Accurate rifle shooting: 10 most popular myths and their debunking

To become a pro at shooters, you need to develop good habits and learn how to “hold your mouse correctly.”

Everyone understands that mastery comes from practice, and the more you play, the better you get at it. It's unlikely that you can learn anything by spending the entire game watching the respawn timer. Improving accuracy is not about increasing raw skill. This includes forming good habits, getting rid of bad ones, proper training, and even exactly how you hold the mouse.

Overwatch has been a huge success for Blizzard. With a vibrant world and well-rounded characters, Overwatch takes the first-person shooter genre to a whole new market. If Overwatch (or any other first-person shooter) is the first game where you try to score headshots using your keyboard and mouse, then this guide will show you how to improve your shooting accuracy in first-person shooters.

Obviously, constant practice will benefit you. The more you play shooters, the better your skills become. But to get some tips on speeding up the process, I turned to professional player and Splyce team member Remy “Adetonian” Cabresin.

Improving your shooting accuracy does not only depend on your skill. You also need to learn to practice and hold the mouse correctly, pay attention to good habits and get rid of bad ones.

Choosing the right equipment

First, your skill is only as good as your equipment allows you to do. The two most important parts of it when it comes to accuracy are the mouse and the pad. Fortunately, current mouse sensor technology allows the squirrel to enter the eye without damaging the skin. You should pay attention to the DPI range, weight and key layout. Usually a lighter and simpler mouse is recommended. In shooters, you'll likely need one or two keys for basic functions, and a lightweight mouse is easier to move around on the mouse pad.

You will also need the shortest possible response time, because it is impossible to take headshots when the mouse is slower than your reflexes. And there is a difference between the response of different mice, as we have already written about in the past. We believe there are some of the best gaming mice out there, but the right choice is the one that suits your hand.

Next you need to choose a good rug. I recommend taking the largest one that will fit on your desk, because lifting and rearranging the mouse in the middle of a firefight is not the best option. This is mostly an issue for players using the lowest DPI settings, requiring a lot more hand movement.

Examples of magnums popular with hunters:

• 300 WIN.MAG;

• 300 Uzbek magnums;

• 7mm Ramington Magnum.

For us, the use of powerful ammunition does not make sense. The purchase of a weapon can be called justified if its caliber is no more than 8 mm. True, there is one exception - driven hunting, in which a 9 mm semi-automatic carbine is indispensable.

Western European hunters use carbines with fast mechanical loading in driven hunts. The reason for this is the ban on semi-automatic weapons, for example, “Game”, “Blazer R93”, which many Russian hunters can boast of.

If you decide to become the owner of a semi-automatic machine, then bet on the model with the thickest barrel. Experienced hunters say that this is a universal MO.

Weight sufficient for normal shooting:

• conventional carabiners – from 3.3 kg;

• MO – from 3.5 kg.

Physical comfort

Your equipment is in order, it's time to take care of the body. Some players claim that the way you grip the mouse affects performance (claw, palm, and fingertip grips are the most talked about), but Adetonian believes that what's more important than that is how comfortable you feel. There are a lot of controversial infographics out there, but for the most part, it comes down to hand size and how well the mouse fits in it.

The most important thing is the overall ergonomics of your setup. If you are hunched over due to fatigue, it will affect your game. And make sure there is enough room for your wrists.

Sensitivity

Mouse sensitivity is the most important thing for accurate shooting in FPS. But there are no magical settings that automatically increase the skill. The whole point is to find those parameter values ​​with which you feel comfortable, while maintaining complete control over the situation.

As I already discussed in the list of myths about gaming mice, high DPI is not always the best. Some manipulators actually work worse at maximum DPI values, when the slightest movement of the brush turns into sweeping, sharp jerks of the cursor. It also doesn’t add clarity to the fact that you have to choose between DPI in the mouse driver and sensitivity settings in the game itself. Usually the most successful solution is to install it in Windows and configure it according to how it feels already in the game.

Low sensitivity allows you to better control the cursor and make more precise movements, but at the same time the elbow is more involved in control than the wrist. I advise you to start with 400-800 DPI, gradually increasing to a comfortable value. (On high-resolution monitors, 1000 DPI is more appropriate for Windows.) Here's a clear example of the difference between low and high sensitivity settings.

