Calling the Shot/Front Sight Focus

[navybowhunter]

OK,

Last of the 6 steps is "Call the shot", what does that really mean?

Let me digress for a bit.  Our Redcoat is an AWESOME target, for a variety of reasons.  One great thing....is for SLAMMING it home to even our awesome Instructor Corps...about Front Sight Focus.

Even when they CLEAN the target!

WOO HOO, cleaned the Redcoat!  It is not an easy task.

But..., on that cleaned target.  What did the 100 yard group, look like in comparison to the very tight 400 yard group?

I'd bet...that for most of us, that 100 yard group, was at least 2-3 inches large....compared to that tiny 400 yard group.

WHY is that?

SIMPLE!  Not focusing on the front sight....or the scope reticle.  That is it...no excuses!  If one can put up a TIGHT 400 yard group on the Redcoat, and a HUGE but "scoreable" group on the 100 yard target....something is wrong.  It is only...FRONT SIGHT FOCUS.

We tend to look at the big target.

OK...Nuff on that.  Figured I'd share a quick way to critique ourselves on that.

Calling the shot.  How disciplined are you, at shot calling?

Take a KD for example.  Are your shots on call?

I recently saw a really cool KD data page.  Had two targets on it, one on the right, one on the left.

Awesome for plotting, and comparing shot calls to actual score.

Simply, take one shot...plot the call.  Take another, plot it...etc etc (slow prone here).

Then plot the "Actual" when scoring.

You will become better and better if you are in fact calling the shots.

If you are unable to call the shot...you were not focused on the front sight.

That simple.

How do we perfect "shot calling"?

Dry firing.  It works awesome.

Hope this helps and makes sense.

R/
Chris

[navybowhunter]

Appleseed #2's good friend (Steve) also a Rifleman, mentioned something to me at my first CMP match.

I've thought about this often.  CMP stuff and NRA stuff is kind of different.  NRA is XTC (across the course) shooting at full known distance.  200/300/600 yards.

CMP Games (Garand Matches and such) are only shot at the 200 yard line.

I have a "data book" for every rifle.  #2's (BeSwift) buddy Steve made a joking comment about me having a data book.  Something like "Pffft, no need for that".

It took me some time to realize why he would say that.  True..., not necessary for 200 yard only matches.

But XTC is pretty much a must, to record the different conditions, and dope on the rifle.

BUT....it works still for only 200 yard stuff as well.

WHY?
SHOT CALLING

Now, I bet #2 and Steve, are calling their shots.  Likely doing it mentally, and there is nothing wrong with that at all.

But a GREAT habit to get into, is actually writing it down.  Especially in the beginning.  It is developing a HABIT, and a good one at that.

SO....regardless if it is a data book or not.  Plotting the "Call" is a great habit to develop.

R/
Chris

[Specialkay]

A) First photo: Is that what you're looking for in a 100 yd Redcoat? (3 shots, one hole)

B) Here's the data book info you were talking about.

[navybowhunter]

Thats good stuff!

[Kennebago]

That is it...no excuses!  If one can put up a TIGHT 400 yard group on the Redcoat, and a HUGE but "scoreable" group on the 100 yard target....something is wrong.  It is only...FRONT SIGHT FOCUS.

I don't really agree with this part, respectfully. The 100 yard target is huge, and hits anywhere count.

It is absolutely reasonable to say "I am in the black, so I am intentionally breaking this shot even though my sight picture is not perfect for ~*reasons*~ because it is still a hit." If you call your shot right and it scores, where is the problem? The aesthetics don't matter.

Speed and accuracy are a balancing act and, as the instruction tells us, we should be investing enough time and effort to get hits. You don't get bonus points for "better" hits on the Redcoat, same way the V-ring doesn't matter on the AQT.

I get the thrust and I do mostly agree, but i think it is not the whole story.

[navybowhunter]

The topic is not to say that "cleaning the target" is not "good enough".  Nor is it to say that qualifying KD on a "hits count" KD is not "good enough".

