0.22 prone

[archer]

Guys,
Need your help.
Today was my second formal session of 0.22 prone at MRA. It was much better than the first session. I am getting to know my BRNO mod 2(mine as in the MRA owned rifle...i wish it were mine...) i am getting the feel of using a firearm....The problem that i am facing is as follows.
The first 15-20 shots were good. most of them were inside the 8 ring. the problem started after that. I sweat a lot(the jacket doesnt help either... and i wear specs(normal ones)). moisture settles on the inside of the lens and my vision is blurred. resulting in the following shots spreading out.

pls suggest a remedy...

i am not undergoing any formal training as such. i take help from fellow shooters to rectify my errors. any tips/advice on how to go about it.


thanx
regards
Parag

[to_saptarshi]

i wear specs(normal ones)). moisture settles on the inside of the lens and my vision is blurred.

May be you can think of Contact lense..not sure if it will help you or not, but just my 2 cents.

Regards
Saptarshi

[OverUnderPump]

Yep contact lenses will help. But getting used to them will take some time, initially your might feel slight itchiness or discomfort. Once you get used to it you will be glad you made this switch.

regards

OUP

[TenX]

Parag,
Can you give me the following info?
1. What is your eyesight?
2. How big/small are your glasses?
3. How fit is your jacket?
4. Do you button up completely or only the first one/two buttons?
5. What would you associate your sweating with - it could be that you just eat before shotting, or the heat only, or the jacket makes you unconfortable, or your are exerting some muscle stress (like cheek pressure, etc) - The latter is something most shooters dont know until observed by someone else.
6. Have you tried wearing a sweat band to control the moisture deposition? Sometimes it helps.

Lemme diognise your reply and see how best I can help.
BTW, I am stopping in Mysore sunday (10 Aug) afternoon for a brief while. I dont know my plans yet, but can try to meet you (preferably at your place) and see if I can help. Please PM me your number , and lets see what best can be done...

Disclaimer - I am assuming MRA is Mysore Rifle Association. Please excuse if I am wrong.

[archer]

hey tenx,
thanx for ur help. here u go...

1. What is your eyesight? => 0.75 right eye, 0.5 left eye(have problems in seeing far off things. not sure wat it is called.
2. How big/small are your glasses? => I use rectangular glasses that cover my eye completely. not very big(1" by 1.75")
3. How fit is your jacket? => its a regular fit. can swing my arms upto shoulder level, if that answers the question.
4. Do you button up completely or only the first one/two buttons? => I use the first two buttons only.
5. What would you associate your sweating with - it could be that you just eat before shotting, or the heat only, or the jacket makes you unconfortable, or your are exerting some muscle stress (like cheek pressure, etc) - The latter is something most shooters dont know until observed by someone else. => I sweat a lot, even under normal conditions. so the jacket only adds on.
6. Have you tried wearing a sweat band to control the moisture deposition? Sometimes it helps. => i always wear a baseball cap. will try a sweat band.


sorry. MRA stands for maharastra rifle association. i am based in mumbai.

[TenX]

