shooter’s eyesight, rear and front sights. The best thing to do is to take notes on your shooting experiences to spot consistent patterns that may be caused by lighting conditions. For example, if you note on several occasions that you are shooting right when the sun is on your right, then you may suspect that it is caused by the glare on the front sight. Keep notes on your shot groups under other lighting conditions or different ranges until you can verify that a change in your point of impact is due to the lighting condition. I cannot overemphasize lighting conditions as a cause for the point of impact to change. The relatively crude musket sights that preclude modern techniques (hooded sights, variable peeps, etc.) to compensate for different lighting conditions will always casue a problem in maintaining consistent shot groups. A blackened sight will diminish the distortion of the sights caused by sun glare. Also, use a relatively thin versus a thick front sight blade. Shape the blade into a crescent shape with the perpendicular edge toward the shooter. The back edge should be perfectly straight and sharply defined although some shooters recommend an angle on the back of the vertical part of front sight to shadow the sight. Be careful to avoid filling-up peep holes with sight black or putting so much paint on the front sight that it changes the position of the sight.

B. WIND: The wind direction will influence the bullet’s flight, but surprisingly not too much at fifty yards, as long as the wind velocity is below 15 MPH. Wind drift has a noticeable effect at 100 yards, especially when you use a wad-cutter style bullet. For this reason, I use a regular minie at 100 yards and the flat nose or wad-cutter at 50 yards. While lighting has more influence on musket shooting than modern rifle shooting, the wind affect is less because of the shorter distances used in musket shooting. However, since we do our shooting in a standing position the wind will affect the musket shooter’s ability to hold the gun on target.

C. HUMIDITY: There are many myths that dampness or rainy weather will cause the bullet to shoot low. I don’t believe this is true for the short distances that we use in musket competition. However, dampness will cause the bullet to shoot low if the powder becomes damp, due to the loss of discharge pressure.

D. TEMPERATURE: Many skirmishers believe that the point of impact will change when the air temperature varies. Again, there could be some change in the shot group but I believe it is insignificant for black powder shooting at the short distances that we use, for example, 50 and 100 yards. Barometric pressure can change on the same range due to changes in temperature and moisture in the air but again I believe it will not cause a significant change in the point of impact. Again, the rule is to keep notes if your point of impact changes under varying weather conditions. .

There are many reasons why the point of impact will change on different shooting occasions. I have examined some but certainly not all of the reasons why the point of

impact can change. Some of the conditions that cause a change in point of impact will be more relevant to a specific shooter than another. Some factors, such as consistent lead and powder compositions are very obvious, yet I have seen shooters come to competitive matches using new caps, lead, or powder. The message of this article is to repeat the same shooting habits and use the same equipment on each different shooting occasion once you have sighted-in and are shooting well. If you have to make an equipment change, then sight-in at the practice field and not during a skirmish. In summary, to shoot consistently you must employ and practice consistent habits in all aspects of shooting.

Keys to Good Shooting

Steve Light

This article was published in the January-February 1983 issue of The Skirmish Line. Minor changes have been made to the article by the author in July 2004

Most articles on shooting describe shooting equipment and methods for sighting-in, glass bedding, smoothing the lock action, etc. However, very few articles are written on what I consider to be the most important element of good shooting – the shooter. Good shooting requires more than the right combination of equipment, because more often than not, the missed shot can be blamed on the shooter. Although most shooters don’t want to believe it, the gun will shoot where you point it! Therefore, I plan to outline my philosophy of the key factors that contribute to good shooting in a series of four articles in subsequent issues of “The Skirmish Line”. These articles will address the following subjects relating to the human side of the shooting equation:

 Mental Attitude

 Physical

 Consistency

 Moment of Truth

 

The articles were previously published in the Potomac Region magazine “Along the Potomac”.

I emphasize “philosophy” because the articles will address my opinion based upon my experience and what has worked well for me. It is important to realize that what works well for one shooter will not necessarily work well for another. Therefore, treat my advice on shooting as well as that of others as general guidelines only. You must personally test and evaluate recommended shooting methods from others to learn what is best for you. My best advice is not to expect immediate successes but do expect a lot of hard work with intermittent successes and failures. Don’t look for short cuts or the magic musket and bullet. The perfect 10-X gun has not been invented. Shooting 10-X’s is a combination of the gun and shooter and that combination will only be consistently effective when preceded by a lot of hard work.

