Hey guys
Does anyone know of a good resource that desribes proper/preferred hand placement when shooting from a barricade, in relation to both weapon and barricade?
Ideally with photos.
I know how to do it, but our rifle marksmanship manual is severely lacking in this area, so I am going to create a handout for people to reference after being taught the techniques.
I could take photos myself, but I don’t have a rifle handy at the moment.
No one…?
Assuming you are right handed, take your left hand and put it out in front of you. Turn it slightly and make a “C” with your index finger and thumb while keeping your other three fingers upward. The “C” will grasp the forearm of your rifle, while the other three fingers will brace against or grasp if possible the barricade. Play with it until you get it right. Does that answer your question?
Opps, missed that last sentence…
Never mind
I would be interested in seeing your photos when you find something useful.
Easy answer, whatever works for you. Do some dry runs on a barricade and see what stabilizes your sight picture and what doesn’t.
I might not be articulating my question very well.
I know how to shoot from both horizontal and vertical barricades, as well as ports.
When I teach my guys, I demonstrate the techniques I use and teach them how to do it.
There is, however, no mention of these techniques in our marksmanship manual, so my thought was to make a handout for them to reference later. Hence my request for pictures showing techniques.
I have tried searching, and there are some pictures, but none that IMO would serve well for instructional purposes.
Take some yourself.
As I said in the OP, I do not have a rifle handy at the moment.
I could take photos myself, but I don’t have a rifle handy at the moment.
My mistake, sorry for the confusion.
I’m not sure if you guys do it differently than we do, but I can try get some pictures if you can describe what you’re looking for?
Arctic1,
When you attended the course did the chief instructor give a reason why the hand comes in contact with the barricade rather than shooting from farther behind the barricade and not making contact with it?
For quite some time we have been teaching personnel in an outside environment to stay a few meters behind the barricade and not use it for support unless the target is at a distance of 100 meters or longer. The exception to the rule is when shooting from underneath a vehicle, which requires you to get closer so you can see more of the target area. The support hand makes contact with the ground, not the vehicle. We also remind personnel that a vehicle is a bullet magnet.
Inside of buildings we have been teaching people to stay off the walls and corners, but I can understand why some might teach using a barricade for support if you stop momentarily to make a precise shot.
If you are able to locate some good illustrations, please post them for reference.
I seem to remember FM23-10 showing how to brace on a barricade; you could probably get a copy of that.
i wouldn’t say there is “a way”. i watch a lot of good shooters get hits using different methods.
how i brace on a barricade, depends very much on the barricade, the height, and especially on how much time i have and how small the target is. If i have to do 5 positions in 60 seconds on a 45% ipsc at 500, my position will be different than if i have a minute to shoot a 1 MOA plate
generally, two options. you lock your arm against the barricade and use your hand to push the rifle against one side of the port. essentially, the barricade supports the front of the rifle and you support the back (typically by locking legs). The alternate is you rest the rifle on the barricade at its center of gravity and you attempt to brace yourself against the barricade as well.
for me, when I’m standing, I usually lock my legs and arm and lean into the barricade. kneeling, i try to rest the front of the gun on the barricade and the rear of the gun on my knee, and lock my arm against the barricade. sometimes kneeling, i’ll run the gun all the way forward til the magwell pushes against it, and brace myself there too. in this position, i’m typically holding the scope against the side of the port.
go to precisionrifleseries.com
watch the “Pro tips” #2 and #3 videos. they’re on the main page in the list down the left side