There is no time limit on the Redcoat, and typically it is shot in slow prone.

It is a great target to illustrate this point.  If the groups are not tiny on the 100 yard "Redcoat" target more than likely the focus of the aiming eye has shifted to the target, that is all.  There is really nothing more to it.

As far as I am concerned, for this topic there really is not "more to the story".

R/
Chris

[navybowhunter]

I got a little tip from an old coach of the USMC team awhile back.  This tip was also recently corroborated by one of the team members in the late 80's/early 90's.  A recipient of the prestigious "Farr" trophy.  Want to read a pretty cool story about rifle marksmanship, check this out at your leisure:
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2016/4/21/birth-of-a-legend-the-farr-rifle/

Anyways....I was glad to hear in a recent discussion with my friend above (The Farr Trophy recipient), that this truly does work! 

The M1 (Garand or 14) is an excellent rifle for training one to shoot 3 positions properly.  Especially when it comes to "Front Sight Focus".  It is likely the only rifle available that you can do this simple test with.

I was struggling with front sight focus.  Struggling BAD a few years ago.  I called my friend "Paul" up, and asked him about it.  He asked me two questions:

1.  When firing the M1, do you see the brass eject?
OR
2.  When firing the M1 do you see the muzzle blast?
*Or Both*

I did not know off the top of my head, so I went to the range.  WOW!  If one is intently focused on the M1's front sight, they will see either the muzzle blast, or the brass ejecting in slow motion, like something out of the movie "The Matrix".

If you, are struggling with front sight focus, and do own an M1, this is a great rifle to work on the discipline of front sight focus.

One may be able to see muzzle flash as well from other rifles, but the brass test is unique to the M1.

R/
Chris

[Kennebago]

As far as I am concerned, for this topic there really is not "more to the story".

Thanks.

[navybowhunter]

An excellent video showing "Shot Calls"!

Phenomenal calls and shot process:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGYl13kwBIk

[Hardbean]

This has been a good thread for me.  I've recently become aware of my focusing struggles and I've been hunting for resources on how to hone this skill.  I think I may try the mark on the front sight trick.  Are marks on the sights like this allowable in the HP competitions? 

[navybowhunter]

Marks are allowed on the front sight for competitions.

I think Jim Owens recommends a little slash on the front sight post.  Google "Jarheadtop.com" and you will see what I'm talking about.

Another thing competitors do to assist with focusing on the front sight, is to SMOKE it!

That's right, roll it up...NAH...

Competitors like to smoke the front sight, so it is uniform in color, does not reflect light, very crisp sight to focus on.  Acetylne gas is the best smoke for the front sight.  **DO NOT try this with the scopes** LOL 
CAUTION on Tech Sights..., not sure if they are plastic, can't remember.

But, on an M1 Garand or AR15, the miners lamps, or a Ray Vin Smoker, use carbide rocks.  Carbide when it comes in contact with water, gives off Acetylne gas.  That is the best way to smoke the sights in my opinion.

There are spray cans (aerosol) sight black out there as well.

When sight is smoked, using a paper clip, you can "score" a mark on it to assist with focus.

Hope the above helps.

R/
Chris

[maxwell]

CAUTION on Tech Sights..., not sure if they are plastic, can't remember.

But, on an M1 Garand or AR15, the miners lamps, or a Ray Vin Smoker, use carbide rocks.  Carbide when it comes in contact with water, gives off Acetylne gas.  That is the best way to smoke the sights in my opinion.

Tech Sights are metal and perfectly okay to smoke. I was laughed at for doing just that in the parking lot at an Appleseed, though . To try it out, burning plastic cutlery makes good smoke, and is cheaper than the Ray-Vin (says the guy who just got a can of carbide and a Ray-Vin smoker in the mail last Monday).

Edited to add: I think the best thing Tech Sights could do is use a wider, non-tapered sight post. That thing kills my eyes after a while, and it gets harder to focus on.

