Off-Hand Position
- INTRODUCTION OF TERMS
- In order to facilitate this article's usefulness to both left and right handed shooters, the hands are referred to as support and firing. The support hand, foot, shoulder is on the opposite side of the body from the trigger finger. The firing hand, foot, shoulder, etcetera are located on the same side as the trigger finger. It is presumed that the firer will use the firing eye as the aiming eye. It is the dominant eye which dictates which becomes the firing hand.
- In order to facilitate this article's usefulness to both left and right handed shooters, the hands are referred to as support and firing. The support hand, foot, shoulder is on the opposite side of the body from the trigger finger. The firing hand, foot, shoulder, etcetera are located on the same side as the trigger finger. It is presumed that the firer will use the firing eye as the aiming eye. It is the dominant eye which dictates which becomes the firing hand.
- OFF-HAND POSITION
- The Off-hand position is used to fire the 200 yard slow fire portion of the NRA and CMP high power rifle matches. This is the least stable and yet probably the most comfortable position that we fire from. This outline represents a current service rifle position. There are differences in this position and the position for the previous (OBSOLETE) ;) service rifles.
- The Off-hand position is used to fire the 200 yard slow fire portion of the NRA and CMP high power rifle matches. This is the least stable and yet probably the most comfortable position that we fire from. This outline represents a current service rifle position. There are differences in this position and the position for the previous (OBSOLETE) ;) service rifles.
- ASSUMPTION OF POSITION
- Stance:
- While standing erect directly facing the target, pivoting on the ball of the support foot to the firing side. Step with the firing foot away from the target. Place the firing heel on line with the support ball and the target. The feet will be roughly parallel to each other and pointed less than 45 degrees away from the target towards the firing side.
- For those of you converting to the modern equipment this may seem "too square" to the target. I encourage you to try this position. The square position will make the "pocket" of the shooter better available to support the erect position
- (Here I feel compelled to note that the current "tactical" rifle mount is also more square to the target. The extreme "bladed" position is no longer seen as the ultimate by all in the training development milieu. The squarer position when coupled with; weight forward bias, slightly bent knees, and slight forward inclination of the upper body from the waist seems to promote control of recoil. Many Tae Kwon Do instructors to include Byung Yul Lee (my instructor) and Bill "Super Foot" Wallace advocate a leg position that is the same for all kicks. Here I am applying the same philosophy to riflery. Your off hand position should be very similar to your "assault" or "house clearing" stance. A more erect posture should differentiate the two.)
- The upper body, head and neck will be erect, and the head turned to the target. The toe of the stock will be placed in the pocket formed by the junction of the anterior deltoid, the upper insertion of the pectoral, directly down from the outboard end of the clavicle.
- The support hand grasps the forestock directly in front of the magazine well. The thumb of the support hand is on the firing side of the forestock, palm up, and fingers towards the shoulder. To make this easier to understand extend the support hand palm up as if to have someone drop a coin into it. Bend the arm at the elbow drawing the elbow to the body while bring the palm in front of your face. Rotate wrist bringing the thumb and index finger towards your face. Allow the wrist to fall back towards the support shoulder.
- The grip of the support hand is firm but the arm is simply a prop upon which the rifle is setting. The firing arm pulls the rifle back in the pocket and the rifle is brought to your face. That is the head and neck remains erect and the rifle is quite high on the shoulder.
- As the rifle is brought up into position the upper body leans slightly back and slightly to the firing side. It will apparent now that the buttstock should be weighted to cause the rifle to balance at or just in front of the magazine well. Keep your head erect and raise the rifle to bring it in firing position. "Bring your rifle to your face not your face to your rifle!" (This is a 20 year old quote from Bruce Woodford, see his articles: Headspace and Throat Erosion and The Way It Was ).
- While standing erect directly facing the target, pivoting on the ball of the support foot to the firing side. Step with the firing foot away from the target. Place the firing heel on line with the support ball and the target. The feet will be roughly parallel to each other and pointed less than 45 degrees away from the target towards the firing side.
- Stance:
- SLING
- The sling is not used in the off hand position but must be on the rifle. Previously I liked to tighten the sling on the rifle so that the support hand can be trapped by the taut sling behind it. This lends some support to the forward hand and prevents the sling from flapping about in the breeze complicating an already less than bedrock solid position. DO NOT do this, it is a rule violation. Best method I have used so far is to trap the slightly loose sling between the handguards and the shooting glove or mit on the support hand (See Installation of the M1907 Sling.)
- The sling is not used in the off hand position but must be on the rifle. Previously I liked to tighten the sling on the rifle so that the support hand can be trapped by the taut sling behind it. This lends some support to the forward hand and prevents the sling from flapping about in the breeze complicating an already less than bedrock solid position. DO NOT do this, it is a rule violation. Best method I have used so far is to trap the slightly loose sling between the handguards and the shooting glove or mit on the support hand (See Installation of the M1907 Sling.)
- STOCK WELD
- In the off hand position the nose will be too far back to touch the charging handle. The importance of consistency in cheek to stock placement is very high. If the rifle is placed in the pocket the same way every time, and the head placed on the stock by allowing the face to "fall" onto the stock the position should be repeatable.
- In the off hand position the nose will be too far back to touch the charging handle. The importance of consistency in cheek to stock placement is very high. If the rifle is placed in the pocket the same way every time, and the head placed on the stock by allowing the face to "fall" onto the stock the position should be repeatable.
- ALIGNMENT
- The position should be aligned by assuming the firing position. Alignment is tested by aiming the rifle at your target. Close the eyes and swing from the waist left and right several oscillations. Stop, breathe, open eyes, the front sight should be aligned on the center of your target. If not move the firing foot, and retest. The position is properly aligned when it naturally bring the front sight on your target.