To avoid sounding pretentious, I would like to add that I don’t always practice what I preach. It is extremely difficult to consistently be able to spend the tremendous amount of time that is necessary to maintain good shooting scores. Also, human frailties (loss of concentration, nerviness, too much partying) will always cause a bad shooting day or a flyer or two. Although I consider myself a competitive shooter, I try not to let my desire to shoot well interfere with the comradery of campfire fellowship. Nevertheless, I hope these articles will provide some new insight on shooting and incentive for the skirmishers who desire to improve their shooting.

“Mental Attitude”

This is the first of four part series on the keys to good shooting. The series of articles discuss the human side of the shooting equation and they assume that the shooter’s musket and equipment are zeroed-in for 10X shooting. This article will discuss the most important element of good shooting: mental attitude.

This article is entitled “mental attitude” because it is the individual’s mental attitude that causes a shooter to perform well in competitive matches. I do not know why some individuals have a competitive spirit and others do not. Also, because of varying interests, an individual can be competitive in one endeavor but not another. The reason that mental attitude is the most important element of good shooting is because an individual who has the proper mental attitude, that is, the desire and self-discipline to spend the necessary time in studying and practicing the art of shooting, will be among the top competitive shooters. With such an attitude, the shooter will make every effort to maximize his shooting performance within the limits of his own physical ability. I have never seen a definition of the term, “competitive shooter” but for the purposes of the article, a competitive shooter is defined as an individual who loves competition and has the desire and discipline to always be striving to maximize the performance of his/her shooting equipment and skills by extensive study and practice of shooting.

Most shooters today tend to maximize their shooting performance by improving their equipment. They are always seeking a better gun or making constant changes to the sight or bullet. Obviously, maximizing the performance of the equipment is extremely important to good shooting, however you must also maximize the individual shooting skills. The shooting equation is” equipment (A) + shooter (B) = good shooting. Maximizing “A” is much easier than “B”. It is also much easier to find fault with the musket than with yourself. Thus, it is the “A” part of the equation that most shooters tackle when trying to improve their shooting scores. If an individual is to maximize his shooting performance, then he must have the self-determination and discipline to maximize the “B” part of the equation.

Not all shooters will be able to shoot in the nineties. There is a scoring level at which a shooter will peak and no amount of additional practice will result in further improvements. However, most shooters have not reached their fullest potential and can improve their scores by tackling the human side of the equation. A shooter who wants to

improve his shooting should set specific goals. For example, if you are shooting in the mid-eighties in competitive matches, then set a goal to push your scores to the high eighties in one or two years. You will find that the improvement comes slowly as illustrated by the following curve that is based on my own shooting experience.

5 10 15

Years

100

90

80

70

The curve illustrates that you can improve your scores with little effort and time at first but increasingly you must spend a tremendous amount of time in practice and competition to push your scores higher. The amount of time it takes to progress up the curve depends on many factors, but the most important is the individual’s mental attitude or competitiveness. The more self-determination for improvement the individual has the more he or she will work to learn about shooting and the more time they will spend practicing. It took me about five years to be able to shoot consistently in the high eighties. Two or three years later, I could shoot in the low nineties more times than not. Slowly, I could see my scores increase to the 93 and 94 range after about ten years of shooting. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that the curve works in the reverse. Because I was doing less shooting, my scores dropped to the 88 and 89 range. I blamed my poor shooting on other things such as age and failing eyesight but the truth was that I had failed to keep up with what Mike Leahy calls “maintenance work.” My experience is that the fall down the curve is more rapid and easier than the climb up, especially when you are in the low nineties range of scores.

If you are serious about improving your shooting, then plot your own curve, establish realistic shooting goals and monitor your progress. Identify areas where you feel improvements are needed. Initiate corrective action and determine if such action results in higher scores. For example, if you feel that you have trouble holding the gun steady, then take steps to strengthen your leg, back, and arm muscles. Progressively identify and correct other areas that would improve your shooting skills. If you keep trying to improve your shooting skills, then I am confident that you will see an increase in your scores. Genetic and physical characteristics will enable some people to shoot better than

others. However, every shooter has room for improvement. For most shooters, the factors limiting them will be related to the time and effort spent toward improvement.

Mental attitude also involves shooter confidence while shooting. Each shooter should be confident about his shooting before he enters the firing line. There must be no doubts about yourself or the musket. Any doubts that the gun is not sighted-in or whether you have properly cast or sized the bullets or measured the powder will work against you and keep you from fully concentrating on your shooting. You can actually talk yourself into a bad shot by worrying about the gun or equipment. I cannot overemphasize confidence as a factor of good shooting. Your mental attitude must be one of confidence that you can win. More shooters could improve their scores if they would take a more positive attitude to the firing line. However, you cannot have a positive attitude or self-confidence by just wishing it so. You must have fully prepared yourself and our equipment before stepping to the firing line. Such preparation must include plenty of practice, employing consistency in shooting habits, and physically and mentally conditioning yourself for competitive shooting.

