It's hard to believe, but my 4 inch thick unabridged dictionary can't provide a definition for the term "Turkeyneck". I ran across it while reading about sight picture and sight alignment. "Don't forget to turkeyneck", it said. So, what is turkeynecking?
Wyatt
Quote from: Wyatt on March 15, 2013, 04:26:42 PM
It's hard to believe, but my 4 inch thick unabridged dictionary can't provide a definition for the term "Turkeyneck". I ran across it while reading about sight picture and sight alignment. "Don't forget to turkeyneck", it said. So, what is turkeynecking?
Wyatt
Extending your neck forward and dropping it so that your face is positioned beside the butt of the rifle and your trigger-side eye is properly aligned with the rear and front sights of your rifle.
ShadowMan
"Turkeynecking" is the process of lifting your head up off the stock, pushing your head forward (e.g., toward the muzzle) and dropping it down on the stock. I have no idea why it is called this as I've never seen a turkey, wild or domesticated, shoot at an Appleseed.
The whole concept is meant to get consistent placement of your check with respect to the stock and thus the sights. Consistency is a key to accurate shooting.
In addition, when your cheek contacts the stock, you should have a little "fat slab" or I often call it a "chipmunk cheek" of flesh that is formed. If you do, that means you have a good, solid cheek weld to the stock. If not, you are likely lifting your head off the stock...not good (hard to be consistent this way). If you have to lift your cheek off the stock to see the sights, you need to build up the comb of your stock to get proper cheek weld.
Edit: Dang...ShadowMan beat me to it.
Wyatt, we can give you a fish, or else we can teach you to fish. Which is more helpful?
Instead of asking us to "tell" you, come on out to an Appleseed and let us "show" you!
Quote from: Wyatt on March 15, 2013, 04:26:42 PM
It's hard to believe, but my 4 inch thick unabridged dictionary can't provide a definition for the term "Turkeyneck". I ran across it while reading about sight picture and sight alignment. "Don't forget to turkeyneck", it said. So, what is turkeynecking?
Wyatt
If you have ever seen a Turkey gobble you know that he stretches his neck way forward, drops his head a bit and makes a really weird sound.
The name turkey neck denotes a similar movement by the shooter to establish consistent cheek placement/weld.
Please remember when on the line, the gobbling part is not necessary :)
Here is a 2 for 1. I funny video of a turkey turkey-necking AND scaring some kids at the same time. Enjoy.
http://youtu.be/SFMXcbyHbF0 (http://youtu.be/SFMXcbyHbF0)
Quote from: SteelThunder on March 15, 2013, 04:41:27 PM
I have no idea why it is called this as I've never seen a turkey, wild or domesticated, shoot at an Appleseed.
Can say I've seen any at AS, but they sure come out to our local range!!! !@#)
Another part of "turkeynecking" is to remove all "slack" out of your neck. Not a big deal with a 22, but move up to an M1 30-06 and your rifle will kick you in the teeth unless your neck is stretched as far as it will go. ;)
The goal is consistent head placement with the eye centered behind the rear sight.
With an AR this can be easily achieved with a nose to charging handle head position then sliding the head down to center the eye behind the rear sight.
One thing that you want to make sure of is to keep your head as upright as possible. When you tilt your head you affect your balance and that causes various muscles in your legs and torso to tense and relax. A more upright position is advised to eliminate this.
Here is a video of Karen Weiss 2012 NRA Smallbore champion showing what I mean...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-ufEM5wXQg&list=UU1xRShQSnBGtHy9bHOC00Fw&index=5
Here is a video of California Distinguished shooter Johnathon Ocab. Notice the position of his head, upright, nose to charging handle, neck relaxed, eye centered. Notice the height of the stock in his shoulder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dgrU5ydWyY
Don't think you can shoot at .30-06 with an upright head position like that... Watch MSgt. Julia Watson at the 2011 National Matches shooting a 1903A3 for the first time. The offhand portion begins around 3:00 minutes in. She shot a 95-1x at 200 yards in offhand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBPtChn4ME
It is entirely possible to shoot 50's on the standing portion of the AQT. It is relatively easy to shoot 45 and up. But to do so you have to pay attention to the fundementals as taught by Appleseed and also apply the best practices of the best shooters.
