Blinking

Darr

Hi Folks ,
I think I have always had this issue .. If I hear say a report I blink .. nearly every time .

I was at the range last night and two chaps either side of me we using H/G's and every time I heard the report I would blink .

Now when I shoot sometimes I blink sometimes I don’t ..

But I hear someone else shoot I nearly always blink ..

Now at one stage last night I was really concentrating on sight focus and I fairly sure I didn’t but as I said I was in a deep concentration so not sure ..

I haven’t been shooting long and maybe it’s just a matter of getting used to it , but if anyone has any ideas I would appreciate if you could share them ..

Also anyone know of any good sites that explain hand/Body positions (for both Rifle(for Gallery) and H/G's ).

And I have purchased a decent pair of electronic ear protectors ( if they ever arrive from the good auld USA )

Thanks
Darr

Sparks

Blinking is not just okay or good, it's absolutely vital. No blinking = dry eyes = bad sight picture = missing the target. Many shooters deliberately blink rapidly for a few seconds towards the end of their shot routine, just before final aiming and firing, to ensure that they have wet eyes when they shoot.

Flinching on the other hand, is a major problem.
There are a few things you can do if you're flinching:

• Wear better ear protection. Better earplugs, ear defenders, or both at once.
• Don't choose a firing point quite so close to other shooters until you get a handle on the problem. Train on your own even.
• Have a friend load for you with either a live round or a snap cap, while you're not looking so you don't know if you're dry-firing or live-firing. That will both show up flinch and will also help you deal with it.
• Practise
• Practise
• Practise

As to hand-body positions, well, are you talking fullbore rifle, fullbore pistol, smallbore rifle or smallbore pistol?

The electronic ANC ear defenders are supposed to be excellent; the problem is that if you're developing a flinch from other shooters' shots, it'll continue on your shots. So you still have to work on the problem anyway. But they're still a good buy, and far less expensive than a new set of ears.

Darr

Thanks Sparks ,
To lubricate eyes blink periodically.. yes


ya hopefully the new (electronic) protectors will have some benefit when they arrive.

I will try the dry fire and see if that helps at all .

Yep taught it might be a case of not been used to hearing gun fire and hopefully it will improve .

In regards to position its .22lr that will be used (hopefully) be used for Gallery .

thanks again .
Darr

Sparks

In regards to position its .22lr that will be used (hopefully) be used for Gallery .

Gallery's a bit of an awkward standing position:



You can see his supporting arm's elbow is away from his body holding up the rifle; that's really not stable. The ISSF posture is a lot more stable:



because his elbow is tucked into his ribcage and the posture is more closed to the target (ie. the line of the barrel is making less of an angle with a line through his hips). However, gallery rules would seem to prohibit this because the stock would touch across the chest if you have any pecs at all. About the best I could think of would be to get a comprimise going, like this:



With a high rifle position, you'll be less stable, but the stability you gain from the closed posture and the support elbow in contact with the ribcage and the way the other elbow is dropped, you should more than make up for it. Just stand closed to the target, get the rifle into your shoulder, bring the support elbow back to the ribcage, and then see what you have to do to get the rifle on target and you able to aim at the same time (note the different hand shapes of the three shooters, for example - you can vary rifle height by several inches that way; and also note the difference in scope mount heights and so on, all these are factors you may have to alter).
(also, this is where a training partner with a camera is useful).

freddieot

Dry fire while the others are shooting until you don't flinch. Worked for me. Pick worst case scenario, I find prone is worse because of the added vibration. Now nothing like that breaks my concentration and I have one less excuse for the inevitable misses when I go to the range.

Darr

Thanks Guys ,
Will give it a go on sunday (if I can manage to get out to the range) .
My new radian protectors arrived today (finally) so will hopefully see an improvement .
Sparks thanks for the info on positions .
Rgds
Darr

packas

Also worth trying "double plugging" i.e. use in the ear ear plugs under standard ear muffs.