As a past shooting range officer, it became apparent that some people were not prepared to sight in their deer guns and had to settle for “close enough.” That type of thinking, and ultimately results, can lead to unexplained misses afield. Since the purpose of sighting in is to minimize human error while placing shots in small groups on target, let’s look at ways to get the job done properly.
If the wind is howling, don’t bother trying to dial in your gun. The effects of strong wind can be damaging to your accuracy, confidence, and wallet.
For target shooting, telescopic sights should be set on high power. If your firearm is not steady, high magnification will let you know. Even the effects of your heartbeat can be seen through the scope, and your being aware of the slightest movement will help you settle down.
Use the proper target. Large black circles are best for iron sights or red dot sights; however, a scope’s crosshairs can get lost in the black background, making accuracy problematic. Gaining the best accuracy from typical scope reticles is easier with centers of white or other high-visibility backgrounds.
Sight alignment is important – even with scopes, because if you are not centered in the reticle, accuracy will suffer. By moving your head up and down, and side to side, you’ll be able to see a black shadow outline when you are not aligned properly, Use these shadows as guides to get centered.
When shooting from a bench, you’ll want to be as steady as possible to minimize movement. Rest the gun on bags front and rear. If you are using a bipod as a front rest, understand that it will bounce on hard surfaces and throw shots off target.
Focus on the reticle, not the target. Before beginning, however, make sure to adjust for sharpness of the crosshairs by adjusting the lens nearest your eye (ocular lens) by setting the eyepiece to your liking.
A smooth and even trigger pull and follow through is mandatory for precision. It’s easy to develop a flinch with heavy-recoiling deer guns, and to be honest, everyone will flinch from time to time.
Learn to “call” your shots, as an exercise to understand why some shots don’t seem to go where you aim them. Good shooters concentrate on their aiming position, as they slowly squeeze the trigger. Even though some movement is inevitable, at the precise moment when the gun goes off, they are able to state where they were holding in relation to the target. If you call a shot and miss, a flinch may be at fault.
Pull the gun tightly to your shoulder with the forearm grip. Good recoil pads or even a folded towel under garments can save the day, but must be in place from the start. If you’ve already gotten to the point at which your shoulder is sore from recoil, stop. You’ll only be adding to your misery, while emptying your wallet.