Moving from one edge of the mat to the other at 400 DPI:

The same movement, but with 1600 DPI:

If you see that you are moving your aim to the side when shooting, try reducing the in-game sensitivity. Conversely, if your aim can't keep up with the enemy, or you have to move your hand too wide for normal turns, increase the sensitivity value.

An important point: do not get too carried away with the settings of this parameter. I don't recommend changing them after every unsuccessful game - this will only confuse your muscle memory. Only do this if you're on a losing streak, and give yourself a chance to get used to the settings before you decide they're not for you.

Types of hunting rifles:

1. Regular.

2. Magnum weapon (hereinafter referred to as MO).

In both cases, the caliber is selected depending on the size of the animal and the hunting strategy. For example, hunting a large game will be more effective with a caliber of 7-8 mm. Fans of hunting from towers and approach should bet on non-collapsible models, which are more stable in comparison with collapsible weapons and give a more concentrated fight (by at least 15%).

The further away the target, the less energy the bullet hits it. Therefore, experienced hunters try to reduce the distance to potential prey as much as possible. Conventional guns, as a rule, please with their accuracy at 150-200 meters, and MO in capable hands - at a 300-meter distance. It is noteworthy that MO is also deadly for more distant game.

But the beast is not an easy target, so the shot is calculated with certainty. For this purpose, tables are used containing information on the power (J) of cartridges and ammunition bullets. In this regard, it will be useful to know that the same cartridge can contain different amounts of gunpowder, bullets...

Technique and flair

There are two main types of aiming: leading and offhand. Dribbling is an attempt to keep your crosshairs on the enemy at all times - useful for damage dealers with automatic weapons, like Soldier 76 and Tracer from Overwatch.

The second type is to quickly aim, shoot, and return the crosshair to a neutral position. Popular with weapons with a low rate of fire, such as snipers or McCree.

Regardless of which character you play, I recommend keeping an eye on the places where you expect the enemy to appear. Without this, you will most likely miss or not be fast enough to get the shot.

When you are not in combat, keep your sights on the corner where you are waiting for the enemy. Having gone around this corner, take aim at the next one. Move along like that.

Features of zeroing with and without optics

Any air rifle has a sighting device at the top - a rear sight and a front sight. The weapon is ready to fire with open sights. True, before you shoot, you need to learn to aim. The accuracy of hitting the target depends on aiming.

How to aim correctly without optics:

• pick up a rifle;
• clasp the handle (neck) with your right hand;
• place the palm of your left hand under the fore-end (barrel lining);
• raise the rifle to shoulder level;
• squint your left eye;
• leave the right (dominant) eye open;
• move the sight away from the right eye to a distance of 10-25 cm;
• rest the butt on your right shoulder;
• point the barrel at the target;
• align the front sight with the sight slot and the target;
• the top of the front sight should not extend beyond the top bar of the rear sight;
• raise the barrel a couple of millimeters;
• exhale;
• pull the trigger.

An additional sight helps the shooter see the target better. The optics are mounted on top of the rifle. There are several types of sights: collimator (makes aiming easier), optical (brings the target closer), thermal imaging (sees in the dark).

How to aim correctly with a telescopic sight:

• pick up a rifle;
• grab the handle with your right hand;
• place your left hand under the forend;
• rest the butt on your right shoulder;
• point the barrel at the target;
• look through the scope;
• move the optics away from the dominant eye by 10-25 cm;
• adjust the sight according to the selected distance;
• align the crosshair with the target;
• pull the trigger.

Mastery comes from practice

Well, now you’ve adjusted the sensitivity to your hand, it’s time to work on muscle memory. In particular, offhand shooting heavily depends on it, but in addition, this also applies to all aspects of the shooter: moving around the map, spinning around when attacking from behind, or shooting at a fast-moving target.

Some people believe that accuracy can be improved in some browser games, but all they do is improve reflexes. The thing is that in-game sensitivity and cursor speed in Windows are not the same thing, and this is perfectly reflected in muscle memory.

Accuracy is best trained in the game itself. Driving – point the crosshair at the selected point and start moving. Simulate your movements during a firefight, while keeping your aim on the point. According to Adetonian, this is how muscle memory is trained.

