In a week or so, bench space at West Virginia's public shooting ranges will be hard to find.
In a week or so, bench space at West Virginia's public shooting ranges will be hard to find.
Hunters, eager to get their rifles sighted in before the buck firearm season opens Nov. 23, should start flocking toward the ranges any day now. Division of Natural Resources officials have issued the following list of tips for sportsmen who might not be sure how best to sight in their firearms:
A shooting range should have a safe backdrop and be at least 500 feet from any residence or place where people gather.
While sighting in a firearm, the firearm should be solidly supported on a sturdy shooting bench using sandbags or a commercial shooting rest.
Always place the fore stock of the firearm, not the barrel, on the support. Stock and sight mounting screws should be checked for proper tightness.
Be sure ammunition is the correct caliber for the firearm; sight in with the same ammunition that will be used for hunting. Several different brands and types of ammunition may need to be tested to determine what delivers the best accuracy.
Always wear proper eye and ear protection when shooting, and make sure other persons nearby are doing the same.
Try to time your sighting-in sessions so the sun is not shining directly into your face or onto your sights.In a week or so, bench space at West Virginia's public shooting ranges will be hard to find.
Hunters, eager to get their rifles sighted in before the buck firearm season opens Nov. 23, should start flocking toward the ranges any day now. Division of Natural Resources officials have issued the following list of tips for sportsmen who might not be sure how best to sight in their firearms:
A shooting range should have a safe backdrop and be at least 500 feet from any residence or place where people gather.
While sighting in a firearm, the firearm should be solidly supported on a sturdy shooting bench using sandbags or a commercial shooting rest.
Always place the fore stock of the firearm, not the barrel, on the support. Stock and sight mounting screws should be checked for proper tightness.
Be sure ammunition is the correct caliber for the firearm; sight in with the same ammunition that will be used for hunting. Several different brands and types of ammunition may need to be tested to determine what delivers the best accuracy.
Always wear proper eye and ear protection when shooting, and make sure other persons nearby are doing the same.
Try to time your sighting-in sessions so the sun is not shining directly into your face or onto your sights.
A sandbag placed between the rear of the stock and your shoulder will greatly the "kick" of heavy-recoil firearms. Assume a comfortable shooting position so your muscles are relaxed.
Position the firearm's sights on the target by adjusting the support so the support holds the firearm on target and little or no effort on your part is required.
Smoothly pull the trigger with the pad of the shooting finger. Be careful not to use the joint area of the shooting finger, and do not jerk the trigger in anticipation of the firearm firing.
Fire a three- or five-shot group, determine the center of the group, and make sight changes if necessary; follow the firearm or scope manufacturer's instructions to make the necessary sight adjustments.
Fire several more groups - always allowing the barrel to cool between groups - to determine if the firearm is properly sighted in.
After you are confident the firearm is properly sighted in, practice shooting several groups from the various unsupported field shooting positions (standing, kneeling, sitting, prone) that likely will be used when hunting.
The DNR maintains a network of 28 shooting ranges at forests and wildlife management areas throughout the state. To find the one nearest you, visit the DNR Web site, http://www.wvdnr.gov/hunting/SRanges.shtm.
Reach John McCoy at johnmc...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1231.
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