The Position
The position that is used for
shooting air rifle is a standing position. The shooters
stand perpendicular to the targets, with their feet
approximately a shoulders width apart. The hips and
shoulders remain aligned with the feet as the arm closest to
the target has its elbow placed on the front hip (or side),
and the forearm extends upward to support the fore end of
the rifle. The rear of the rifle is supported by the rear
shoulder, and the shooter’s cheek is placed on the cheek
piece of the rifle to align the eye with the sights. Many
looking at shooters in position will not that it looks
uncomfortable, and when done wrong it can be.
Air Rifle Position From Rear
However all of the contortions have a
reason, they allow the shooter to create bone on bone
contact and lock their skeleton into place. This prevents
movement and eliminates shifting and uncertainty caused by
squishy skin and muscle. Another key of the position is to
have the center of the rifle’s mass in line with the center
of the shooter’s balance, or over the middle of their feet.
If the rifle is not centered over the shooter then the force
of the acceleration of gravity is acting on the rifle out of
line with where it is primarily acting on the shooter. With
the fine balance required for shooters to be accurate, the
force of gravity on an off centered rifle can cause movement
in their position referred to as ‘sway’. As its name implies
this is an oscillating movement of the shooter’s body that
prohibits accuracy.
Air Rifle Shooting Position Without Rifle
Other fine details of the position,
like foot placement, can cause sway. The equal and opposite
force of firing the rifle also acts on the shooter, which
necessitates careful placement of the rifle in the shooter’s
shoulder, to keep the rifle stable and cause the force to
dissipate throughout the shooter’s comparatively large mass.
Air
Rifle From Front