This is the first in a series of articles in which I will attempt to explain to the beginning shooter the application of the fundamentals which make for a good shot or series of shots in conventional bullseye.

STANCE

The main goal of a proper stance is to provide stable and consistent support for the entire body so that it can hold the gun as steady as possible as well as recover from recoil quickly with little movement. The foot positions and body twist should be duplicated naturally, with little effort. It should be comfortable and give a repeatable natural point of aim.

Finding the stance that works for you involves experimentation on your part. Everyone is biomechanically different, so one stance does not fit all. But there are some basics to adhere to as mentioned previously: comfortable, sense of equilibrium, no muscle tension in the legs or torso, arm raises naturally toward the target and 45 recoil is easily handled with no loss of balance.

To find the position that works for you, start by turning somewhere between 45°-90° from the target. Keep feet about shoulder width apart. Knees should not be stiffly locked. Back and neck should be straight, shoulders relaxed. Head upright. Your non-shooting arm must be anchored to prevent body sway in recoil...most place their hand in their pocket, but hooking your thumb on you belt loop in front works even better for balance. Their are three twisting points to align you with the target. Use all three instead of just one or two. The three twist zones are hips-torso, shoulder and neck.

The shooting arm must be extended fully with elbow and wrist locked in position (but not with too much tension). To counterbalance the weight of the gun in your extended hand, some backward sway may be necessary so as to keep your center of gravity in line with the center of your body mass. Keep your head level with the sights; your face should be turned as far as possible toward the target without undue strain on the neck muscles.

To find your natural point of aim, close your eyes and assume the positions described above....open them and see where your sights are aimed. Shift your feet to align the sights on the target bull. Now lower your arm, close your eyes and repeat the process until your are properly aligned. Simulate recoil with your arm and see where it falls back naturally. Adjust again if necessary. Remember, as tension free as possible. You should be able to stand in this position for a long time without any noticeable fatigue or movement.

After a period of time shooting, you may notice that your foot positions may have altered somewhat; this may be your tired body adjusting to find a more comfortable position. It's okay to accept this comfort adjustment. Check your alignment again and if it is off a bit, just use your rear foot to fine tune your point of impact by leaving the heel of the foot stationary and only making very slight (like and inch or two) toe movements left or right.

The stance forms the foundation for the shooter to hold steady and to build on the other fundamentals. All else remaining equal, an inconsistent stance will change your point of impact on the target. Like some other fundamentals, finding the stance that works for you is not given enough attention. But once found and habitualized, a proper stance becomes natural and automatic and leaves you free to concentrate on other things.

Ron Steinbrecher