Advanced Marksmanship The lower the prone position the better
- Thread starter Barn Side
- Start date
Re: The lower the prone position the better
More stability and smaller return fire target.
More stability and smaller return fire target.
Re: The lower the prone position the better
I tend to shoot better in a low prone position. That said, if that is how you learn to shoot (and it doesn't work for everyone) you should also learn to shoot out of a higher prone position as well, as low prone doesn't work in a number of field conditions including tall grass.
Also- I find that heavy recoiling magnums such as a 338 need a taller prone position for recoil management. Too low doesn't allow the body to decelerate the recoil impulse and tends to be more painful as well as not managing the recoil impulse in such a way that the scope can return to target quickly.
So my advice is to dry fire practice in a number of different ways so that you are comfortable at a good range of prone heights.
Have fun,
-Bob
I tend to shoot better in a low prone position. That said, if that is how you learn to shoot (and it doesn't work for everyone) you should also learn to shoot out of a higher prone position as well, as low prone doesn't work in a number of field conditions including tall grass.
Also- I find that heavy recoiling magnums such as a 338 need a taller prone position for recoil management. Too low doesn't allow the body to decelerate the recoil impulse and tends to be more painful as well as not managing the recoil impulse in such a way that the scope can return to target quickly.
So my advice is to dry fire practice in a number of different ways so that you are comfortable at a good range of prone heights.
Have fun,
-Bob
Re: The lower the prone position the better
Is a lower prone position better?
According to Gunny Roxburgh, NO! At least for HP XTC position shooting. He wants you to get up off your chest so you can breath easier and also look through the sights in a more relaxed matter rather than craning your neck and trying to look through the top of your head. In his HP seminars, I've seen him go down the line and physically lift guys up off the ground to get them in a better position.
Is a lower prone position better?
According to Gunny Roxburgh, NO! At least for HP XTC position shooting. He wants you to get up off your chest so you can breath easier and also look through the sights in a more relaxed matter rather than craning your neck and trying to look through the top of your head. In his HP seminars, I've seen him go down the line and physically lift guys up off the ground to get them in a better position.
Re: The lower the prone position the better
I agree with Gunny Rox. We see this all the time.
If you are so low that you are laying on your sternum, and the low bipod height is causing you to use a "temple-weld", persuading your body to go off to the side so you can straighten your neck (e.g. no longer straight behind the gun):
NO.
That short Harris bipod, the bench-rest 6" one is the single most important thing to put on your rifle if you are poker straight behind the gun, have a good, comfortable shooting position, and you intend to challenge and interfere with those things.
Moreso, the thicker in the chest you are.
--Fargo007
I agree with Gunny Rox. We see this all the time.
If you are so low that you are laying on your sternum, and the low bipod height is causing you to use a "temple-weld", persuading your body to go off to the side so you can straighten your neck (e.g. no longer straight behind the gun):
NO.
That short Harris bipod, the bench-rest 6" one is the single most important thing to put on your rifle if you are poker straight behind the gun, have a good, comfortable shooting position, and you intend to challenge and interfere with those things.
Moreso, the thicker in the chest you are.
--Fargo007
Re: The lower the prone position the better
Another +1 for the Gunny. Unless you are taking return fire, lower is not necessarily better.
Another +1 for the Gunny. Unless you are taking return fire, lower is not necessarily better.
Re: The lower the prone position the better
Sure.
For most people, especially bigger guys, using that short harris bipod is a recipe for a terribly uncomfortable position, and an incentive to get on the gun at an angle versus straight.
This especially if the bipod is on the rifle before the scope is.
--Fargo007
Sure.
For most people, especially bigger guys, using that short harris bipod is a recipe for a terribly uncomfortable position, and an incentive to get on the gun at an angle versus straight.
This especially if the bipod is on the rifle before the scope is.
--Fargo007
Re: The lower the prone position the better
No problem bro and best of luck with all your shooting.
--Fargo007
No problem bro and best of luck with all your shooting.
--Fargo007
Re: The lower the prone position the better
I am 5'9" and have a 44" chest. I have the 6" Harris on my Remington700, and I would agree that low is good, but low to the point of discomfort is no good. At most I have it down to 1 click above minimum height for prone shooting. Obviously shooting angle also has a factor on this as well.
I am 5'9" and have a 44" chest. I have the 6" Harris on my Remington700, and I would agree that low is good, but low to the point of discomfort is no good. At most I have it down to 1 click above minimum height for prone shooting. Obviously shooting angle also has a factor on this as well.
