4 Tips for Improving Your Shooting Stance
- Daniel Defense
- May 2, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 11, 2024
The proper rifle stance is often the difference between accurate shooting, even while shooting quickly, or completely missing the mark. From practicing at the range to being in the middle of a hunt, your shooting stance matters. The general way you position yourself and fire is the same whether you use an M4 carbine or a bolt-action rifle. Here are a few tips to help you improve your shooting stance.
Try the Bladed-Off Stance for Precision
The bladed-off stance starts with facing your off-hand shoulder towards the target. Your rifle should be tucked into your dominant-hand shoulder, usually in the “pocket,” and your dominant hand should be ready to squeeze the trigger. It’s a natural way to hold your M4A1 rifle or shotgun, and it’s the stance most commonly used among new shooters.
A bladed-off stance puts you in a good position for precision shooting, and you will often see it used during competitions. The downside is that it is not very flexible, so it may not be ideal if you need to move around during a tactical competition or a hunt.
Utilize the Squared-Off Stance to Mitigate Recoil
The squared-off stance, true to its name, sees your shoulders squared instead of having one shoulder staggered ahead of the other. Start with your feet in line with each other and about shoulder-width apart. Next, take your strong-side foot and stagger it back about 6 inches. If you need to reposition quickly, this staggering helps you move faster without compromising your balance. Hold the buttstock of your long gun near the centerline of your body. You want it high up on the chest. Bring your elbows in—no chicken-winging—to help keep your rifle secure.
The entire squared-off stance, whether you are using a Mark 12 rifle or a 308, is meant to help you better mitigate recoil. Because of how you hold the rifle, you can absorb the recoil better. Think of it like a squared-off linebacker adopting a stance to better take the force of a player trying to push him backward.
Remember to Lean Forward, Not Backward
One of the major tenets of a shooting stance is to lean forward, which helps you aim better while also absorbing recoil. It’s a common tendency for new shooters to lean back, but this offers far less recoil mitigation. Ask yourself, is it easier trying to push someone off balance while they are leaning forward into the push or already leaning backward in the direction of the push? The same principle applies in shooting. You are bracing for the impact of the recoil when you lean forward, minimizing the recoil’s impact.
Triangles Are Strong
When you are adopting a stance, you want to form triangles. Triangles are strong and provide your body the support you need when absorbing the recoil of tiny explosions. You create a triangle by keeping your dominant elbow down and close to your body, for example. Your non-firing arm should also form a tight triangle while holding the front of the rifle. All of this helps your body support the weight of the rifle while also helping absorb recoil.
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Original Source: https://bit.ly/3WeQM6N
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