Quote from: douglas34474 on March 15, 2013, 06:12:31 PM
Another part of "turkeynecking" is to remove all "slack" out of your neck. Not a big deal with a 22, but move up to an M1 30-06 and your rifle will kick you in the teeth unless your neck is stretched as far as it will go. ;)
I spent Saturday 4/20 getting kicked in the upper right incisor about 150 times. I was all right standing and seated, but unfortunately with all the sighters and Redcoats prone was about 3/4 of the day.
I am pretty well convinced I had a lot of slack in my shoulders (stock firm against, but shoulders forward to meet) and neck. I've got a long neck and I think a stock extension is in my future.
Quote from: jimmythegeek on May 01, 2013, 04:27:27 PM
Quote from: douglas34474 on March 15, 2013, 06:12:31 PM
Another part of "turkeynecking" is to remove all "slack" out of your neck. Not a big deal with a 22, but move up to an M1 30-06 and your rifle will kick you in the teeth unless your neck is stretched as far as it will go. ;)
I spent Saturday 4/20 getting kicked in the upper right incisor about 150 times. I was all right standing and seated, but unfortunately with all the sighters and Redcoats prone was about 3/4 of the day.
I am pretty well convinced I had a lot of slack in my shoulders (stock firm against, but shoulders forward to meet) and neck. I've got a long neck and I think a stock extension is in my future.
I also have a long neck and need a longer buttstock than most rifles offer, the solution is a stock extension.
When you are slung up be sure that you are relaxing into the sling. Let me say that again:
Relax into the sling. The sling and stock and bones should be holding your shoulders in place, not muscles. When you fully relax into the sling you will likely find that your sling is too long and needs additional adjustment. When my sling is at the proper length setting I find that I have some difficulty putting the stock onto my shoulder (a good sign).
Quote from: jimmythegeek on May 01, 2013, 04:27:27 PMI spent Saturday 4/20 getting kicked in the upper right incisor about 150 times.
OW! As a long-necked person as well, I typically put my trigger hand thumb on the side of the stock opposite my head when firing as opposed to wrapping my thumb up over the stock. If I don't, I get socked in the cheekbone or lip by the knuckle on my thumb.
Quote from: eaglescouter on May 01, 2013, 04:36:34 PM
I also have a long neck and need a longer butt stock than most rifles offer, the solution is a stock extension.
+1. I'm in the same situation. When I first got my M1A, I had to 'square off' to the target to make the stock even come close to working. Result was I was getting biffed in the nose by my thumb, which was on the stock center line, with every shot. And my shoulder was getting beat on, since the stock still wasn't fully secured in the shoulder pocket.
I added on a stock extender and all is well.
(I've also found, BTW, that a lot of complaints about scope / eye relief have their root cause in a too-short stock.)
Quote from: Nero on May 01, 2013, 05:10:02 PM
Quote from: eaglescouter on May 01, 2013, 04:36:34 PM
I also have a long neck and need a longer butt stock than most rifles offer, the solution is a stock extension.
+1. I'm in the same situation. When I first got my M1A, I had to 'square off' to the target to make the stock even come close to working. Result was I was getting biffed in the nose by my thumb, which was on the stock center line, with every shot. And my shoulder was getting beat on, since the stock still wasn't fully secured in the shoulder pocket.
I added on a stock extender and all is well.
(I've also found, BTW, that a lot of complaints about scope / eye relief have their root cause in a too-short stock.)
O0 O0 More often than not on the scopes, they are mounted too far aft. One thing is certain, a person can shoot a rifle too short for them better than they can one too long....O.L.