Re: The lower the prone position the better
All about comfort. Use the height and be at a height where you can run the gun properly and comfortably. I am 5'10.5" with a 50" chest and I use a 6-9" bipod with it on the second notch without a problem, angles not withstanding of course.
All about comfort. Use the height and be at a height where you can run the gun properly and comfortably. I am 5'10.5" with a 50" chest and I use a 6-9" bipod with it on the second notch without a problem, angles not withstanding of course.
Re: The lower the prone position the better
I like a low sling supported position, it helps decrease wobble. Yet, too low a position, one where the head is no longer erect and vertical, without discomfort, will cause perspective of aim problems. With irons or scope, perspective of aim inconsistency leads to vertical dispersion. In addition, resting the full weight of the head on the stock is not possible since, to get any perspective of aim, eyeball lift is inevitable. This causes recoil resistance to be inconsistent resulting in angle of departure error, which increases with distance.
I like a low sling supported position, it helps decrease wobble. Yet, too low a position, one where the head is no longer erect and vertical, without discomfort, will cause perspective of aim problems. With irons or scope, perspective of aim inconsistency leads to vertical dispersion. In addition, resting the full weight of the head on the stock is not possible since, to get any perspective of aim, eyeball lift is inevitable. This causes recoil resistance to be inconsistent resulting in angle of departure error, which increases with distance.
Re: The lower the prone position the better
I wished I could say one bi pod worked for me.
I have one of everything made because one day I shoot up hill the next I shoot level. I have bi pods from 6" to stupid high.
Found that working around the wrong one got me a new eyebrow thanks to my scope bell!!
I wished I could say one bi pod worked for me.
I have one of everything made because one day I shoot up hill the next I shoot level. I have bi pods from 6" to stupid high.
Found that working around the wrong one got me a new eyebrow thanks to my scope bell!!
Re: The lower the prone position the better
The low Prone position gives me significant discomfort. I experience all the issues related above. Essentially, I'm unable to provide proper concentration after the first few rounds of a competitive string of fire. Mainly it's the neck.
For some time now, I've thrown the towel and done my shooting from the bench.
I recently acquired the next taller bipod (Winchester labelled, marked 'China'), which also features a sorta bipod lock. I intend to leave it unlocked, to allow barrel torque to occur without applying any vertical driving force to either bipod foot. So I'm doing what I can to get back into the game.
Greg
The low Prone position gives me significant discomfort. I experience all the issues related above. Essentially, I'm unable to provide proper concentration after the first few rounds of a competitive string of fire. Mainly it's the neck.
For some time now, I've thrown the towel and done my shooting from the bench.
I recently acquired the next taller bipod (Winchester labelled, marked 'China'), which also features a sorta bipod lock. I intend to leave it unlocked, to allow barrel torque to occur without applying any vertical driving force to either bipod foot. So I'm doing what I can to get back into the game.
Greg
Re: The lower the prone position the better
setting up to shoot low prone requires fitting the rifle properly...an art all to its own. With enough practice and proper fit, the low position can be quite comfortable.
Watch the David Tubb vids on how to get into the low position and you can see how to mount the rifle.
Not saying people here don't know how to mount a rifle, just that there may be techniques that some are unaware of that can help them obtain that lower position...hand stop to bicep sling position and getting that solid lock in the shoulder pocket for example
setting up to shoot low prone requires fitting the rifle properly...an art all to its own. With enough practice and proper fit, the low position can be quite comfortable.
Watch the David Tubb vids on how to get into the low position and you can see how to mount the rifle.
Not saying people here don't know how to mount a rifle, just that there may be techniques that some are unaware of that can help them obtain that lower position...hand stop to bicep sling position and getting that solid lock in the shoulder pocket for example
I battled with this for a long time, thinking that lower was better. I mean, it must be, right? Except it wasn't. I experienced some of the issues that Sterling mentioned, was canking my head and angling off and found the fatigue issue coming on too quickly. I'm of average height and pretty trim, so couldn't figure out why I couldn't 'snake in the grass'. Then, a chiro x-rayed my spine and it revealed a greater than average 'goose neck' (angled forward), and an overly straight throracic spine section, so I simply can't roll my head up enough in the low prone. I moved to a high prone and the problems went away. Helped me level my shoulders out as well and got rid of the elevation fliers. Was nice to get right behind the rifle, instead of feeling like I was lying on top of it.
Long winded way of saying that it's different strokes..
Long winded way of saying that it's different strokes..
Last edited:
I was experiencing the same problems as Mr Flannel, although I didn't have any x-rays to back up why. Moving to a 9-12" bipod and moving the stock higher on my shoulder made a lot of difference.
Similar threads