When you learn to hold your sight steady on a static target, it's time to learn on a moving target. Your task is to learn how to hit it while remaining mobile, so continue to strafe while keeping your enemy at gunpoint. Don't wait until he himself is in your sights; the enemy will try to move chaotically and unpredictably, just as you should.

This is where private games with bots come in handy. The difficult mode of the AI ​​bots will make them run more or less realistically, just make sure to turn off their damage. There's no need to worry about bots brutally tearing you to pieces when you just want to practice a little.

Private games in Overwatch are great for practicing your aim. Create a game with six Ana bots on the enemy team and change the settings to "headshots only". Hero Ana does not know how to do this, so opponents will only run around the map, giving you the opportunity to learn without the risk of going to revival.

If you prefer, say, CS:GO, then you can arrange similar practices there too. In CS:GO, accuracy training involves learning the unique spread patterns of each weapon. But, in general, the above-mentioned training method will undermine your skill; it is only important to remember that you need to practice in the game in which you want to show off your skill.

Once you’ve built up muscle memory, you can start strengthening it so that it doesn’t leave you after changing games or “moving” to a new mouse or monitor with a higher resolution. The best way to do this is to measure the distance your mouse travels to rotate 180 degrees in a game, and then adjust the sensitivity in a new game (or on new hardware) until the two match. Or measure how much your character turns when the mouse runs from one edge of the rug to the other.

Secrets of accurate shooting

To be honest, many people like to shoot at a hunting picnic. A self-respecting hunter will never shoot at a “sit-down”. Just take off. And this is not available to everyone. Well, what if we go further? It’s weak, for example, to hit a small pine cone, a beer bottle cap, and even one flying along who knows what trajectory? Moreover, it’s not you who throw it to yourself, but the person who is trying to complicate the task as much as possible. Or another exercise. You don’t see the thrower (you stand with your back to him) or - in the most difficult situation - you lie face down on the ground. At the thrower’s command, you must detect a flying object and hit it, and in the latter case, also have time to jump to your feet. If you manage to master even half of this, you are already a good shooter (the rest will keep quiet) and your morale will always be at its best. But don't stop there. After all, the task is to become a master, and then...

Athlete, shooter, stand master! This is always a respected person, and if he represents the country in the international arena, he receives honor, glory and pride for the fatherland. It can be said with almost a 100% guarantee that no matter how talented the local “Dersu Uzala” is, competing with a great athlete on the stand is a hopeless task. But on the hunt! This is where the record holder can get into a difficult position, since a good hunter-shooter is also a kind of master.

What's the matter?

Before answering this question, let's talk about the dilemma facing people who are passionate about hunting. Ninety-eight percent decide how to hit, one or two percent decide how to miss. Yes, yes, exactly, how to miss the mark, since several negative aspects of this problem arise. Firstly, a person knows exactly what he will get, and the “sporting interest” disappears. Secondly, he went out with the desire to shoot, and having fulfilled the limit in a matter of seconds (the limit for catching game), he is forced to sheath his gun, while others get great pleasure from shooting.

But let's take the side of the majority and, counting on the wisdom of the hunter, we will share the secrets of accurate shooting (meaning, of course, from a shotgun).

First, let's list all the factors that could have caused a miss: Shooter. Dunno shooter. Reluctant shooter. Pop gun.

Gunslinger

Nature deprived him, but this does not mean that the situation is hopeless. A person can do anything, and through hard work and training he will definitely achieve his goal. There are many cases where people who are deaf have sung superbly on stage. Of course, you need to be patient, have money for ammunition and begin to carry out the task.

Where to begin? From a psychological attitude, preparation. Firstly, I must immediately tell myself that since I took up the gun, I will not deviate from my goal. Secondly, don't tell anyone about your plans. This means that you will have to train alone or with strangers who will not morally hurt your pride. Third, as if looking ahead, try to follow all our advice. Believe me, they will benefit you in many ways. Do not be nervous under any circumstances, do everything with a smile, tell yourself that a mistake is normal. Do not rejoice at the first hits - accept it as an accident, but if you notice that progress has been made, celebrate. If possible, it is better to start from a round stand, from number seven, that is, when the plate flies away from you in a slightly upward trajectory. Take only one shot. Having achieved stability, go to the first number. He is also “hijacked”, but the saucer flies a little differently. You can also train in natural conditions. Here it is extremely useful to purchase a portable throwing machine: it is not only a high-quality simulator, but also an item that will greatly contribute to useful, entertaining recreation for you and your friends.

