Body Position/Shooting Platform:

As a certified “dude” I can tell you without reservation, guys like variety!  But when it comes to shooting (or saving a marriage), this may not be the best choice.  A big part of being an effective shooter is consistency and this means you need to do some things the same way every time you shoot.  Specifically what I’m talking about today is your body position or stance. Don’t get me wrong, variety is the spice of life and this includes shooting.  Try different positions, see what works and what doesn’t, but in the end you need to settle down and fall in love with one position.  

No matter what weapon system we’re talking about or what shooting position; a solid shooting position is essential to good shooting. The more solid the position, the easier it is to hold the gun and control the trigger without disturbing the sight picture.  Whether you’re shooting prone, kneeling, standing or any unconventional shooting position, you should have as much of your body directly behind the weapons as possible.  You need to be able to drive the gun, and just like driving your car you should have the seat adjusted properly.

Shooting positions should be flexible to allow modifications according to individual body structure. When engaging targets, the shooter must assume the steadiest position that will allow observation of the target area and, if available, provide cover and concealment. Depending in terrain, vegetation, and the tactical situation, there are innumerable possibilities.

One of the things I teach my students is to have as many things pointing at the target as possible.  This includes your toes, hips, shoulders and thumbs.  In a perfect world, on a flat range with no one shooting back at you, this is easy to do and should be practiced.  But ultimately control of the weapon needs come from the upper body.  Your lower body needs to be able to conform to the current tactical situation, while to upper body drives the gun.  If you’re shooting and moving, think of your lower body like the tracks of a tank and your upper body as the turret.  Your lower body is doing everything it can to give your upper body the best platform from which to shoot.

Three elements of any good shooting position

Bone Support

A good shooting position employs bone support, not muscular support. A strong foundation is as necessary to shooting as a well-built house.  Think about this: You’re using muscles to hold your weapon on target, you bring your focus back to the front site and relax…your body is going to move to its natural point of aim and you’re not going to notice this subtle shift because you’re not focusing on the target.

Muscular Relaxation

Through training and natural point of aim, the shooter will achieve muscular relaxation. The shooter must learn to relax in various shooting positions. Undue strain or tension causes trembling, which is transmitted to the gun.  When you’re shooting in a standing position, see if you can wiggle your toes.  It’s the longest nerve in your body and if you’re relaxed enough to wiggle your toes…you’re relaxed.

Natural Point of Aim

To find your natural point of aim in any shooting position, once a target is established close your eyes, take a deep breath and exhale.  Next, concentrate on making your body completely relaxed. Doing this will cause the gun to fall to your natural point of aim.  Open your eyes and adjust your position by shifting your body until the gun points to the target at the exact point where the bullet is to strike.  Do not make any adjustments using muscle, even very minor adjustments must be made with the lower body.  Obviously in combat or any timed event you can’t do this, but if you practice it enough your body will learn what a good shooting position feels like and you’ll naturally end up in a more adventitious position to deal with your threats.

Obviously there are too many shooting positions for me to discuss in a single post while also making sure you read it without falling asleep.  If you remember the basic elements of a good shooting position and put them into practice on the range and in your dry-fire training, you’ll be able to apply them no matter what position your body ends up in when it’s time to deliver effective customer service to someone who asks for it.