Marshall Bowen former USMC Scout Sniper and owner of .308Ghillies teaches some of the basic methods to improve your marksmanship with a rifle. Enjoy the slideshare!

1. Back to the Basics
Marshall Bowen

2. Fun·da·men·tal
• Serving as, or being an essential part of, a foundation or
basis; basic; underlying: fundamental principles; the
fundamental structure.
• When it comes to marksmanship this is VERY
important.
• It won’t matter if you are shooting a target 5 meters
away or a target 1,000 meters away.
• You MUST remember and apply the basic fundamentals
of marksmanship.

3. ELEMENTS OF A GOOD SHOOTING POSITION
(RIFLES) Pt. I
BONE SUPPORT
• The weight of the weapon should be supported by bone instead of muscle
when possible for the shooter.
• An important fact to keep in mind is that muscle fatigues whereas bone does
not.
• This also applies to your cheek-weld.
• Always make sure your cheek bone and the buttstock of the rifle are making as
much contact as possible.
• Doing this will limit the amount of movement when you fire.
• If you're doing it correctly it should be slightly uncomfortable.

4. ELEMENTS OF A GOOD SHOOTING POSITION
(RIFLES) Pt. II
MUSCULAR RELAXATION
• This tactic will help you hold a steady point of aim and
greatly increase your accuracy.
• If you are not utilizing good bone support, you will not
have muscular relaxation.
• When your muscles are tense it will cause excessive
movement in your rifle and your aim.

5. ELEMENTS OF A GOOD SHOOTING POSITION
(RIFLES) Pt. III
NATURAL POINT OF AIM
• This is where the rifle naturally rests in relation to your target.
• When you are in your shooting position and aimed in on your target, close your
eyes, take a few deep breaths, and relax as much as possible.
• Upon opening your eyes, your point of aim should be where it was before you
closed your eyes.
• Since the rifle becomes an extension of your body it might be necessary for you
to adjust the position of the rifle until you achieve your natural point of aim.
• Once you achieve this you have to make sure you hold your position in relation to
the target in order to maintain your natural point of aim.

6. Next Time You’re at the Range
The next time you go to practice at your local range, try and make a
checklist of everything you do as you get into your shooting position. For
example:
1. Drop down on both knees
2. Lower the rest of your body to place the buttstock into the pocket of your
shoulder
3. Pull rifle into shoulder with non-shooting hand and maintain sufficient
pressure
4. Place firing hand into preferred position
5. Find proper cheek-weld and eye relief

7. Marshall Bowen
• That list is just an example of a checklist you might
use.
• Feel free to create your own based on what is
comfortable, effective, and efficient.
• The best long range shooters did not get to where
they are today by skipping the fundamentals of
marksmanship.
• The only way to improve your shooting skills is to get
out on the range and push your skills to the limit.
• Never push the fundamentals aside.