Need advise on how to shoot a rifle

[fly2cast]

My son has a couple of big hunts this fall, moose and the youth deer tag. The problem is that he's not a very good shot. I've been trying to go out to the range at least once a week this summer and shooting at gophers. We shoot about a box or two of 30-06 (reduced load) or 6mm when we go out. We are practicing shooting with shooting sticks and sitting on a hunting chair or in a sitting position on the ground. I expect to shoot this way in the field.

He is really shakey and I'm not sure what to do to steady himself. One question I have is how do you hold the gun with a shooting stick? One hand is obviously on the trigger, but what do you do with the other hand? Does it hold the shooting stick, the gun, or is it in another position? I haven't been able to find many videos on the internet on how to shoot properly from a shooting stick.

Another problem is that I'm not a really good teacher. I've gone hunting plenty but I've never had someone tell me how to shoot properly. I'm an ok shot but I'm sure I'm doing plenty of things wrong.

I don't think the gun is the issue. It's a new Weatherby with a Leupold scope and rings. I think the trigger is good and I can shoot pretty good groups with it.

 

[ndlongshot]

Leave the 30-06 at home for the summer. Practice good rifle technique with a scoped 22 bolt. Low recoil and learn target acquisition for the rest of august. Keep on the gopher hunting.

Go buy a harris bipod and put it on the 6mm rifle. Practice once a week with this until hunting season, no more. Bipod will eliminate complications of holding shooting sticks and getting them in place while supporting majority of the weight of the rifle. With bipod he can shoot from prone, kneeling, or sitting and all he has to worry about is securing the gun to his shoulder. Much easier to control the rifle on a bipod.

There is alot we could talk about on this. But I dont want to overcomplicate it. I would start by low recoil, repetition, and solid rest.

 

[fly2cast]

I've thought about getting a bipod. The question I have about them is in a hunting situation will you be high enough to see over the grass? Most of the time when I'm hunting the grass is too high to get a good shot from a sitting or prone position, thats why I have been shooting with shooting sticks. When I go out with my kids, I don't carry a gun. I carry the shooting stick and small chair.

- - - Updated - - -

I should also mention that I have been reloading the 30-06 with a very light load and having him shoot with that so that he gets use to the gun and scope. It has about as much recoil as a .223.

 

[ndlongshot]

There is a small amount of consideration that goes into finding a place to set up with a bipod. If the grass is too tall for prone, you go to the sitting position. If grass is too tall for sitting, then at that point he will most likely have to shoot off hand in the standing position. This is where you carrying a tall monopod walking stick/shooting stick would be beneficial to have along. Just to cover your bases.

Ideally, you would sneak in...find a place to lay prone while being undetected by your target and give him plenty of time to settle in and take the shot. Or sit if necessary, and then stand, if necessary.

For a young shooter to develop that muscle memory takes along time, maybe years of plinking and experience. On your timeline I would focus on accurate shooting. And the quickest way to do that is to get him a solid rest he is comfortable with and confident with.

 

[AR-15]

Maybe getting scared of the kick, like ndlongshot says, get the 22 out and let him shoot, missing is part of the game, he will get better as time goes on, get him some good ear plugs even for the 22

 

[KDM]

Start CLOSE and build on success. I started my daughter at 25 yards-----50 yards------100 yards-----200 yards. I didn't move the target until she was very comfortable at that distance. I don't like to change weapons much, so if I were to go on a special hunt, I would not shoot any weapon, but the one I would carry in the field, but that's just me. That and pop LOTS of primers. Good Luck!!!

 

[MathewsZman]

Caldwell Fieldpod all the way . Builds the confidence up . My kids use it for targets and hunting . Can fold it up and comes with a sling or you can throw it in a back pack . Can't remember the specs but it's adjustable from like 18 inches to like 40 inches .

 

[fly2cast]

Caldwell Fieldpod all the way . Builds the confidence up . My kids use it for targets and hunting . Can fold it up and comes with a sling or you can throw it in a back pack . Can't remember the specs but it's adjustable from like 18 inches to like 40 inches .

I've thought about this. How hard is it to set up in the field?

 

[Kurtr]

Get a bolt 22 then use all the advice you have been given. Nothing is going to be fast with a kid in the field. Slow and methodical.

 

[MathewsZman]

Just takes a few seconds . Pull legs out . Adjust by sliding legs in our out if necessary . Put gun on and shoot . Works great on stand too as you can have gun on it and not have to move much .

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Harris Bipod and can get the longer set so you can go prone or sitting.
Is he flinching from the recoil?
Are you sure he is using his dominent eye?
Totally agree on the 22. Use it everyday. Also get him to carry it (assuming it has a scope) and have him see something and then draw the rifle up and find it in the scope. Shouldn't have to search he should be able to just grab it and when bringing up the rifle the object should be in his scope. If he can't do this you make him practice, practice, and practice some more! Make sure he is keeping both eyes open when using a scope.

 

[Fracman]

Where are you located. Maybe some of us have something close buy you can try out to see if he likes it and what unit is the moose tag in

 

[fly2cast]

I don't think recoil is the problem as the gun doesn't kick much. Flinching? Maybe. Several times at the range I load the gun for him with either a blank or live round without him knowing. I watch for the flinch with the blank. He's usually pretty good with the flinch but has his moments. I've checked eye dominance and he shoots with the correct eye.

He says he just has a hard time holding the rifle steady. I have two other kids who use the same shooting technique as he does. They both are awesome shots (I have to say better than I am quite often). But for whatever reason, he has problems. To give an example, at 200 yards, he's lucky to hit the paper. At 100, his groups are about 10 inches. Like I said, this is not from a bench, but from sitting position using a shooting stick. It's bad.

 

[LBrandt]

Practice until the cows come home.

 

[Achucker]

Sounds like he is like me. I cant shoot worth a darn if I don't have a solid rest. This is why I have a bipod on all my rifles. If I shoot standing its off a rest and within 150 yards. If hunting taller grass there is no reason a sneak cant be made to a better vantage point to take a shot. Hunting isn't a race. Don't teach him to shoot something running. Your on the animals time and should be able to get a solid rest to take the shot.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Maybe just maybe the little guy needs glasses? Could his eye sight be that bad? That is where i would put my money after reading all the posts again.

 

[fly2cast]

Sounds like he is like me. I cant shoot worth a darn if I don't have a solid rest. This is why I have a bipod on all my rifles. If I shoot standing its off a rest and within 150 yards. If hunting taller grass there is no reason a sneak cant be made to a better vantage point to take a shot. Hunting isn't a race. Don't teach him to shoot something running. Your on the animals time and should be able to get a solid rest to take the shot.

I hear you. I don't let any of my kids take a running shot.

 

[Kurtr]

Maybe just maybe the little guy needs glasses? Could his eye sight be that bad? That is where i would put my money after reading all the posts again.

That fixed my kid right up. Helped with reading in school and just overall life.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Worth a trip to the eye Doctor to have them checked out if they haven't been.

 

[shorthairsrus]

over and over raise point --- raise point ----- raise point. Does he shoot a shotgun --- run through 5 boxes or shells at some clays that your thrower throws (not at a park). He walks you throw boom. over and over. BB gun and a shotgun is what my kids used.


What did i use --- hell we had games of war, one was pointing some type of gun (toy, BB......) from the time you could raise your arm.