Improving your rifle shooting accuracy is a skill that takes time is perfect,  there are many factors that need to be considered when shooting  a target from a distance. So we at GlowShot have compiled a list of 10 top tips for improving your shooting accuracy.

Tip 1- Get into a comfortable position and loosen up

Make sure your rifle is pointing naturally at the target, and that the crosshairs fall naturally on the target.

When realigning the rifle, it’s important to do this by moving your whole body starting with the legs, rather than just twisting your torso. You may also need to lift and replace the bipod if you are using one.  This can be difficult when in the field or at the range so a range mat is advised to help create a good base for aiming.

Tip 2- Practice at shorter ranges: then once you are shooting tight group gradually start increasing your distance

Many people start to shoot at long range when their short-range skills are still developing.

Adding basic errors to your attempts to work out issues around elevation and windage is not a recipe for success.

The ability to shoot consistently at short range is the first element of long-range success. Splatter targets are a great tool to use at the range to help, they make it much easier to see where your shots are landing, especially once you start to increase your distance.

Tip 3- The shot release and follow through must be made without undue movement from blinking or flinching.

The trigger should be squeezed with the centre of the pad of your index finger and your fingernail parallel to the trigger guard, so the motion is straight back.

Squeeze the trigger whilst maintaining a fixed gaze through the scope. If you blink or flinch when squeezing the trigger it could have a major impact on hitting the target.

Many people often anticipate the kick and subconsciously compensate before the shot is taken, this results in micro movements which takes the crosshair off the mark.  Dryfiring is recommended to help make your trigger pull consistent and smooth.  Accessories like the pro-series shooter 2 have been to designed to help train smooth natural trigger pull

Commit to memory where your crosshairs are when the shot breaks. You then need to refocus on the moment the bullet hits the target or lands nearby.

Both sets of information are vital to the placement of your next shot.

Tip 4 – Find the right ammunition!

This quest is where the rubber meets the road, and we do not have any quick solutions. The answer is trial-and-error. Each rifle is different, and your rifle will tell you immediately which loads it does not like. Your job is to find the one it prefers.

We suggest taking several different brands and bullet weights to the range. When you change from one type to the other, you should clean your barrel or allow up to five shots of the new ammo to settle in the bore. If you clean your rifle, allow two fouling shots with the new ammo to settle in the bore. If you switch from non-coated to coated bullets, clean the bore and allow for five or more shots to properly coat the bore before testing for accuracy. If you are going from coated to non-coated bullets, give the bore a thorough cleaning. Then, add two fouling shots with the non-coated bullet before testing for accuracy.

Tip 4 – Break In your rifle barrel

Many rifle barrels have not been properly broken in, which helps to minimize accuracy-reducing fouling. If not properly broken in, we have observed hunting rifles to completely foul out in as little as five rounds. Many will foul out at fewer than 20 rounds. When a barrel fouls out, accuracy is dramatically reduced. Properly breaking in a rifle barrel is a must for our target rifles and our hunting rifles. We believe that this step is very important to optimize the accuracy potential of your hunting rifle. You will not have to worry about your rifle fouling out during the hunting season.

The break-in process is simple but takes time at the range. Use any inexpensive ammo and targets. Start with a clean barrel, fire one shot, and clean the barrel. Make sure that you get all the copper out. Repeat the single shot/clean routine for five shots. Next, fire two shots and clean. Repeat three times. Now, fire three shots and clean. Repeat three times. Cleaning the barrel should become easier and copper fouling should be minimal.

Tip 5 – Zero the rifle 

Bore-sighting is recommended. First remove the bolt and with the rifle in a secure position line up a target like a clay 50m away in the center of the bore (Clay target hangers are great for this). Then, without moving the rifle,  turn the windage and elevation dials until the reticle is centered on the clay. Then move to a large target to ensure you land your first shots where you can see them. The first shot at a target should be somewhere on the target at 100m. If they aren’t, move it in closer until you hit the paper! Adjust your windage and elevation until point of impact is roughly two inches high at 100m. At 200m spend more time refining windage and elevation so that at that the rounds land on your point of aim.

