How To Aim A BB Gun (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Aim a BB Gun PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Scott Thompson

Last Updated: August 10, 2025

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  • Preparing to Aim a BB Gun
    • |
  • Getting into a Firing Position
    • |
  • Sighting Your BB Gun
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Scott Thompson. Scott Thompson is a Firearms Instructor based in Stapleton, Alabama. He is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Gulf Firearms Instruction, a Premier Firearms Training Academy that has been teaching citizens and law enforcement personnel for more than 31 years. He holds multiple teaching certifications as an NRA Training Counselor; he is certified to train instructors in NRA Basic Handgun, Basic Rifle, Personal Protection in the Home, and NRA CCW. He is certified to teach Law Enforcement in pistol, revolver, shotgun, urban rifle, and sniper skills. Before instructing at Gulf Firearms, he was a Police Officer for 25 years, and he is a Retired SWAT Officer. This article has been viewed 70,602 times.

Since the introduction of the Daisy air rifle in 1895, BB guns have been a classic, used in everything from military training to the Olympic Games. Whether you're interested in target shooting or hunting, practicing with a BB gun can be lots of fun. Learning how to aim is a great way to improve your concentration and physical control. Remember, though: safety is of utmost importance. Before you handle your BB gun, you'll need an experienced shooter to show you how to operate it.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Preparing to Aim a BB Gun

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  1. Step 1 Familiarize yourself with the parts of your BB gun. 1 Familiarize yourself with the parts of your BB gun. Understanding the name and function of each part is essential in maintaining control over your gun at all times.
  2. Step 2 Determine your dominant eye. 2 Determine your dominant eye. This helps you aim with precision and tells you which side to hold the gun on (if applicable).[1]
    • Extend both arms in front of you.
    • Make a small circle with the index fingers and thumbs of both hands.
    • Looking through the circle, focus on a distant object.[2]
    • Draw the circle back towards you, still focusing on the object.
    • The eye in line with the circle is the dominant eye.
    • If you are shooting an air rifle, the gun should rest on the same side as your dominant eye.
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  3. Step 3 Learn the proper breathing technique. 3 Learn the proper breathing technique. Breathing - or, rather, not breathing - is an important element in aiming your gun. The movement of the body as it breathes makes it difficult to get a good sight picture, much less shoot straight.[3]
    • Breath and relax the body before aiming.
    • Take a deep breath and exhale halfway.
    • Hold your breath halfway exhaled as you aim and squeeze the trigger, then exhale.[4]
    • You can practice this technique without your gun to get used to it.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Getting into a Firing Position

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  1. Step 1 Start with the free-arm standing position. 1 Start with the free-arm standing position. Stand with your knees straight, feet shoulder-width apart, and your body and head erect. Your left arm supports the rifle by resting against your rib cage. The rifle butt rests against your right shoulder. Your left hand supports the weight of the rifle from under the fore-end and the right holds the grip.
    • To adjust your aim left or right from this position, move your feet. To correct aim up or down, raise or lower the gun.
  2. Step 2 Get down low into the prone position. 2 Get down low into the prone position. Lie on the ground facing your target, angling your body a bit to the left. Your right knee bends slightly, drawing the right leg up but keeping it parallel with your back and your foot on the ground. Extend your left arm forward, supporting the fore-end of the gun from underneath with your left hand. The rifle butt should rest against your right shoulder as your right-hand holds the grip.
    • To adjust aim left or right, pivot your body on the left elbow; to correct aim up or down, move your left hand backward or forward, respectively.
  3. Step 3 Learn the kneeling position. 3 Learn the kneeling position. Kneel on your right knee with your foot centered under your buttocks. Your weight is on the bottom of your right heel, with your toes flat on the ground. Your left leg is drawn up in front of you, knee bent, foot flat on the ground. Position the flat part of your left elbow onto the flat part of the left kneecap. The fore-end of the rifle rests in the palm of your left hand.
    • Aim by pivoting your body on your right foot and adjusting your left foot for balance.
  4. Step 4 Try out the sitting position. 4 Try out the sitting position. Sit cross-legged and rest your elbows on your legs just behind the knees. Hold the rifle fore-end in your left hand and put your right hand on the grip.
    • Aim left or right by pivoting the body from the waist, and up and down by adjusting your left elbow's position.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Sighting Your BB Gun