A word of caution about assuming a positive and winning attitude toward your shooting. Don’t over do it! Trying too hard or raising your expectations about winning will cause anxiety and nervousness. You must avoid undue pressure that will lead to poor shooting. Individuals and teams have often won a match on a day when they least expected to win. We all know how much easier it is to shoot a ten in the sighter than it is in the scoring bull. Under these situations, the shooter is relaxed and thus able to use his shooting skills to their maximum potential. Therefore, the competitive shooter must not only be confident but he must also be cool in competitive situations to maximize performance. Admittedly, there is a fine line between a winning attitude and coolness under pressure, but both are essential to good shooting.

Although I cannot identify the physiological make-up of a competitive shooter, I can provide some recommended actions that should be taken to become more competitive. Whether an individual can follow the recommendations will depend on desire, self-determination and the amount of time devoted to practice and self-improvement.

-You must enjoy competitive shooting. If you find practicing a burden or feel ill at

ease during competition, then it is unlikely that you will have the desire and discipline

to continue the hard work that will be required to be competitive.

- You must have a positive and winning attitude. Your shooting philosophy should be

one of shooting to win. On the firing line you must be confident, but cool and calm.

-Fully concentrate on your shooting while on the firing line. Practice your sighting and

trigger release methods until they are automatic and your body reaction to the recoil is

controlled. The sighting and trigger release methods will be discussed in a later article

entitled “Moment of Truth”.

-Increase your knowledge of shooting by reading information on shooting, listening to other shooters and keeping a notebook on your own shooting experiences.

-Condition yourself for shooting (mentally and physically). An article on conditioning

will appear in the next issue.

-Practice, practice, and PRACTICE!

We probably have only seen the beginning of competitive shooting in the N-SSA. Our present form of skirmishing started like many other competitive sports as a simple game of fun and fellowship. As a sport catches on and the desire to win increases, the participants strive to improve their skills, equipment and performance. An example of how competition is increasing in the N-SSA can be illustrated by examining the winning scores from the 6th Potomac Regional skirmish, which was held at Ft. Meade on May 5, 1962:

25 yd Revolver 88-1X

50 yd Revolver 58

Revolver Agg 146-1X

50 yd Carbine 83

50 yd Musket 89-2X

100 yd Musket 71

Musket Agg 160-2X

Grand Agg 389

These winning scores don’t even come close to today’s top scores. Why are the scores higher today? Are today’s shooters any better than they were in 1962? Obviously, the increase in scores is partly due to shooters using better equipment. Most muskets used by competitive shooters today will and should group in the ten ring when correctly shot off a bench. However, we are approaching the limits of the musket’s mechanical and ballistic performance using the present skirmish rules regarding muskets and equipment. The main reason for the higher scores today is related to an increase in competitive shooters. Also, I am convinced that future increases in shooting scores will come from the human side of the shooting equation as competitive shooters strive to reduce all human error.

I have purposely set very high standards for a competitive shooter. It should be noted that only a small percentage of the skirmishers want to be involved in competitive shooting. Although I consider myself a competitive shooter, I have in recent years fallen short of the discipline required for top notch competitive shooting. However, I deeply believe in the principles espoused in this series of articles. Your present shooting performance is mostly related to the time and effort that you have given to it. The major point of this article is that if you want to improve your shooting, then it is mostly a matter of doing more to improve your skills. Also, you can improve your shooting if you have the proper mental attitude and self-determination to work at maximizing your total shooting ability. I predict more skirmishers will exert the hard work to maximize their

skills and as a result we will continue to see a corresponding increase in individual match scores and lower team times. Are you ready to join them?

Keys to Good Shooting

“Moment of Truth”

Steve Light

This article was published in the November-December 1983 issue of The Skirmish Line. Minor changes have been made to the article by the author in July 2004.

This is the fourth and last of a series of articles on the keys to good shooting. Three previous articles, which were published in The Skirmish Line have discussed the importance of the human element to good shooting. The theme of these articles is that to maximize shooting performance, the skirmisher must improve his or her shooting skills. Also, the improvement of the shooting skills and performance requires a tremendous amount of time in preparation, training and practicing.

This article is entitled, “Moment of Truth”, because no matter how well you have prepared for good shooting, you will shoot low scores if you use a poor sighting and trigger release method. The moment of truth occurs when the bullet exits the muzzle. If the bullet’s path is not true at that moment, then the results will be a missed shot and a lot of wasted lead and time in preparation and training.

