Off Hand Rifle Shooting
Holding a rifle steady standing up is hard. You need to learn how to hold a rifle before you can be steady. The thing to remember when shooting a rifle is that your body is the carriage to hold the rifle. You shouldn’t have to muscle it around. The more muscles you use to shoot the more likely you are to have problems when you get tired.
You can keep a rifle steady while you are relaxed. The biggest thing to remember on how to hold a rifle steady standing up is consistency and practice. Let’s start with the basics of how to hold a rifle so you can start on the right foot, pun intended.
Stance
When you are shooting standing up the only points of contact you have with the ground is your feet. This means you want your stance to be as stable as possible. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart. Of course, this distance will vary a little bit as you start to aim your rifle. The farther apart your feet the lower your rifle will naturally aim. Whereas the closer your feet at to each other the higher your rifle will naturally aim. You will want to lean forwards slightly giving you the ability to absorb the recoil of the rifle. Standing straight up and down makes it hard to deal with the recoil from higher caliber rifles. Not to mention keeping your aim for follow-up shots.
Considering feet placement to the target, you want to angle them 30 to 45 degrees to the target. This will vary on what is comfortable for you. As you aim you’ll want to have your off-hand foot(none trigger hand) under the front of the rifle. While you move your other foot to effect your point of aim. Think of your back foot as the aim pointer while your front foot as the pivot.
Hand placement
Now that you have your feet placed correctly. Next, you bring the rifle to your shoulder. Making sure that the rifle is brought up to your line of sight. Never adjust your head down to the rifle.
You’ll want your none trigger arm almost straight out on the rifle forearm. With your hand cradling the rifle. If you aren’t using a sling you can grip the forearm slightly pulling the rifle towards your shoulder.
With your other arm, you’ll want to do what they call a chicken wing. You’ll have your elbow as straight out from your shoulder as you can. This gives you a pocket in your shoulder to put your butt-stock in. That pocket is perfect for cradling the butt-stock. As far as your trigger hand, hold the rifle so as your trigger finger doesn’t touch anything but trigger. This way you eliminate the chance of moving the rifle when you pull the trigger. Your thumb is either on top of the stock pointed straight or wrapped around it. Whatever is comfortable for you.
Using a Sling
Using a sling is the key on how to hold a rifle steady standing up. Most people think slings are used for carrying a rifle. They aren’t. If you’ve ever been to an Appleseed shoot you’ll understand just how important a sling is for stabilizing your rifle.
When using a sling to keep your rifle steady. There isn’t much difference in hand placement with the sling, then without it. Same with feet placement.
To use the sling you’ll start with your sling about a wide hands width away from the trigger. Then you’ll place your none trigger arm through the sling, bringing up close to your armpit. After that you just wrap your hand back around the sling, placing it on the rifle forearm. This allows the sling to hold the weight of the rifle. Essentially allowing your bones and sling to hold the rifle, instead of your arm muscles.
Steady Hold Factors
How to hold a Rifle steady standing is all about the steady hold factors. If you get your stance correct, along with your sling and hand placement, you will achieve them.
Elbow is Under the Rifle
Bring your none trigger arm elbow as close to under the rifle as possible.
Support Hand is Relaxed
You want to relax your support so that it’s only holding up the rifle, not gripping it. Much like using a bipod.
Sling Behind Support Wrist
As you wrap your arm through the sling and hold the stock. Your wrist needs to be held tight to the stock by the sling.
Sling is Snug
You want the sling to tight like the drawstrings on a par of sweat pants. You don’t want any slack in your sling.
Sling Well Up Close to your Armpit
To quote a few great men “you want a little stank on your sling” better know as close enough to get sweat on your sling from your armpit.
Neck Extended (Turkey Neck)
You want to extend your neck so you can get the proper view in your sights or scope.
Cheek Planted on Stock (Cheek Weld)
You want your cheek on your butt-stock firm enough it moves your skin. This is so you have tight cheek weld that keeps your rifle and your eyes steady
Firm Handshake Grip
The grip you have on your rifle with your trigger hand needs to be firm and tight but no death grips. Having a death grip will loosen over time and can cause you to move the rifle when you pull the trigger.
Trigger Finger Air-Gap (No Dragging Wood)
You want to have just the center of the tip of your finger on the trigger. No other part of your finger should touch the stock.
NPOA (natural point of aim)
Once you have perfected all the steady hold factors and how to hold a Rifle steady standing up, you’ll notice that your shots don’t always go where you want them. This due to NPOA(natural point of aim). As you place your feet, arms, and body position will control your aim more than just your hands. This means if your feet are pointed different from where you want your rifle pointed. Your shot won’t hit the target. You can’t naturally walk forward and look at the person beside you talking. The same goes for your shooting. Your rifle will naturally point where your body is aiming.
To find your NPOA all you have to do is close your eyes. Breathe a few times, relax like you are about to take the shoot. Then open your eyes. If your sights aren’t on target then you need to correct your NPOA. To do this while standing up. Move your shooting hand leg, pivoting on your other leg. If you want your shot to go right move your leg left. If you are high move your foot backward. It’s really simple once you get the hang of it. Once you’ve moved close your eyes again and start over. It’s amazing how a little movement makes a big difference.
Conclusion
How to hold a rifle steady standing up is all about learning the steady hold factors and gaining the correct NPOA. Although standing up is the least steady shooting position it can still be accurate. All you have to do is practice these steady hold factors. You can practice them at home during dry fire practice, or every time you go to the range. These are easy to understand but difficult to master. So practice, train and enjoy better accuracy. Whether you’re a hunter, a target shooter, or competition shooter. Learning how to hold a rifle steady standing up is something everyone needs to learn.