Re: Prone position question
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: proneshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sterling Shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: daveog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A good solid rear bag is definitely a must. Use youroff-hand to squeeze the bag, that will allow you to make minor elevation adjustments as well as giving the butt a stable platform.</div></div> It is definitely not a must. Also, it's the ground which provides the most stable platform. The idea is to transfer the stability of the ground into the position through bone/artificial support. There are no one size fits all techniques to maximize bone/artificial support; yet, the elements of a steady position are the same for all; and, the factors of a solid position must be applied by all consistently. In addition, since a proper position may feel unnatural to an inexperienced shooter, a coach's observation of the shooter is paramount to correct obvious shooter, gun, and ground relationship errors, as well as better assure correct muscle memory development.</div></div> Honestly, do you have any clue how different a sling supported prone position is from one where the rifle is supported by a bipod? </div></div>Proneshooter
Who said anything about slings? There are a multitude of artificial supports which can help to transfer the stability of the ground into the position. Yet, of these, the rear bag is problematic in that it may force a position that's too low, when shooting a standard rifle from the prone position. The consequence may be vertical dispersion. And, if the inexperienced shooter does not correctly analyze this, such dispersion could be attributed to errors in other arenas, thus hindering marksmanship development, as well as good hits at distance. Did you not know about this? Surely, one who describes himself as a "proneshooter" would have some knowledge about the possible effects of a position that's too low.
All
With, or without artificial support, the elements and factors of a steady position are the same; and, without some knowledge about these elements and factors, to promote a good start, the inexperienced shooter will have trouble, no matter what aids to good shooting he has brought to the firing line. And, since what's correct may be unnatural to the inexperienced shooter, he may not, without coach intervention, come to comprehend the effects of his particular relationships with the gun, and the ground, thus thwarting proper motor memory development.
The core issue here is the inexperienced shooter may begin with the notion that a powerful scope, accurate rifle, match grade ammunition, and a bipod will get him the desired results. He goes to the firing line not knowing how to properly use this equipment, and, more importantly, he goes to the firing line not knowing anything about marksmanship. However, equating equipment to what's important to good shooting, rather than marksmanship, he stumbles terribly, and shows up here with questions about how to use the equipment. Thing is, these questions are from a mindset that's focused on aids to good shooting rather than on marksmanship. After all, this inexperienced shooter still thinks he knows how to shoot. He does not realize that executing the two firing tasks, or getting good hits on targets which can be hit intuitively is not the equivalent of actually knowing how to it.
Unfortunately, some here, with no more knowledge of marksmanship than the man in the moon, will advise the inexperienced shooters coming here about how they can better apply their gadgets. An example of this is the poster who advised, "a good solid rear bag is definitely a must". Shooters who get good hits from the prone position using bone alone prove it is definitely not a must. Of course, maybe, for someone who does not know how to build a proper prone unsupported position, the rear bag, sandbags, bipod, rucks and other stuff could be perceived as musts. Don't get me wrong, it would be stupid not to use any artificial support you can muster; but realize, while these may aid good shooting, they are not substitutes for basic prone marksmanship skill. This is what ArticLight and kraigWY were alluding to, more diplomatically than me.
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