How to hold a Rifle
Marksmanship is about maintaining proper form and developing the habits that will ensure steadiness and accuracy. Read on to discover tricks the pros use to hit the target every time.
Develop your steady position
In the Army, soldiers who pass basic marksmanship are expected to hold their rifle steady enough to keep the front sighting post straight even if a hammer falls on the barrel. By mastering these fundamentals of basic steadying technique, you should be able to hold your sights that steady in any position.
Steady the handgrip with your non-firing hand.
The rifle's hand guard should rest in the ``V`` created by your thumb and forefingers. The grip should be light, like a bad handshake, and the wrist should be straight with the fingers curled naturally around the handguard.
Put the rifle butt firmly in the pocket of your firing shoulder.
Make sure the butt is steadied against your shoulder, not the fleshy part of your armpit beneath it, or on your collarbone. Keeping it firmly in this pocket allows the recoil to be absorbed by your whole body, rather than snapping back into your shoulder, making for a painful and inaccurate shot.
Grip the pistol grip with your firing hand
Depending on the kind of rifle you're firing, you'll be gripping either a full pistol grip or a tapered shotgun-style grip. Regardless, your grip on it should be more firm than your non-firing hand, more like a business handshake. There should be some backward pull on the grip, pulling the rifle back firmly into your shoulder. This ensures that, when you're ready to fire, squeezing the trigger won't move the rifle and jostle your accuracy.
Keep your elbows down and in.
Your elbows will be placed somewhat differently depending on whether you're seated, standing, or prone, but all positions require that your elbows stay under the rifle to support its weight. Imagine a string connected your elbows toward your hips, pulling them in toward your center of gravity.
Relax your neck and let your cheek fall naturally to the stock.
This is sometimes called ``cheek to stock weld,`` and can be obtained by bringing your nose to the charging handle on some rifles. Consistent cheek-to-stock weld will ensure that your eye aligns naturally to the sight and that you don't have to use your peripheral vision to strain and aim.
Relax your body.
With proper technique, you should be able to relax your body and assume a calm breathing rhythm. Your grip should be firm on the rifle without being tense. If you're using your muscles to hold the rifle, eventually they'll tire and your accuracy will waver. Getting into a comfortable, relaxed position is the best way to shoot accurately.