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  1. Step 1 Ensure that you have a proper backstop. 1 Ensure that you have a proper backstop. The backstop is the background to your target. Avoid hard surfaces, water, tin cans, or other hard objects that might result in a ricochet.
  2. Step 2 Make sure that the surrounding area is clear. 2 Make sure that the surrounding area is clear. There should be no one and nothing in the immediate vicinity of your target.
  3. Step 3 Get into your firing position. 3 Get into your firing position. Always remember to aim the gun in a safe direction so that if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage.
    • Keep your index finger off the trigger (resting along the side) and hold the gun with both hands.
    • Bring the gun to eye level.
  4. Step 4 Locate the rear sight. 4 Locate the rear sight. This is either a horizontal bar with a notch in it (open rear sight) or a hole (aperture).
    • Do not keep your eye too close to the backside of the aim as it may damage your eye.
  5. Step 5 Align the rear sight with the front sight. 5 Align the rear sight with the front sight. Front sights are either a small post or another aperture. When the front and rear sights are aligned, the front is centered in relation to the rear.[5]
  6. Step 6 Align your body's position with your target for the sight picture. 6 Align your body's position with your target for the sight picture. Now you should have all three things aligned, with the front sight and target centered in relation to the rear sight.
  7. Step 7 Identify your target. 7 Identify your target. Be absolutely certain that you know what your target is, and what's beyond it.
  8. Step 8 Practice your breathing. 8 Practice your breathing. Relax your body, take a deep breath, exhale halfway, and hold.
  9. Step 9 Ensure once again that the target, backstop and surrounding area are clear. 9 Ensure once again that the target, backstop and surrounding area are clear. Always think before you shoot.
  10. Step 10 Squeeze the trigger. 10 Squeeze the trigger. Do not jerk or pull it.[6]
  11. Step 11 Follow through. 11 Follow through. After you fire, you should not move until you have hit your target.[7] It takes just a split second for the pellet to leave the gun, but even in this short amount of time, any movement will interrupt your aim.
    • Exhale fully only after your target is hit.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Explain squeezing of the trigger. I have a challenge here Tripleplayzzz Tripleplayzzz Community Answer you must first just gently place your index finger on the trigger, don't press. Then wait a few seconds to get the aim right, the second you get the aim right slowly pull your finger back, releasing fire. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 17
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Tips

  • The descriptions of the firing positions are for right shooters; left shooters need to reverse the position accordingly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • For the firing positions, watch your instructor demonstrate the positions first, pay close attention to the position of different body parts. You should practice the positions first without a gun until you are comfortable. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
  • If there are other people besides you, make sure everyone stays behind you. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Always wear eye protection when shooting your BB gun, as pellets may ricochet. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 0
  • Engage the safety if possible, but do not rely on this to prevent accidents. Mechanical failures can happen at any time, so this is not a substitute for proper gun handling. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
  • Air rifle pellets still have the power to injure or even kill: these guns are not toys and should be treated with the same caution as any weapon. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 0
  • Always check local laws before using a BB gun. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 0
  • Learn how to safely handle and operate a gun before even picking one up. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 1
  • Your gun should always be unloaded until you are ready to use it. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 1
  • Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0
  • Never use your BB gun in public. Under some circumstances, it can be difficult to distinguish between these guns and firearms, and you put yourself and others at risk. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
  • Ear protection is also desirable since shots can be loud. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
  • Store your gun so that unauthorized people cannot have access to it. Untrained individuals, especially children, should never have access to a gun. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ Scott Thompson. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Scott Thompson. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ Scott Thompson. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ Scott Thompson. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ Scott Thompson. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ Scott Thompson. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview
  7. ↑ Scott Thompson. Firearms Instructor. Expert Interview

About This Article

Scott Thompson Co-authored by: Scott Thompson Firearms Instructor This article was co-authored by Scott Thompson. Scott Thompson is a Firearms Instructor based in Stapleton, Alabama. He is the Owner and Lead Instructor at Gulf Firearms Instruction, a Premier Firearms Training Academy that has been teaching citizens and law enforcement personnel for more than 31 years. He holds multiple teaching certifications as an NRA Training Counselor; he is certified to train instructors in NRA Basic Handgun, Basic Rifle, Personal Protection in the Home, and NRA CCW. He is certified to teach Law Enforcement in pistol, revolver, shotgun, urban rifle, and sniper skills. Before instructing at Gulf Firearms, he was a Police Officer for 25 years, and he is a Retired SWAT Officer. This article has been viewed 70,602 times. 2 votes - 50% Co-authors: 13 Updated: August 10, 2025 Views: 70,602 Categories: Guns and Shooting In other languagesRussian
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 70,602 times.

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Scott Thompson Co-authored by: Scott Thompson Firearms Instructor 2 votes - 50% Click a star to vote 50% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 13 Updated: August 10, 2025 Views: 70,602

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