BUILD A POSITION

  1. Stabilize the rifle, pointing at the target, so that it points at the target. Use support wherever possible and necessary to keep the rifle stable and pointing at the target as all shooter contact is removed.

  2. Remove shooter contact. Rifle should remain stable and on target.

  3. Resume very light contact with the rifle at the cheek, trigger hand and shoulder.

  4. In pre-loaded positions, apply slight forward pressure from shoulder to rifle butt, sufficient to press bi-pod to it's forward limit of free motion.

  5. In free-recoil positions, the shoulder is not in contact with the rifle (by as little as possible, perhaps ½ inch or less). The firing hand is applying as little contact as is necessary to trigger the rifle without creating torque or resistance. The idea is to allow the rifle to recoil without shooter contact for a time sufficient for the bullet to exit the barrel. The advantage to free-recoil technique is that done correctly, the rifle will be very steady, and aimed exactly where desired with zero shooter input, so it remains very stable until fired, at which time there is nothing to stop the recoil motion for long enough to permit the bullet to exit the barrel.

  6. Check trigger hand contact does not apply torque to rifle as trigger is pulled. Light contact is all that is necessary. Thumb position should be such that as trigger finger tension is applied, the thumb does not influence the rifle at all. Remaining firing hand fingers should only be tight enough to maintain contact.

  7. Non-firing hand should support the butt-support (bag, monopod, etc.). This hand steers the rifle in both planes, and provides control of the butt support mechanism. If not used in this fashion, the non-firing hand should be placed such that it does not contact the rifle at all.

  8. The shooter should either be very stable behind the rifle, as in prone, and aligned to the rifle so as to provide straight line recoil, or not in contact with the rifle at all. In some very awkward positions the shooter may become so unstable as to not be able to shoot accurately. This is the domain of the free-recoil technique or the 'ambush trigger pull' technique. In all other cases the shooter should build position to support as much of the body as possible, both for stability and for comfort during long observations.

  9. The ideal position is one in which the rifle does not move during aiming, while allowing the rifleman to utilize the sights and trigger without disturbing sight alignment.

  10. Regardless of the position from which the rifleman is firing, it should be either the most stable position, or exhibit the most predictable movement possible.

  11. Positions should be designed to fulfill mission objectives. In the real world sometimes the mission is to execute a shot rapidly, other times, it is to observe, report and perhaps execute a shot some, possibly extended, time later. Positions for rapid execution may involve squatting behind supports, leaning around corners, or using supports that are unstable in one or more planes. Positions for more lengthy engagements should always account as much as possible, for the rifleman's ability to sustain the position for extended periods.

  12. Stability is achieved by placing support under and around the rifle as necessary, and then not disturbing that support any more than necessary to execute the shot.