Dunno shooter

A person who neglects basic knowledge of shooting techniques is unlikely to ever become an accurate shooter. For example, clothes. She shouldn't be constrained. The right breast pocket (if you are right-handed) should not be there. The butt plate of the butt should not be rubber, rubber, etc., so as not to drag clothes up. With the correct dismount, you should not see the trunks, but only the front sight above the block. Training leashes, especially on the right side (for right-handers), should be given special attention. The leash should be made not only with your hands, but also with your body. If you know where the game is, it’s better to go under a “convenient” hand. Be sure to remove your gun sling when hunting. When thrown up, it introduces an imbalance or, even worse, can get caught up in the trunk. Now about the cartridge. Forget about the so-called “stand” once and for all. Firstly, this cartridge was released for sporting purposes. It has its own ballistic characteristics, which are often not acceptable for hunting. It is undesirable to shoot with such a cartridge: wounded game will fly away and die. Many shoot factory ammunition. Here the hunter must be sure that this particular cartridge matches his gun, that is, it gives optimal sharpness, the desired accuracy and uniformity of scree. But a true amateur, in the best traditions of Russian hunting, will sit down at the table and “work magic” over the charges. He will select cartridges for a specific hunting method and the corresponding type of game.

Reluctant shooter

If you are a novice hunter, you will make mistakes only because you are not familiar with the object of the hunt, the biology of this species. Here theory must be combined with practice. Knowing, for example, where a black grouse can fly from, the hunter has already prepared himself for the shot, and having received several “practical lessons” from nature, he will correctly take the appropriate lead. Of course, there are favorite types of hunts that people tend to go to first. But there is one where the hunter is awarded the “highest certificate of maturity” and he deserves honor and respect. This is snipe hunting from under oneself. True, if you start shooting, and even in the presence of friends, you can hurt your pride, especially against the backdrop of the success of others, and shooting can completely go wrong, and a “miss complex” will arise. Therefore, we want to warn novice hunters who do not have marksmanship skills: refrain from such hunting, at least until they have acquired at least minimal experience.

And finally, the last thing: a “bad” gun

Much has been written about inflexibility and poor balance. It happens that for reasons that have not yet been studied enough, it simply “lives.” In the latter case, you need to part with him, but in the first two you can fight. We have already talked about how to do the right way up and aim. All this should happen in a matter of seconds. Very often, correct aiming is ensured by selecting the appropriate pitch, that is, the angle of the butt plate of the gun.

By achieving a decrease or increase in pitch through repeated jumps, you will insure yourself against a miss.

And one last thing. Remember that by learning to shoot accurately, you have taken on additional obligations to nature: the game has become more vulnerable, and much will now depend on your wisdom. Don't throw your emotions out through mastery. There is always a reasonable limit of production, and when it comes to shooting, there are many ways to relieve your soul, including on the bench.

Vskidka

A miss is an extremely unpleasant and very annoying thing, especially if the shot was made, as they say, from a “one hundred percent situation.” And if there were also witnesses present who could hardly hide their malicious smiles, it’s rubbish. Here the shooter’s self-esteem can be hurt so thoroughly that self-doubt and complexes regarding further successful shooting will appear.

So what are the reasons that lead to failure? There are many of them, and this has already been written about more than once.

This is also poor training of the shooter. A person does not know how to handle a weapon, hold it correctly and carry it while hunting. How to lunge, aim and pull the trigger. He is not familiar with the specifics of loading cartridges and selecting appropriate powder charges for his gun.

This, excuse me, is basic ignorance. The hunter has no or only a very vague idea of ​​the object of hunting, the conditions in which he will hunt. The list goes on, but this is already quite enough for you to completely shoot out the cartridge belt and be left without any game and ruin your mood.

Today we want to talk in more detail about one of the most important elements of shotgun shooting technique - the flash shot. In fact, it is from there that, after detecting an object, the fleeting phase begins: “raising - aiming - shooting,” which is designed to ensure hitting the game.

