Rifle-Firing Techniques: Practicing The Five Fundamentals

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Course Outline

• Unit 1: Introducing Muzzleloader Shooting
  • Topic 1: Firearm Safety Rules
    • Video: Welcome to Hunter Ed
    • The Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety
  • Topic 2: Educating Hunters of Today and Tomorrow
    • Why Hunter Education?
    • Becoming a Responsible, Involved Hunter
    • Pittman-Robertson Act
    • Funding Hunter Education
    • Promoting Safe Muzzleloader Shooting
  • Topic 3: Introducing Muzzleloader Shooting
    • Introduction to Muzzleloaders
    • Defining “Muzzleloader”
    • The Development of Muzzleloaders
    • The Damascus Barrel
  • Topic 4: Keeping Muzzleloader Shooting Safe
    • Muzzleloader Safety
    • Focusing on Safety
    • Observing the Four Rules of Firearm Safety With Your Muzzleloader
    • Handling Muzzleloaders
• Unit 2: Knowing Your Muzzleloading Firearm
  • Topic 1: Understanding the Black Powder Load
    • Introduction to Black Powder
    • Granulation
    • Substitutes
    • Smokeless Powders, Storage, and Measuring
    • Interesting Black Powder Facts
    • Projectiles
    • Patches
  • Topic 2: Reviewing the Parts of the Muzzleloader
    • Lock
    • Flintlock Muzzleloader
    • Percussion Lock Muzzleloader
    • In-Line Muzzleloader
    • Stock
    • Barrel
    • Rifling in the Bore
    • Muzzleloader Rifle Calibers
    • Muzzleloader Shotgun Gauges
    • Set Trigger
    • Sights
    • Safety Mechanisms
  • Topic 3: Loading the Muzzleloading Firearm
    • Making Sure the Muzzleloader Is Empty
    • Safety While Loading
    • Steps for Loading a Muzzleloader
    • Loading a Muzzleloader, Part 1
    • Loading a Muzzleloader, Part 2
    • Loading a Muzzleloader, Part 3
    • Seating the Projectile
    • Loading and Cleaning Accessories
    • Disassembling and Cleaning the Muzzleloader
• Unit 3: Shooting Your Muzzleloader Safely and Accurately
  • Topic 1: Becoming a Responsible Muzzleloader Hunter
    • Comparing Muzzleloaders to Conventional Firearms
    • Understanding Maximum Point-Blank Range
    • Determining Velocity and Trajectory
    • Factors Affecting Maximum Point-Blank Range
    • Expanding Hunting Opportunities Using Muzzleloading Firearms
    • Hunting: A Tool For Wildlife Managers
    • Selecting a Firearm for Shooting and Hunting
    • Safe Hunting Habits
  • Topic 2: Learning the Basics of Firing a Muzzleloading Rifle
    • Sight Alignment
    • Aligning an Open Sight
    • Identifying Your Master Eye
    • Sighting In Your Muzzleloading Rifle
    • Rifle-Firing Techniques: Shooting from a Rest
    • Rifle-Firing Techniques: Practicing the Five Fundamentals
    • Protecting Your Firearm for Dry-Firing Practice
    • Positioning Your Body for Accurate Rifle Shooting: Prone
    • Positioning Your Body for Accurate Rifle Shooting: Sitting
    • Positioning Your Body for Accurate Rifle Shooting: Kneeling
    • Positioning Your Body for Accurate Rifle Shooting: Standing
  • Topic 3: Learning the Basics of Firing a Muzzleloading Shotgun
    • Using Correct Shotgun-Firing Techniques
    • Patterning Your Shotgun
    • Swing-Through Lead
    • Sustained Lead
    • Shotgun Choke and Shot String
  • Topic 4: Determining Correct Loads
    • Understanding the Importance of Loads in Accurate Shooting
    • Using Bench-Rest Testing
    • Setting Up for the Test
    • Determining Loads with Bench-Rest Testing
    • Steps for Testing Firearm Performance
  • Topic 5: Improving Marksmanship
    • Good Marksmanship
    • Becoming a Responsible Muzzleloader Hunter: Four Steps
• Unit 4: Hunting Responsibly and Ethically
  • Topic 1: Hunting Ethically
    • Behaving Responsibly with Landowners
    • Landowner Complaints About Hunters
    • Hunting Opportunities on Public Lands
    • Observing the Hunter's Ethical Code
    • How to Behave If Confronted by Anti-Hunter Protesters
    • Examining Personal Ethics
    • Fair Chase
  • Topic 2: Taking Vital Shots
    • Understanding Game Anatomy
    • Choosing the Proper Shot Angle
    • Animation: Choosing the Proper Shot Angle
    • Shot Angles—Broadside
    • Shot Angles—Quartering-Away
    • Shot Angles—Quartering-Toward
    • Shot Angles—Head-On
    • Shot Angles—Rear-End
    • Determining When To Shoot
    • Trailing Wounded Game
    • Approaching Downed Game
  • Topic 3: Performing Field Care of Game
    • Observing Regulations on Field Care
    • A Game Care Kit
    • Avoiding Bacteria Growth
    • Boning, Bagging, and Hanging Meat
    • Field Dressing Larger Game
    • Treating the Meat With Citric Acid
    • Keeping Meat Safe During the Hunt
    • Transporting Game

View Course Outline

Practicing the Five Firing Fundamentals: There are five fundamental elements of rifle firing—aiming, breath control, movement control, trigger control, and follow-through. All of these elements work together as one process and should be practiced together in this way.

• Aim: Align your sight with the target.
  • Keep your aiming time brief. You can’t maintain the firing fundamentals effectively for long periods
• Control Your Breathing: Your breathing can move the firearm just enough to throw off your shot. These tips will help you to adopt the correct technique more easily.
  • When you’re ready to shoot, draw a deep breath and exhale about half of it.
  • Hold your breath as you squeeze the trigger.
  • Bear in mind that if you hold your breath too long, your heart beats faster, which increases your pulse and causes the firearm to move. If you notice this happening, take another breath and start over.
  • At times, the excitement of spotting game will make it more difficult to control your breathing. Try to relax and follow the correct procedure.
• Hold Your Aim: Learning to hold the firearm steady is a challenge. Rather than attempting to eliminate all movement, concentrate on two actions.
  • Focus any necessary movement on the target.
  • Minimize the area of movement.
• Squeeze the Trigger: Jerking the trigger or abruptly clenching the trigger hand can move the gun enough to cause a miss. To avoid these motions, hold the gun comfortably.
  • Grasp the wrist of the stock firmly.
  • Position your fingertip comfortably on the trigger. The trigger should rest on the end of your finger—between the first joint and fingertip.
  • To squeeze the trigger without jarring the gun, simply apply slow, steady pressure until the gun fires.
• Follow Through: After the bullet fires, be sure to continue the squeeze or follow-through to avoid jerking the gun before the bullet leaves the barrel.

One commonly used shooting technique for muzzleloaders is the B.R.A.S.S. technique. It stands for:

Breathe

Relax

Aim

Squeeze the trigger

Squeeze more (for follow-through)

• Unit 3 of 4
• Topic 2 of 5
• Page 6 of 11

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