Rifle Marksmanship Supported Shooting Positions

Rifle Marksmanship Part 6: Supported Shooting Positions

Fundamentals of Supported Shooting Positions

A precision shooter should always attempt to shoot from a supported position. Using any support available that is steady and reliable is the key. Packs or Ruks are recommended, however tripods, bipods, filled bags, etc, will all provide the shooter with a stable platform. According to William “Bart” Bartholomew, shooting instructor at the Bergara Academy, these are the fundamentals when shooting from a supported shooting position:

1. Never allow the barrel to touch any part of the support. This will disturb the natural whip of the barrel and degrade accuracy.
2. Cushion the rifle on the support. This will keep the weapon from sliding around and make the position more sound. The location of the support is important. The best location is just behind the front sling swivel. Avoid getting the balance of the weapon to become an issue.
3. Use the prone position whenever possible as this is the most stable one.
4. Ensure that the weapon is straight on the support without touching the sides of the rifle. Recoil must be straight back into the shooter and the support should allow this to happen freely.

Supported Prone

Bart teaches that the “supported prone” is the steadiest of all positions and should be used whenever possible. Major points in the supported prone are to keep the position as low as possible, keep the body in line with the rifle, feet placement should allow for muscular relaxation, and the non-firing hand is placed under the rear sling swivel and utilizing a small squeeze bag for stability at the rear portion of the weapon. It’s important to note that your heels must be flat and as close to the ground as possible.

Supported Prone Position

Supported Kneeling Position

Bart explains in each of his long range classes that there are many situations when you will not be able to get into the preferred supported prone. When kneeling, the non-shooting side shin is straight up and down with the leg forming a support. The non-shooting elbow is extended just over the knee as well. The non-shooting hand grasps the front sling swivel or fore end of stock. This position can be adjusted to conform to available cover by moving to a high, medium, or low kneeling position by either using the toe to heel, bootlace, or sitting down on your shooting side foot.

Supported Kneeling Position

Making sure you keep your toe to heel, bootlace, or your foot flat depending on the height of your preferred sitting position with your shooting side foot.

Supported Sitting Position

Sitting is one of the more stable shooting positions especially if the available support is too low for the kneeling position. Effective sitting positions that can be employed in the field are: The crossed leg/crossed ankle and open. The size and flexibility of the individual shooter will play part in the ability to use a particular type of sitting position.

Crossed Leg/Ankle Position

Opened Leg Position

Supported Standing Position

This is the least stable of the supported positions. Rest the rifle stock over or beside the support. Grasp the weapon as in the kneeling or sitting position. Place the non-shooting hand on the support in a V to form a notch that holds the weapon. Then, invert the shooting arm into the body as close as possible to support the rifle. Feet should be shoulder width apart and square to the target and approximately 3 feet to the rear of your support. Shooter will have somewhat of a lean into the barricade when he is in his final position. Utilization of the sling in this position will also assist the shooter with additional support.

In the supported standing position your feet must be shoulder width apart and square to the barricade.

Using Your Partner as a Support

Shooting off your partner is not a preferred method. However, it does provide you with another alternative in some situations. In all instances both team members must maintain awareness and communicate. The team must breathe as one and the positions stability will depend on how well both members work in unison. This is a position team members should practice on a regular basis.

William “Bart” Bartholomew currently instructs a 2-Day 1,000 yard Precision Rifle Course with the Guntry Gun Club of MD as well a 3-Day Long Range Precision School hosted by the Bergara Academy in MT.  Bart is a retired Baltimore County SWAT Sniper Team Leader and has 46 years of long rifle experience—20 years as a Counter Sniper and is the recipient of the prestigious Carlos Hathcock Jr. Award.