Target Shooting (Advice wanted)

[nijalninja]

Thanks for the detailed advice and experience everyone. Joining a shooting club is a tad hard for me since I'm out a ways from a range and if I have to drive there at night then I'll probably nail at least one roo. However, I have all the room on the farm I work on to practice (Which is why I was hoping for advice about things that I can do on my own), but even then I could probably find some good shooters who would be willing to help me out; Next best I reckon.

My flinch seems to occur when I pick up anything bigger than a .22 or .22 Hornet. I can bang away all day on a .22 and never flinch but that is not impressive. However, for many years a .22 has just been a crow gun to me which all it has to do is hit a crow at 50 yards and thats it, I've never used one simply to push for as much accuracy as I can and it is something I will try now that it has been mentioned.

No4MkIT, I know of the trick with blackening front sights but I did not know that they should be the point of focus over the target, but I suppose focusing on the sights more could also take away the stress of "This is the target and I have to hit it" of being fixated on it. Also I used to shoot with the 'surprise' technique' as you have mentioned but I thought it was always just me being unexperienced so I tried other things that never worked, hence I am asking here haha. Yeah standing shooting I am half decent at but I never thought much about such as thing as Natural Point of Aim but it makes a lot of sense (Natural things and concepts like this are exactly what I was after).

Before this my knowledge of accurate shooting was limited to: "Do every shot the same way every time" which was great unless I was up the paddock and had to adapt to a new position. You guys have given me some basics and concepts so I guess I have to go out and practice them now, and meet shooters who don't mind sharing their secrets haha. Anymore advice is also welcome. Thanks everyone.

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[no4mk1t]

No4MkIT, I know of the trick with blackening front sights but I did not know that they should be the point of focus over the target, but I suppose focusing on the sights more could also take away the stress of "This is the target and I have to hit it" of being fixated on it. Also I used to shoot with the 'surprise' technique' as you have mentioned but I thought it was always just me being unexperienced so I tried other things that never worked, hence I am asking here haha. Yeah standing shooting I am half decent at but I never thought much about such as thing as Natural Point of Aim but it makes a lot of sense (Natural things and concepts like this are exactly what I was after).

Not focusing on the front sight is the root of your difficulties. Black the sights and draw the pencil mark thereon, and give it a go. I think you will see an immediate improvement. The pencil mark helps you to remember to pull your focus back. If you see the pencil mark, you are good to go, if you can't see it, that's a reminder to focus hard on the front sight.
Please report back on your results when you have had a chance to apply this. Try not to giggle, it's unbecoming of a true marksman.

Natural Point of Aim is a lesson in itself. When you have absorbed the front sight technique and are ready, ask, and ye shall receive.