The Firing Side Shoulder

I notice things occasionally that were probably always there but I never noticed before.  I think that’s how one gets better.  One of the things I have noticed recently pertains to my firing side shoulder.

When you’re driving a bullet to a location hundreds of yards away at a small target, small things can contribute to or detract from your ability to put the bullet on the target.  Your body is part of the shooting system, and differences in the shooting system can and will cause differences in the point of aim.  If you’re paying attention, you probably realize that’s bad. 

Sometimes the recoil from even a moderately recoiling rifle can get in your head.  Sometimes, especially with moderately recoiling rifles, you might not even realize it.  You might notice this after a long day at the range after a hundred rounds or so, but sometimes the firing side shoulder, as it starts getting sore, will begin to tense up prior to the shot breaking.  I’m not talking about a flinch, or any type of sudden movement, just tension.

As rifle shooters, we know that relaxation is the most repeatable state we can shoot from.  This is what we mean when we say “bone support”, it’s leaving the muscles out as much as possible.  This is pretty much the same with any physical discipline.  Relaxation is actually a stronger and more functional state.

I have started noticing that when I pull the rifle’s butt into my shoulder that the shoulder has been tense.  It didn’t feel tense, but I found that I could relax and there would be the feeling of the butt sinking into the pocket a little farther.  Why would this make a difference?

The explosion that occurs your rifle’s chamber, and the subsequent supersonic projectile travelling out your rifle’s barrel, subject the shooting system (you, your rifle, the bullet, etc...) to significant forces.  The rifle recoils, your body is there to resist the recoil, the rifle reacts to the resistance your body offers, and very well could be guided up, down, left, or right, depending on what kind of resistance it meets.  If your rifle reacts inconsistently due to your body existing in varying states of tension, you'll likely have varying locations of impact (over and above any shifts caused by other facets of the shooting system). 

 I believe that the best way to make that process the most consistent it can be is to be as relaxed as possible. Next time you prepare to fire the rifle, take note of your whole body just before you break the shot.  Your exhale should cue your body into relaxation.  Make sure you feel that stock sink right into your shoulder pocket.  That's all for now.