 

Tip 6 – Stay focused through the sights

It is just human nature to pull your head up to admire the shot you just made on a deer or target, especially when it is close. You cannot make that movement and hit where you are aiming. Follow through with the recoil and stay in the rifle.

Tip 7 – Make sure your view through the scope is perfect

When looking through your scope don’t take the shot unless the view is 100% clear, any shadow or tunnel effect will induce parallax error and throw the shot off. Be certain the front (objective) lens and the rear (ocular) lens are in perfect alignment with the rear lens just exceeding the diameter of the front lens.

This process of “lining up the circles” is just as important with a telescopic sight as it is with aperture sights on target rifles.

Tip 8- Hold the rifle firmly,  in order to control recoil. but don’t strangle it

When looking through the sight your cheek should firmly engage the stock with the head held reasonably upright and not an angle.

Good ‘cheek weld’ is vital. Keep a firm hold of the pistol grip with your thumb curled around it for safety.

Leaving your thumb behind the bolt or alongside the safety catch can a painful habit if you use large caliber rifles with heavy recoil.

Tip 9- Use real paper targets

If you’ve never used real paper targets, you’re in for a treat. Real targets are printed on paper that doesn’t tear the way standard copier paper does. If you print your targets on a  printer you will have almost no idea how large or small their groups really are.

Paper targets are printed on special paper, which is why they cost a little more; but, if you care about accuracy, they’ll deliver the results you want. Splatter targets will improve on shot reading even more and the GlowShot app will even calculate your MOA for you.

Tip 10- Shoot with both eyes open

For guns with iron sights and some kinds of optics (red dot sights or a both-eyes-open scope), shooting with both eyes open allows the shooter to relax more, enhances their field of view, and allows them to focus more on what they’re doing. If possible, learn your eye dominance, and shoot with both eyes open.

 

 

The .300 Blackout has emerged as a new up and coming caliber, with several rifles chambered in it recently released. We wanted to examine what this could be suitable for in the Australian environment.
The round was designed for close quarters combat and was never meant for long range shooting. But it is an effective round at shorter ranges. Like the .30-30 Winchester, this round is best used under 200 yards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This makes it suitable for a number of species and hunting environments in Australia. It would be perfect for close range pig shooting in scrub. Anyone who is currently using a .30-30 of .45-70 could switch to the .300 Blackout and expect good results.
It also suits close range Sambar deer hunting in the high country, where the caliber delivers good stopping power at the ranges you typically see the deer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weight of the bullets range from 78 grain at 2,880fps out of a 20″ barrel to 125 grains at 2,215fps from a 16″ barrel. These are all supersonic, and produce a significant crack when fired.
At the other end of the spectrum you have 220 grain bullets with a velocity of 1,010fps. This provides a real positive of this caliber, which is a subsonic hunting round that can cleanly kill large game. This allows you a better chance of a follow up shot if you miss the first one as well as not spooking other animals nearby.

We’re challenging shooters from all over to see if they can hit a clay target in a long-range deadeye challenge, we will be hosting leaderboards with monthly prizes for placeholders, and a grand prize will be awarded to the overall leader after 12 months.

all orders from October 14th weeks will contain a free clay hanger which allows the clay to be hung from a tree or fence, pushed through a cardboard box or target backer or clamped in a target stand.  participants will be asked to send videos of themselves making the shot (details here)

This Deadeye Challenge is ongoing with seasons and leaderboards that reset every 3 months, with prizes at the end of each season. Season 1 prize is a range mat and rifle bag combination and 8″ target pack valued at over $200. There will also be a grand prize for annual leaders.  detailed rules and conditions here.

Decided to take the first step to get out and hunt?  where do we start?

