MARKSMANSHIP BASICS - Natural Point of Aim

[Ian M]

#1 Do you understand the concept of the Natural Point of Aim? If so please describe it briefly.

#2 Do you employ the concept of the Natural Point of Aim in various field shooting positions.

[Rogue]

A natural point of aim can and should be acheived in any firing position.
1. Get in to the firing position.
2. Aim at the target.
3. Keeping the weapon pointed at the target, close your eyes, relax - do not hold any tension on weapon, take 3-4 breathes. Open eyes. Wherever the sight rests is your natural point of aim.
4. Repeat until the sight is on target.
Note: When opening eyes do not attempt to adjust the weapon.

This is a very breif description.

Yes, I employ a natural point of aim in the field when possible. I have killed one elk and one pronghorn firing off hand. Both animals were running at less than 50 yds. Had no time to employ it then.

Randy

[royinidaho]

My definitions: Natural Point of aim: When rifle is setup in the shooting position with full grip (all set to trip the trigger) and the shooter completely removes himself from the rifle, shoulder from butt, hand from rear bag and cheek weld AND the reticle center is remains on the point of aim.

Simple to do at the range or out busting rocks. Less easiy to do when there's hair in the scope but definitely achievable. Not even thinkable when off hand.

BTW, I bet there are books written (if not there ought to be) addressing the interconnections/relationships between Ian's Basic Marksman Ship questions.

[Buffalobob]

#1 Do you understand the concept of the Natural Point of Aim? If so please describe it briefly.

Only when it comes to a shotgun, do I understand “natural point of aim”. Actually, I will spend a lot of time prior to dove shooting leveling up the ground and getting my footing just exactly correct. When I have taught boy scouts and girl scout to shoot skeet, that is where I start- foot placement. I can get a bad shot to look great by simply moving their feet to the correct position. A kid that just has to shuffle his feet after every shot and can’t maintain foot position is really a pain to get to shoot well. The principle that I work off of is that the body bone structure needs to be aligned and the minimum amount of muscles under tension.

#2 Do you employ the concept of the Natural Point of Aim in various field shooting positions.

Didn’t you see all of the dead doves? I also have some perversions and actually like to shoot at running deer with a bow or a gun and have some small successes at it. I can teach a kid to shoot a bow well by getting their feet correctly lined up (or throw a baseball). Most people think good shooting is holding the gun correctly but it isn't. It is placeing the feet so the body is held correctly.

[BountyHunter]

Ian

to make it short, agree with rogue and buffalobob for both rifle and shotgun.

I am NRA rifle, pistol, shotgun, Master Hunter Ed instructor etc and routinely teach all the above. This is an easy learning skill that if the student will master will help them tremendously with both rifle and shotgun.

Rifle is easy for them to see why and how do adjust, shotgun is a little more difficult to grasp sometime. I use the "winding a spring" analogy for shotgun. We help them set their feet to be comfortable and stable base at point of impact. then go to the point of where you want or need to break the target and then wind back up to the house or where you expect to see the target. Everyone understands that the more you wind a spring the tighter it gets while unwinding it is easier and the same in shotgun shooting. If you wind up going to the house you will unwind going to the bird. 90% of most missed shots are behind because shooters do it just the opposite and slow down tracking the bird.

BH

[Bravo 4]

To me, natural point of aim is just that-where your hand/eye coordination points the muzzle of your weapon. When I pick up a hand gun,which is a last resort or only good for fighting your way to a rifle, I want to be able to take a grip where my trigger finger will point straight down the barrel. If you are up close your "natural point of aim" will take over and the sights become second nature. They will automatically line up on target. With a rifle in an urban environment you will do most of your firing on the move. So good foot placement is out the window, and so is trying to line up your sights. You will point and shoot, with both eyes open....your natural point of aim. The same with a shotgun. Now if you are stationary (standing or prone) it is much the same,except you get into a good stance or a steady prone position. You look at your target with both eyes open and bring the weapon up into position and you should have your intended target in view of your sights, open or scope. That is when you can line up the sights properly and engage, with one or both eyes open. Like I said hand/eye coordination,and the more you practice the better and faster you become.

[Bravo 4]

To me, natural point of aim is just that-where your hand/eye coordination points the muzzle of your weapon. When I pick up a hand gun,which is a last resort or only good for fighting your way to a rifle, I want to be able to take a grip where my trigger finger will point straight down the barrel. If you are up close your "natural point of aim" will take over and the sights become second nature. They will automatically line up on target. With a rifle in an urban environment you will do most of your firing on the move. So good foot placement is out the window, and so is trying to line up your sights. You will point and shoot, with both eyes open....your natural point of aim. The same with a shotgun. Now if you are stationary (standing or prone) it is much the same,except you get into a good stance or a steady prone position. You look at your target with both eyes open and bring the weapon up into position and you should have your intended target in view of your sights, open or scope. That is when you can line up the sights properly and engage, with one or both eyes open. Like I said hand/eye coordination,and the more you practice the better and faster you become.