Natural point of aim

[Alan Waters]

 

[ARTrooper]

Good video. Consistent fundamentals makes good shooters.

[98Z5V]

There's a big piece of Natural Point Of Aim that missing from that entire video.  The military definition of it is : Natural Point of Aim = Where the sights fall after recoil.

They went over and over adjusting the body before the shot, loading a bipod, closing your eyes in the final shooting position, and opening - to see where the sights fall.  If they're not right on target, you adjust body position. Great vid on everything leading up to the shot, and that's 75% of the whole NPOA process. 

The biggest part of NPOA was left out, and that's trigger control, and trigger follow through.  NPOA = Where the sights fall after recoil.  So, trigger follow through - you hold the trigger to the rear after you break the shot, you have the same tension on the grip as when you broke the shot, your body settles - where are the sights now?  THAT is your NPOA for that shot.  If you're off target, you adjust.

That's the primary reason trigger follow through is so important  - if you just jerk the shot and let up - and don't follow through - you will never be able to check your NPOA.

 

[Magwa]

very good info...thanks i try and work on this a lot it is my weak spot relaxing and avoiding tension......great video...

[willbird]

On 12/1/2018 at 11:49 AM, 98Z5V said:

There's a big piece of Natural Point Of Aim that missing from that entire video.  The military definition of it is : Natural Point of Aim = Where the sights fall after recoil.

They went over and over adjusting the body before the shot, loading a bipod, closing your eyes in the final shooting position, and opening - to see where the sights fall.  If they're not right on target, you adjust body position. Great vid on everything leading up to the shot, and that's 75% of the whole NPOA process. 

The biggest part of NPOA was left out, and that's trigger control, and trigger follow through.  NPOA = Where the sights fall after recoil.  So, trigger follow through - you hold the trigger to the rear after you break the shot, you have the same tension on the grip as when you broke the shot, your body settles - where are the sights now?  THAT is your NPOA for that shot.  If you're off target, you adjust.

That's the primary reason trigger follow through is so important  - if you just jerk the shot and let up - and don't follow through - you will never be able to check your NPOA.

 

These fundamentals are why the Junior smallbore rifle programs are such a good thing. In my case they started us with CO2 air guns as part of the NRA Basic Rifle program. Then we graduated "downstairs" to the 50' indoor range. We started with prone and worked our way to sitting, kneeling, and finally offhand, it was typically a 3 year process for most of us. We shot for 2-3 hours a week every week when school was in session more or less. Some of us graduated to high power service rifle.

 

My dad kind of kept me on rifles and off  handguns and shotguns as a kid too. But when you step up in recoil.....return to focus on the fundamentals, especially follow through will get you back on track.

Many years later I became an NRA certified Instructor myself, TEACHING is a good thing for us too, it refreshes those fundamentals and provides a different perspective. Focus on the front sight with iron sights is one BIG thing that new shooters often struggle with, and using a target with no detail, often just a plain paper plate or an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper will remove distractions. New shooters learn a lot of things very quickly and just DO them, teaching forces you to break down what has become a a semi-automatic process so you can show it to others. So buy some 22 ammo and find a kid that needs a shooting uncle if you do not have any kids :-).

 

Bill

[Sisco]

Thanks for the video I am revisiting this to see how I can improve.