follow through

[calixt0]

Hello, I've been shooting for many years. All the instruction I have gotten has been from hunters meaning no target shooters. Shortly after I got here I learned about NPA which was a new one to me and it got me thinking if I didn't understand that what else am I doing wrong and lead me to ask questions about follow through.

Let me explain whats happening to me and you can tell me if I'm doing fine or if I need to change/improve something. When I shoot I can often see the bullet for a 1/2 second or catch a glimpse of it but usually cant see impact (even out of a 22) because as the shot is fired the recoil brings the gun slightly to the right. I'm a pretty heavy guy so my gun is really shouldered at the very top of my arm rather than in the pocket of my chest and shoulder. Is this the problem.. Am I just expecting too much from my self as a beginner?

thanks for the help.

[BCloninger]

Others will jump in, but the single best trainer for follow through is an air rifle.

A more direct answer to your question, from my experience and the coaching I've received, is to work on your hold. When the shock from a .22 is enough to upset the balance in my hold there's tension somewhere; when I'm pulled off to the right, it usually means my right hand is gripping instead of just a relaxed "handshake".

[CZforlife]

Me being 6'7" I know what you are talking about when it comes to shouldering the rifle. For a while I shot a CZ Silhouette which I was only able to shoulder half of the buttstock at best. You will get use to it. Even with my 1712 with the pharr stock I still don't get 100% of the butt on my shoulder, maybe 50% to 75%. It may hinder you a little in the beginning but you will get use to it!!!

Best of luck,

[1armoured]

Not everyone has the ability to hold dead steady on the target offhand, including on follow-through, for every shot.
You know when you make a good one and you see the shot spread in the middle of the ram, as it goes straight back off the rail.
Even if you're having a good day, you probably won't see all your shots, esp the closer distances,
but your scores will be telling you how successful you are.

Some shooters are naturally steadier than others due to a number of reasons,
and it certainly gets more difficult as you get older.

(And some of us shoot more akin to running-target !!!
When your reflexes then play a larger part in any success !)

For us ordinary folk, in a competition environment, the more movement you have and the more difficult it is to come onto the target, the less attention you will be paying to your routine/discipline/follow through etc,
i.e. as soon as the first shot is fired, all plans turn to custard !

I find that if you concentrate more on the target than on the crosshairs or dot, then subconciously bring in the trigger control and finally try and concentrate on seeing the shot hit the target, (before relaxing and thinking about the next shot), you're most way there.
I just keep reminding myself to have patience in coming onto the target, and wait while managing my breathing,
Trying to keep everything smooth and steady as she goes.

Repetitive practice dryfiring and holding on the target will help,
until it all becomes subconcious, but not all of us have the temperament, opportunity or the dedication to do so.

Having good gear that fits helps, as does a modicum of fitness.

Generally with follow through, seeing your sight picture immediately after the shot will give you an indication of your directional movement at barrel/lock time,
and could be due to your hold not distributing the weight of the rifle more towards the middle of your equilibrium.
Our rifles tend to fall to the right under gravity/hold, but might depend on how you bridge the rifle on your left hand/fingers etc and elbow/hip/chest.

A bit more backwards lean to the left will generally remedy any excessive right hand drift.

cheers,

[Evelio Mc Donald]

Calixto
The best way to find out if your follow thru is ok, is to shoot at a paper target with at least 5 animals on it, and have a similar target on the stand next to you, you should be able to tell where the cross hair or dot was the instant the gun when off, plott the call in the target in the stand, after 5 shots, compare your calls with the actual target impact, if your follow thru is ok, the call shots and the actual target should be pretty much in the same spot.
It is almost impossible to see the actual bullet impact at the shorter distances, actually the rams is about the only one that you may be able to see the impact, but the most important thing, is to be able to call every shot, if you can do that, your follow up is fine.
Evelio.

[Jerry G]

If you don't see the bullet impact and the animal fall, you need to do a lot of work on your follow-thru. With practice and a good scope you should be able to tell where you were when you broke the shot and......... where the bullet hit the animal.

[calixt0]

Ok, so assume I need a lot of work on my follow through? what do I do to work on it?

[Jerry G]

As someone said, air rifle is good. Dry firing is even better.

There is something called muscle memory that comes into play. If you do enough repititions of good follow-thru (without any recoil to blame) you will learn to follow-thru. It is something that needs to be reinforced quite often. While you are looking up 'muscle memory', also look up 'quiet eye'. Both apply to good shooting.