What is meant by “sighting and trigger release method”? For the purpose of this article, it is defined as the process used by the shooter to produce a coordinated action between sighting (aligning the musket’s front and rear sights with the target) and releasing the trigger. The word ”coordinated” is emphasized because there must be precise coordination among the eye, brain, and muscle functions to produce good results. The type of sights (peep versus open) or holds (center versus six o’clock) will not be discussed since they were described briefly in previous articles. The main discussion of this article involves what happens between the moment the target is sighted and the moment the bullet exits the muzzle.

This article will discuss two general methods of sighting the target and releasing the trigger. The two methods differ in the timing and manner in which the trigger is released. It is believed that most shooters will fall into one or between the two general methods to be described.

The first method of sighting and releasing the trigger is to employ a slow squeeze on the trigger while sighting the target. The shooter is not supposed to know when the trigger will release. He maintains an easy and steady squeeze on the trigger while the front sight is on target until the trigger is released. If the front sight drifts off the target, then the shooter should stop the squeeze and only start again when the sight is back on target. Although I have oversimplified the description of this method, it is one that is

recommended by many shooting authorities. For this reason, I am not spending much time on this method since information on this technique is available from many shooting books.

The second general sighting and trigger release method is to instantaneously release the trigger when the sight picture is true. For the purpose of this article, I am calling this method “controlled snap shooting” even though snap shooting is perceived by many shooters as a method not to be used for good shooting. I have never seen a definition of snap shooting or any information on the technique of snap shooting. My own definition of snap shooting is that the shooter releases the trigger with a quick pull or snap of the trigger at the exact moment he recognizes the sight picture to be true. The controlled snap shooting method, which will be described in subsequent paragraphs, differs from pure snap shooting only in one area, that is, the trigger is not released at the exact moment that the sight picture is true but only when the front sight has momentarily settled on the target. Thus, the snap of the trigger finger is controlled until the front sight has stopped for a second or less on the target. Some shooters will want to stop the front sight on the target longer than others, but best results for me occur when I practice keeping the time interval very small between the time the front sight settles on the target and the moment the brain tells you to pull or snap the trigger finger.

Before proceeding with a description of the controlled snap shooting method, a few words of caution are needed. The controlled snap shooting method is based on my own shooting method and experience. Also, I am biased toward this method over the method of slowly squeezing the trigger since I use it for both individual and team shooting although I hold on target a little longer for individual match shooting. Knowledgeable shooters state that the controlled snap shooting method requires too much timing and coordination to be used successfully by most shooters. I am not recommending the controlled snap shooting method over any other method over any other. However, I personally believe that the method of instantaneously releasing the trigger will produce the best results for many skirmishers. My recommendations, as is the case with any other shooting advice, is to try various methods to determine which method produces the best results. More importantly, each shooter should understand the basic steps involved in sighting the target and releasing the trigger so he or she can identify and analyze areas requiring improvement. Therefore, the major objective of this article is not to advocate the controlled snap shooting method but to describe the steps involved in sighting the target and releasing the trigger so the reader can relate each step to his own method and experience.

The following paragraphs will describe each step involved in the controlled snap shooting method and highlight the essential elements that must be mastered. If the essential points are mastered, then an improved shooting performance will result regardless of the method used since many of the points to be discussed are applicable to all methods.

The shooter goes through the following mental and physical actions when sighting the target and releasing the trigger:

 

- shooter sights target

- eye reads sight picture

- brain tells shooter picture is correct

- brain relays message to finger

- finger pulls trigger

- hammer is released

- percussion cap detonates

- powder charge explodes

- expanding gasses expel bullet

- bullet exits muzzle

 

The point to be illustrated by breaking down the above actions is that there is a time interval involved between the time you sight the target and the moment the bullet exits the muzzle. The time interval is very small, only a second or less. Nevertheless, there is a time lapse during which something could go wrong. The shooter should understand this and concentrate on practicing a sighting and trigger release method that minimizes the error that can occur during the very small time interval. Also, the shooter’s equipment must be designed or selected to minimize the interval by using a well tuned lock and good powder and caps. For example, the time interval can be reduced when you use smaller powder granules. There is a noticeable difference in the burn rate and ignition time of black powder between FFF and FF powder. FF powder burns at a slower rate which increases the time interval previously discussed.

When sighting the target, the eye and brain should only concentrate on holding the front sight on target (applies to a peep sight). Do not concentrate on the target but keep your concentration on the front sight in the black. Don’t be too concerned about holding exactly on center. Other than the varying sizes of skirmish targets, one of the reasons that I like a center hold is that my true sight picture occurs when the front sight is approximately within the middle of the black or target boundary. I do not attempt to hold the exact center since no person can hold a musket exactly center. Also, the relatively crude sights on muskets make it very difficult to tell when you are exactly on center. I like a black sight on a black target since I prefer to let the front sight melt or blend into the target rather than attempting to hold a contrasting point into a specific location on the target. Therefore, when the front sight has momentarily settled into the black or confines of the target boundary, I snap the trigger.