I guess first we have to start with a gun license. To get a firearm licence one needs a genuine reason for doing so, this usually falls under two categories; Hunting and Sport/target shooting, in some states you can put both hunting and sport shooting onto the same license allowing you to do both, (I would recommend doing so as it will avoid having to do it later).  Becoming a member of the S.S.A.A allows you to list this genuinely on your gun license application form. (FYI you will not be able to receive a firearm license if you have a criminal record or have committed any violent offences)

step two is taking your gun safety course, if you have no experience with guns then a good idea is going to your nearest S.S.A.A branch to talk to the safety instructor and book in weapons act safety course.

after you have completed your safety course you will receive a “statement of Attainment” which is your proof that you have completed your safety course.  along with the “statement of Attainment,” you will need 2 passport photos to be submitted with the application.

submitting the application can be done two ways, online or by going to the local police station and filling the “application for a licence” form 1 and a “proof of identity” form 30, (these can be downloaded online and printed). Your local officer or you then send these form to Weapons Licensing Branch where they will be processed. (minimum 4-week wait). but when your license arrives we are ready to go on to the next step.

If you guessed going to the nearest gun dealer and purchasing your new rifle or shotgun then I’m afraid not yet. first, we need to get a safe and secure it. This requires a safe storage, this means either a gunsafe or for the avid collector a strong room, simply put if a safe weighs less than 150kg it must be bolted down to a structure, drywall does not suffice it must be something like brick or wall studs using bolts. after its installed, you will need to arrange an official to come out and inspect it.

Ok so we have our license and our safe mounted, now off to the gun dealer, but there is one last step before taking home your firearm, you will need your “Permit To Aquire” or “PTA” this can be submitted at the gun store and will take a day or so to process, however since this is our first gun purchase we must wait the 28 day “cooling off” period.

so that is it, once your PTA comes back you are now free to stroll in and collect your firearm. lets just say, you’re only interested in sports and target shooting then head to your local gun range and gun club. For those interested in taking it to the field,

Part 2 next, getting out for the hunt.

 

 

You’ve spent the offseason getting your eye in at the range but now its deer season and you want to make all that practice count. Here are 5 tips from the Glowshot Targets Team to get you on your way to an excellent Deer season. Safe hunting!

1. Mask your scent
Did you know that deer have 20 times more powerful sense of smell than humans? They will
often smell you before they see you, even if you are upwind. The best way to mask your scent is
to keep your hunting clothes in a sealed container or bag along with leaves, mud and other
natural scents up until you begin your session. Try not to contaminate your clothing on the way
to your hunt.

2. Scout out your location
You don’t need fancy tech to scout out and plan your hunt. With google maps you can scope out
the terrain and tree cover to get a good idea of what you are up against and plan where you may
want to start out.

3. Practice makes perfect.
Practice setting up and taking down your equipment before your day out. You want to minimise
the noise you make and be ready for that perfect shot when the timing is right. You don’t want
to miss that perfect opportunity when it comes up by fumbling with your gear.
Offhand shooting practice with a .22 is a great way to make sure your muscle memory works in
your favour when you get out in the field. It is an easy and inexpensive way to keep your
shooting skills fresh.

4. Stay warm and dry.
Nothing ruins your day and a clear shot like being wet and cold. Your extremities are particularly
sensitive to the cold and any stiffness or shivering in your hands can really effect how you line up
the cross hairs. Keep spare dry clothes with you to change into and layer up if needed. Don’t
forget to mask the scent of your clothing to ensure if doesn’t give you away.

5. Arm yourself appropriately
Make sure your rifle and projectile will humanely dispatch the deer. This generally means .243 or
larger. As deer are relatively thin-skinned animals, most projectiles will do the job well. If you
stay away from varmint projectiles that may expand before they reach anything vital or solid
rounds that won’t expand at all you can’t go too far wrong. So long as they are well constructed
most popular brands will prove lethal.

Importantly you should practice well with your chosen rifle and be able to fire it with reasonable
consistency, whether leaning on a tree/rock or off the shoulder, as sometimes this will be what
is needed to be able to get that deer that breaks cover unexpectedly.
Got any good tips we may have missed? Let us know in the comments.
Happy hunting from the Glowshot Team!