On Target
Three-time Olympian and 1992 Olympic Medalist Bob Foth is the Director of Training for the CMP. Bob recently finished the CMP’s first CD-ROM Rifle Safety and Marksmanship Training and is now preparing the CMP 3 Position Air Rifle Summer Camp Series. Bob is also traveling the country for the CMP putting on coaching and shooting clinics.  This is the first of a monthly column for The First Shot in which Bob will take on questions from readers on problems they encounter in shooting and competition. If you have a question for Bob, you can drop us an e-mail at ontarget@odcmp.com. We may use your question in his column.

Question: Last week I shot in my first competition. I found that when I was shooting from the prone and kneeling positions, my left arm would get tired. What can I do about this?  Answer: Assuming that you are right-handed, your arm could be getting tired because you’re not using your sling correctly to support the weight of the rifle (if you were left-handed, your right arm would become tired). The sling should completely support the weight of the rifle and your forearm. You should not use any arm muscles to hold up the rifle. Always put your hand firmly against the handstop so that it doesn’t slip and you don’t have to grip the rifle.  (Coach’s tip: If the rifle drops even slightly after the shot, the shooter is using muscles, not the sling, to hold up the rifle. Muscles fatigue. Use the sling to hold up all the weight of the rifle.)

As shown in the above picture, the weight of the rifle is supported by a triangle formed by the left arm and the sling. Note the left elbow slightly to one side of the rifle so that the plane formed by the arm and sling is vertical. Almost no weight is on the right elbow. It is better to cant the rifle in toward your head than to tilt your head over to the rifle.

Note how the sling is turned to wrap smoothly across the wrist and back of the hand. (Photos courtesy of Pilkington Guns and 2000 Olympic Gold medalist Nancy Johnson).

International rules require a minimum angle of 30 degrees between the ground and the forearm. A low forearm angle will produce higher sling tension. A shallow angle between the forearm and sling, which comes from the sling being attached low on the upper arm, also results in higher sling tension. I recommend trying to get a very tight position with very firm contact between the shoulder and the buttplate. I like to get around behind the rifle so that I relax directly toward the target. With my weight pushing toward the target, the sling is exerting the balancing force back away from the target.  This position has the added benefits of reduced recoil, easier loading and a more consistent position. Recoil is reduced by the tight position and by having more of your weight behind the rifle. If you are behind the rifle, shooting out of your position rather than across it, you can also shoot with a shorter stock. This makes it easier to load and less likely that you will disturb your position in the process. Question: How do I adjust the sling length to support the rifle in those positions? Answer: Start with a position based on the principles mentioned above. Attach the sling to your arm so that it can’t slide down during the course of fire. In prone, adjust the sling length so that the forearm makes an angle of 30 to 45 degrees with the ground. In competition, below 30 degrees is illegal, and I don’t know of any good shooters using an angle over 45 degrees—it’s very hard to get stable if you are up that high. I find that about 35 degrees is ideal for stability without worrying about a match official constantly checking for the minimum. In kneeling, I like to adjust the sling so that the forearm continues a straight line formed by the thigh. This is a stable position and allows the recoil to be transmitted along that straight line rather than trying to change an angle that you want to keep constant. For both positions try attaching the sling high up on the arm to reduce sling tension. Even sporter rifle rules in three-position air rifle allow a button or pin to keep the sling in place. USE IT! Always remember to twist the sling a half turn so that it rides smoothly across the inside of your wrist and the back of your hand. A glove is required for comfort.