Archer,
From what I gather, here are some tips you should try.
1. It would be great if you could use contact lens. This is the best solution.
2. Sometimes, if the glasses are too small, you tend to look thru a bad angle which result in a straing. If the glasses are too big, then there is a problem of them pressing against the cheek, butt, etc. You have to choose the right frame for your face and stance.
3. Use a headband to keep off sweat. But I would suggest you do NOT use a cap and cover your head, which may add to more heat-up. Leave your hair with the wind for best heat dissipation.
4a. Ensure that you are not exercizing too much of muscle strain, especially with regard to your cheek-butt pressure. This results in sweating after some time.
4b. Recheck your loading and aiming routine to ensure you are not over-exerting or over-stretching yourself. Several such actions could aggrevate sweating.
5. For controlling your overall sweat, try drinking ample water before shooting. This usually regulates your over all body temperature and may slow down sweating.
6. Here is something you could try. I have suggested it to some of my fellow shooters and it has helped them. First, you need to 'train' your body to the excess strain that you give it while in the match/practice. Usually, the body can take some muscle strain with low effort. As this effort continues over a period of time, the strain level goes much higher and may result in sweating, palpitations (in few cases), anxeity and/or nervousness. So, to train, you will have to adopt the shooting posture as much as possible in your daily life, from sleeping to watching TV The ideal way would be to hold something like a gun (if you dont have one available all the time) and get into your Prone position whenever you can. You will have to ensure your body 'does not mind' the position for 3X time duration, if X is your overall match/practice duration. This is ideal, and may not always be the case.
7. Here is another remedy. This is a National team standard proceedure and may help, but depends on the shooter and his body/mind frame. First, you will have to get into the position; next, take your normal aiming routine (unloaded); Next, starting from your toe, till your head, start to tighten all your muscles consciously. This is a very important step. DO this with awareness and complete control, and slowly inhaling. Hold the position, with all your muscles tightned, for about 10 seconds, holding your breath. Now, slowly 'release' the muscle tightness, starting from your head to toe, as you exhale. DO this three times the first day, and go upto 10 times gradually on consecutive days. You will notice that you sweat a lot and slowly, the body and its different muscle groups will adapt well to your position and any imbalance from its natural position.
8. Always ensure you breathe well between shots, and blink your eye a lot, occasionally looking at far off greenery if available.
9. Last but not least, dont concentrate too much or for too long especially during the latter shots, when you feel your vision blurring owing to the moisture on the glass or whatever. Ensure you maintain your rythm and go ahead with your usual firing proceedure. If you cant take the shot within your natural rythm timing, cancel the shot, breath well and retake the shot.

Try this and lemme know it they help. I expect a good feedback, so that it will help future advices

[cherian.k.k]

Archer
i used to have the same problem you are having. i will give you some tips which worked in my case.
1] use big frame-this will help even if the glass slide down
2] use plasic glass -as plastic is less prone to fogging
3] use blinder for left eye-it reduces your eye strain
4]tie a scarf or any cloth on your fore head- so the sweat is absorbed
cherian.k.k

[Mack The Knife]

Haven't read the posts but saw contact lenses being recommended. From what I recall, top level shooters do not use contact lenses because contact lenses are prone to shift. Okay, I admit i do not recall the actual reason but I am pretty sure contact lenses are discouraged.

Get yourself a pair of rifle / pistol shooting lenses. The Vargas are relatively affordable or atleast they used to be and most important of all you will be looking through the centre of the lens rather than the top inside corner.

[TenX]

For starters, and for the .22 OS BRNO, which would wind up in the Mavlankar, I assumed a temporary solution like contacts would give the best immedate remedy, among others mentioned.
However, for more serious shooters, a shooting glass is close to a must, to get a good line of view and prevent any Aberration (hope I pronounced it right) which normal glasses produce because of the change in plane of the glass and the sights.

[Mack The Knife]

"It would be great if you could use contact lens. This is the best solution."



Sorry, am in a bitchy mood.

[TenX]

Good catch Rustum.. suggest you plat cricket as well
Anyways, in this particular case of Parag's, wherein 'moisture settles on the inside of the lens', contact lens may still outweigh the advantage of using shooting glasses, since moisture may well settle on the shooting glass too.
My first mention was a particular suggestion to Parag, and the next was in your response to 'Top level shooters'. Hope I am understood

[Mack The Knife]

contact lens may still outweigh the advantage of using shooting glasses, since moisture may well settle on the shooting glass too.

No it wont because the frame is well away from any part of one's face. Stop backpeddaling or else the chain will come off.

HOWZAAAT???

[archer]

Thanx tenx, cherian, Mack The Knife sir for ur valuable suggestions....i have started working on it. havent moved to contact lens as yet. will keep you posted.

regards
Parag

[archer]

while shooting, MRA did not give me the mag for the BRNO rifle. while demonstrating the working, i was asked to load it directly into the chamber and close the bolt. is that what most clubs do. does this have any advantage over the mag.

[TenX]

Archer,
In a match you are supposed to load one shot after another and NOT use the magazine. So, I guess MRA is guiding you well...