I suck shooting prone

[scjbash]

I shot the Hackathorn standards today and things fell apart on the prone string of fire. The taller the target the worse I shot. Part of the problem seems to be vision in that position but that's not entirely it. I could tell I was pushing most of the shots left as I was shooting the string. I've shot the standards a couple times before and the same thing happened each time.

I never shoot prone unless it comes up in a drill so simply practicing it is obviously part of the solution, but I'd like to hear whatever advice anyone has. I've searched the forum but other than a mention of Defoor demonstrating a golf style grip I couldn't find anything.

[GJM]

Do you wear corrective eye glasses?

[scjbash]

No my vision is pretty good. I typically shoot mid to high 90's on a B8 at 25. In prone though it seemed like head position had me looking out of the top of my eyes or something. I'm honestly not even 100% sure of that because I only fired those six shots from prone and am working from memory.

[GJM]

I enjoy shooting prone with a rifle much more than a pistol. With a pistol, I find it easier with a dot, and rest the base of the magazine on the ground for stability.

Bill Rogers was known in the day as the flying squirrel, and would apparently go prone at 15 yards and beyond on the plate rack at the Bianchi Cup.

[txdpd]

Have you tried rolling onto your side? That will save you the trouble of having to look out of the top of your eye sockets.

Roll onto your strong side, with you firing arm on the ground, and cock your weakside knee up for support. The closer you can get you're body perpendicular to the target, the better. But if your body is lined up with the target rolling on your side will still help.

[scjbash]

I hadn't heard that about Bill Rogers. That's amusing.

I'm going to shoot prone more the next time I make it to the range and see what I can figure out. It's nothing I every practice because it's so far down on my list of priorities but I also can't stand knowing I suck at something. It also butchers my score on the Hack. :D

[scjbash]

Have you tried rolling onto your side? That will save you the trouble of having to look out of the top of your eye sockets.

Roll onto your strong side, with you firing arm on the ground, and cock your weakside knee up for support. The closer you can get you're body perpendicular to the target, the better. But if your body is lined up with the target rolling on your side will still help.

Yeah I've done that and shoot well that way. I only shot plain ol' prone today because I assume that's what Hackathorn meant to be used.

[schüler]

This the only other thing that comes to mind, demo'd by Defoor, here:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180327/284ef9afe5a54812d9c6b7938c0593d8.jpg

[Clusterfrack]

With rifles, I hate shooting off a bench,
and my groups show it. Prone is my favorite position, probably because that’s what I’ve practiced the most, but also because it’s ergonomically superior.

With pistols, I do not like shooting prone. I can do it ok if forced to, but wouldn’t choose it. It’s just an ergonomically shitty position for handguns. Either you’re forced to look out of the top of your eyes and have poor focus, or you’re sideways. In poor lighting, standard prone is very difficult for me because the sights are blurry. If at all possible, I shoot sideways. Heck I’ll take supine over forward prone.

[Gio]

This the only other thing that comes to mind, demo'd by Defoor, here:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180327/284ef9afe5a54812d9c6b7938c0593d8.jpg

That method may be accurate, but it will in no way be competitively fast for uspsa prone standards like long range standards. Watch this video and try to find video of other top shooters shooting prone in matches and compare to what you’re doing. https://youtu.be/xcg20oTMcEA

[scjbash]

That method may be accurate, but it will in no way be competitively fast for uspsa prone standards like long range standards. Watch this video and try to find video of other top shooters shooting prone in matches and compare to what you’re doing. https://youtu.be/xcg20oTMcEA

Thanks. I was watching some videos and one thing I noticed Stoeger among others doing is resting the basepad on the ground and tilting their head over against their arm to align one eye with the sights. I'm going to experiment the next time I can make it to the range and it's not a mudhole.

[glocksalot]

This the only other thing that comes to mind, demo'd by Defoor, here:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180327/284ef9afe5a54812d9c6b7938c0593d8.jpg

This is the preferred method of shooting prone that I have been taught. Teaching coming from our instructors at our police academy (who also assist/teach at The Range Complex TRC).

[nwhpfan]

I shot the Hack Standards a couple years ago and wasn't too proud of my prone results. So I just kept doing it over and over until I got it worked out.

I go down sideways, roll over one my arm. It helps control the pistol, steady the aim. It is very easy to aim wrong prone and end up aiming high or low.

The Hackathorn Standards in particular a key point is to move very, very fast and get into position. No need to waste time getting down.... Use the time to ensure proper aim and trigger control. Here is a video of my a few years ago. As I recall, it was about 100 degrees too.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfmB1W8HO4Y

[scjbash]

I shot the Hack Standards a couple years ago and wasn't too proud of my prone results. So I just kept doing it over and over until I got it worked out.

I go down sideways, roll over one my arm. It helps control the pistol, steady the aim. It is very easy to aim wrong prone and end up aiming high or low.



I wasn't going to shoot the standards again for a few months but if I get the prone thing worked out I may shoot it again soon. I think the technique you're using may solve my problem.

I was hoping to shoot at least a 275 and ended up with a 271. I stunk it up on the prone string, but in a way the more frustrating part was dropping four points on the 4' tall target shooting SHO. There's something devious about that little guy and those four points would have made my 275 goal. I'm really kind of glad I came up short though because it's a motivator.

[txdpd]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZzzqjlbNI

Here's how I shoot prone. Spaulding does a better job demonstarting than I could ever explain.