[NJrefugee]

This is a pistol-shooting video, but there is some really good front sight focus advice here. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPtTs42sVAM

[Rocket Man]

In my two-day Rimfire KD class I do a "call your shot" drill.  Usually on a star target or an old Greencoat.  Anyway, one magazine, ten rounds.  Each student gets a second, identical target to keep beside them.  After every shot, they write a circle where they think the shot went.  (Advanced students:  Also number your shots.)

Then we go check the targets.  Write X's where the shots actually went and see what you get.

Some classes everyone has scopes and cheat, so you may want to do this at 50 meters or beyond...

Most of the time, students actually do get the feel for their calls, although they tend to underestimate how far off they are.  A call of 3 o'clock, 1/2 target width from center, is usually 2 or 3 o'clock, 1 1/2 target widths off, that sort of thing.  But so long as they start believing they can do it, it's served its purpose. 

Edited to add: I think the best thing Tech Sights could do is use a wider, non-tapered sight post. That thing kills my eyes after a while, and it gets harder to focus on.

In the field I love 8 MOA or 10 MOA wide front blades.  Tech Sights are a little slender for my tastes, but I have to admit they're not bad for our 4 MOA squares.  I can't find them in twilight, though. 

[navybowhunter]

Good stuff RocketMan!

A friend explained to me, in the beginning, shot calls will likely be "outside of the call".  Meaning, it was called a (AQT target speak) 4 at 3 o'clock, but was maybe a 4 at 6 o'clock.

When it gets really cool....is when the shots are "within the call" or "inside the call".  For example, shooter calls it a 4 at 3 o'clock, but it was a V at 3 o'clock. 

Shot calling and front sight focus go hand in hand.  If one practices by truly calling the shots, in time the shots will start to be "within" the call.

R/
Chris

[Agrivere]

As I'm sure every good appleseeder knows shooting inside your call is a good sign that your npoa is on target. Even shots that feel like they broke wide will want to move to your npoa and actually end up closer to the center. Similarly shots which are outside your call are often a good sign that npoa is off, especially if they are mostly off call in one direction. The bullets will tell you where your npoa really is!

[navybowhunter]

I want to add to Aggriveres point....as this is important.

WE are instructors, coaches etc!  It is EXTREMELY difficult to "diagnose" a shooters target/errors/problems, if the shooter is not calling the shot!

I'd venture to say it is near impossible.  Not impossible...cause I see it done a lot..., loose slings, trigger control/breathing etc..., sure...we can spot that.

When it becomes the "teach a man to fish" type stuff..., is when the shooter is calling the shots!  THAT is the EXACT point in a shooters journey where they can start fishing for themselves!

It is where the "fine tuning" begins.  NPOA errors are very easily identifed when shots are OFF CALL.

Once shot calling begins, and is a HABIT...., the journey really begins.  It starts with SELF CONFIDENCE! 

Other errors as well will reveal themselves.  For example, I am pretty good at shot calling.  During a BIG match at Perry I had put my first shot in a team match up as a miss.  It was a called "9" at 6, but came up as a miss. 

To my point of SELF CONFIDENCE..., that first miss is where I should have started looking for the reason.  I blamed myself...., and it was not my skills or form.

3 more misses!  DAMN...., AND called 9's and 10's.

SCOPE Elevation turret was off by one full rotation...., was sending all my rounds wayyyy into Lake Erie!

Fixed that after shot 4, and put up 9's and a couple 10's for the rest of the string. 

Point is, were my SELF confidence UP where it needed to be...., I would have fixed that after the first miss.

GOTTA learn to call the shots.

R/
Chris

[navybowhunter]

I take videos, or have others take videos so I can critique myself.

This is one of me practicing on the SCATT system a few weeks ago.  I am shooting on a simulated 600 yard target, it is fairly realistic with the exception of wind.

CALLING the shot!  I am calling the shot in this vid, albeit fast....before looking at the shot value on the SCATT.

You will see the last shot (2nd shot) was INSIDE my call..., I called it a 10, and it was actually an X.

THIS is what shot calling is about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL9WAsBwUBE

R/
Chris