Rifle Fitment ~Pool Noodles~

[USNAVYCHIEF(Ret)]

When I was an active instructor I was against building up stocks with the "pool noodles".  I used to cringe whenever I would see an instructor pull one of those things out, and tape it to someone's rifle.  It looked.....deplorable! LOL

I argued that it was not needed, and it is not needed in certain cases.  That being if the rifle is an AR15 in A1 or A2 config, or an M1 Garand, in other words....if the rifle is an "as-issued" service rifle....it is definitely not needed at all, and if used it is a hinderance/regression/not the right thing at all to do.

But....as I learned "more and more" about fundamental marksmanship (I use that term "fundamental" a lot don't I?), I can now see VALUE in the pool noodle for some rifles.  So for all those instructors I used to bag on for the noodles....consider this an apology! LOL

Take the 10/22, it is ideal for the pool noodle if a scope is being used.  On tech sights, for some it may provide value....depending on the stock being used, but scope height definitely may dictate a need for an elevated cheek riser.

On to the subject/"Rifle Fitment", this is for anyone using a rifle that is not "as issued", because "as issued" military rifles are built to fit just about anyone, and this goes for their sniper rifles as well, such as the M40A5, it has an adjustable cheek riser for a reason.

Take the 10/22....it is built stock (carbine) for a prepubescent teen.  Stock is way too short for the average person, and if a scope is added it invites other issues. 

Take an AR15 that has been "tacticized" (LOL...yeah, I made that word up).  An AR15 that has been built at home with a scope added to the rifle, most of those will not be ideal "rifle fitment" wise for the average shooter about to indulge into 3 position shooting (of which Appleseed absolutely is).

Why?

Several reasons, but I am going to focus on only 2, and this assumes the shooter is using a scope.  Stock length and cheek riser height.

With the 10/22 there are several options to extend the stock length of pull.  Many aftermarket stocks are out there....what I have found to work well are the Blackhawk Axiom stock, or the Magpul X22 stock.  Both of those stocks allow for a wide range of length adjustments, and also allow clip on cheek risers for getting that head/eyeball to the right height.

With the AR, there are also several options.  Most have adjustable stocks already, and most accept clip on cheek risers.

If you are using an M1 Garand....no issues there, it is setup perfect.

How do we check for rifle fitment with a scope?

First we need to make sure that the scope is FWD enough to allow the exact same cheek weld we would use if we were using the iron sights.  BUT, often times people have spent their $ already on a mount, or a particular scope.  So this is where the clip on risers come in.....or the pool noodles.  But....ideally to "do it right", it is typically needed to procure a cantilever scope mount.

What I will do, is get into prone, and get slung up, I want that rifle to remain in my shoulder with sling tension when I remove my firing hand from the grip. 

Once I have the sling set and stock length set (the above takes experimentation), then it is time to position the scope, or add cheek risers.

I close my eyes, establish my prone position with the eyes closed, inhale/exhale and then RELAX.....open my eyes, if my scope picture is not CRYSTAL CLEAR, CRISP and IMMEDIATE I need to ask myself what I need to do to get it that way without moving my head....repeat:  without moving my head.  You will naturally want to move your head to correct for a poor scope sight picture.

*See Post on the Magical Golden Scope Device* cause that will help to FORCE a repeatable cheek weld with a less than ideal scope setup, it will also reinforce a solid cheek weld with a scope that is setup properly, in other words...it is WIN WIN (although some may Wince Wince, LOL)

If it needs to go up (typically this is the case), then add a cheek riser, or some foam, and then repeat the check again, with the eyes closed.  Repeat this until when in prone...and you open your eyes, the scope sight picture is CRYSTAL CLEAR, CRISP and IMMEDIATE.

This "Assumes" that you have properly set reticle/ocular focus on the scope.  You may not have "Crisp" if the reticle is not properly focused.

Yes.....pretty much "any rifle/run what u brung" will work for the 25M AQT and most KD situations, but "most" rifle configurations are not ideal for 3 position shooting.  If you desire to see a score increase, having your equipment tailored somewhat to fit you is imperative.

I'm pretty adamant on the "if you don't see a CRYSTAL CLEAR/CRISP and IMMEDIATE sight pic with a scope" thing.  If you find yourself "prarie dogging" on the stock, lifting or canting your head....or creeping your cheek rearward or forward then their is an issue.

A fundamental not harped on a lot, is RELAX....when we do relax, we are at true NPA.....it is pretty much impossible to achieve proper NPA and the rest of the fundamentals if we are moving the head around on the stock.  During recoil this will also reveal itself, and that should be the other clue that something is not right, cause you will have great difficulty "Calling your shots" if your head is not properly planted on the stock.

**See Post on Shot Calling/Follow Thru**

FWIW, this stuff is what works.  I have tried a plethora of different things.  For the 10/22, I found the ideal ocular placement to be 1 to 1.5 inches FWD of the rear of the receiver.  If yours is not there....consider finding a way to get it there.  It will help your scores rise.

R/
Chris

[USNAVYCHIEF(Ret)]

Here is pic of my daughter and I with our 10/22s that fit.  An 11 yr old and a 49 yr old.
1 to 1.5 inches FWD of the heel of the 10/22 receiver.  Most definitely anything rear of the reciever heel is not ideal.  But....lengthening the stock may help with that.   Again, it is not ideal.