What is called a jump? This is bringing the butt to shoulder level and placing it correctly in the shoulder socket. The jump must be done quickly; through constant training, you need to achieve lightning-fast movements in compliance with all the basic parameters. What are they? The front sight should be visible at the level of the block; you should not see either the bar with the front sight or the block without it. You should not stretch or, conversely, retract your neck, or tilt your head to the right or left to find a comfortable position. The index finger should rest correctly on the trigger. With a correct rifle throw, the elbows should under no circumstances hang or touch the body. They should not be located horizontally in the same plane, as in the case of shooting from rifled weapons at moving targets. Their average position at an angle of about 45 degrees is the best option. When throwing up, the body should be slightly tilted forward, the legs slightly bent. Unlike the technique of shooting from the same rifled weapon, changing the direction of aiming involves not only the muscles of the back and hips, but also the arms, although their role is secondary.

The length of the butt should be such that, when resting on the elbow bend of the butt plate, the index finger would cover the trigger with the first phalanx, and not with the pad. Individual adjustment is made by placing thin one-size plates under the butt plate.

Pitch

It is he who to the greatest extent determines the correct throw, and most importantly, aiming. Using wedge-shaped plates (to facilitate fitting, it is better to make models from foam-forming materials), achieve the position of the front sight flush with the block, which we have already discussed. But do not start working on the “pitch” - the angle of inclination of the butt plate - until the compliance with the following three parameters has been checked.

Balance

Let us remind the reader that this term refers to the location of the center of gravity of the gun. The reference point is the level of the hinge. The balance with the cartridges in the barrels is checked. Be extremely careful: the gun should, if not have the triggers pulled, then at least have the safety on! The center of gravity should not extend further than 20-25 mm of the transverse axial bolt in the direction of the muzzle. The grip of your hands, if you are preparing to shoot, should be such that the center of gravity is located in the middle.

Of course, it is impossible to go hunting while holding a gun at the ready in both hands at all times. Right-handers should definitely get used to carrying it in their left hand at the center of gravity. Therefore, throwing up from a “non-working position”, where the left hand acts as the basis, acquires great importance and requires constant training.

Appropriateness

This is the stability of aiming when throwing up from various positions. If you notice a mistake and it is repeated in any position, there is nothing terrible. Quite the opposite: by changing the pitch of the stock, it can be easily eliminated.

Posadism

This means uniform distribution of mass across parts of the gun. A gun with a center of mass closer to the block seems lighter. It is mobile and easy to control when thrown up.

A separate question that is always asked is the weight of the gun. It is clear that the larger it is, the more difficult it is to do a jump. On road hunts, especially in difficult conditions, it is advisable to use light guns and, at the shooter’s discretion, a smaller caliber.

Checking the correctness of the jump

Close your eyes, look up and open them. If the front sight is located above the block, as described earlier, the throw is done correctly. But that is not all. Do this test ten times, then again and again. If the front sight is in its place out of ten cases, at least eight, the result can be considered positive. Now you can not be afraid to shoot in poor lighting and even in thick twilight, aiming at the block.

Separate requirements apply to clothing.

The main thing is that it should not be “bulky”, too dense, or hinder the movements of the arms and body. With such equipment there will be no success. If the upper part of the clothing is too loose and “dangles” on you, then when you throw up, there is a high probability that it will begin to gather into an “accordion” when you raise the butt, and the right breast patch pocket (which right-handers should immediately get rid of) will not let the gun go at all "home". The problem will be aggravated by rubber and rubber pads on the butt plate. What to do? They must either be replaced or a pad made of plastic materials should be made so that the latter ensure good glide over clothing. It is advisable to round the heel of the stock.

Dear readers! You, of course, have long come to the conclusion that there are no trifles when handling weapons. This is especially true for safety precautions. As for shooting, if you show persistence and perseverance, luck is on your side. But I would like to say something else. We share our secrets with the hope of not only helping the hunter get rid of flaws in his shooting, but also inspiring the preservation of nature, which has now become more vulnerable when the likelihood of a miss is reduced to a minimum. Mikhail Panin Magazine “MasterRuzhie” No. 54, 66