It is important to sight (the eye and brain presents the picture of the front sight on target) as fast as possible. Many shooters start their sighting by moving the musket and front sight from left to right or up and down and then at the very moment the front sight crosses the target, they release the trigger. I do not recommend this method, which I call the drift method, because the slow and

varying reaction time of muskets preclude the precise timing needed to match the exit of the bullet with the exact moment that the front sight crosses the target.

The next step is a difficult one and can only be perfected through practice and proper body conditioning. Practice is required to perfect the timing and coordination that are needed among the eye, mental and muscle functions that are involved in sighting the target and releasing the trigger. Body conditioning is required to reduce nervousness and increase muscle strength to enable a steadier and longer hold of the front sight on the target. The front sight must be held on the target for an instant of time. How long you hold on target is a judgment call and the area where many mistakes are made. You must be satisfied that the front sight is on target long enough so that the front sight will still be on target when the bullet leaves the muzzle. However, you should not hold the musket on the target too long or you will start to wobble. The longer you attempt to hold on target, the shakier you will become. You must learn to bring the sight on the target as fast as possible. Usually, the better aim will occur immediately after you raise the musket and bring the front sight on target. If you start to wobble, then lower the musket to the waist and wait a few seconds before attempting to re-sight the musket on target.

When the brain tells you that the sight picture is correct and the hold is steady, then it is time to make the decision to pull the trigger. If you make the wrong decision, then you should be able to call the location of your missed shot. The sight picture must not be disturbed by the act of using the trigger finger. Movement of the trigger (index) finger must be independent from the hand, arm, or body. Hold the musket somewhat loosely with the left hand and just snug to the shoulder with the right hand. The left arm should be relaxed and provide only a balancing support for the musket with slight pressure to keep it snug to the shoulder. I do hold the Maynard Carbine with more pressure by pulling the carbine barrel with my left arm into the shoulder. The right thumb and three fingers should grasp the wrist of the stock tightly with the trigger finger being able to act independently. Pull or snap the trigger with a quick and crisp action without moving any other part of the hand, arms or other part of the body. Never jerk the hand or arm. The only portion of the trigger finger that should move is from the middle joint to the tip.

A FOLLOW THROUGH IS VERY CRITICAL TO GOOD SHOOTING. This means that no body movement should occur between the moment that you recognize the sight picture as true and the moment the bullet exits the muzzle. This time interval is probably less than a second. Therefore, it would seem a simple task to follow through, that is keep the body still for one second. However, the task is difficult because the body anticipates the recoil at the same time that the brain sends the message to pull the trigger. The body reacts to this message by a tightening or jerking of the muscles that causes the body to move and disturb the hold. An advantage of the steady squeeze method of trigger pull is

that you never know when the trigger is going to release, therefore, the body does not get the message to prepare for the recoil.

However, even with the controlled snap shooting method, you can learn to follow through and control the unwanted flinch or movement of the body before the bullet exits the muzzle. You must constantly remind your-self to keep all body parts from moving, especially either the arm or hand that are being used to hold the musket or pull the trigger. Lack of follow through is a major factor in a bad shot. I often observe the musket being fired without it properly being held to the shoulder in time for the bullet to exit the muzzle. I am also guilty and must continually remind myself to follow through until the bullet exits the muzzle. The need to follow through is common to many sports, e.g. batting a baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, etc. You can practice this by sighting and dry firing at home. Sight a spot on the wall with the musket and then release the trigger when you are satisfied you are on target. When the hammer has struck the nipple, recheck your sight picture. If the front sight is still on the target, then you will have held long enough and properly followed through.

It has been difficult to describe a shooting process that mostly involves mental and physical timing and coordination. However, I hope this article and the others have provided some useful hints and an incentive to motivate a few skirmishers to improve their shooting. These articles will not by themselves make you a better shot. The concepts and ideas must be reinforced through a lot of hard work. A good sighting and trigger release method comes only through a lot of practice to perfect the timing and coordination. Practice until you can call each shot. If you can call your shot, then this means that you have mental picture of where your front sight was when the bullet left the barrel. Then when you can call your shots, practice some more until the missed shots are the exception rather than the rule. When you can do this, then you not only have a mental picture of your front sight on the target but you have physical control to keep the front sight on the target until the bullet exits the muzzle.