CliveWard Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Hi All, We were out again last night having a bit of a clear up on the NT property before lambing starts 'proper'. Fairly early on we drove past one of the gates and I spotted this poor specimen in the thermal rifle scope: http://youtu.be/52xADfAmZbk It was moving right to left and I pushed the bolt home released the safety and set the trigger. I watched for a few seconds and then settled the reticule on it's shoulder and pressed the set trigger as it was stationary, releasing the shot with a good strike report. The fox went down but was up within a second or two, to run a short distance before it expired. The interesting thing with the thermal was that I was able to track it and monitor it's quick passing, even though it had moved behind the hedge to the left of the gateway. When we retrieved that rather sad looking smelly specimen the shot entrance was just behind the front shoulder with the exit a little further back. I reviewed the shot video frame by frame and notice that the shot was indeed released to the right of my hold point (so there was no accuracy issue with the rifle or scope). This was more than likely due to me being wound quite far to the left in the seat and that tension making me pull to the right. Some stills from the video: The initial hold on aim The actual release point of the shot The fox going down And then getting up (you can see the large blood heat signature on the ground) It's only when you look at the videos of shots frame by frame that you can start to see what has happened in detail and then use that information to make future shots 'perfect', especially when rushed and in less than ideal shooting positions. In future I can add (to the massive mental list) a slight hold favour against the bodies naturally relaxed state to mitigate this unwinding. Cheers Clive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Clive,an interesting application for thermal-the second unit director filming the shooter's positions with another camera! MIght help explain why those 1/4 moa rifles sometimes just don't under real field conditions-due to leaners,not fliers. :-) gbal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveWard Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Yep, theres a big difference in shooting prone on bags on a nice day to wobbling about out of a truck window, on sticks or a fence post in the middle of the night At least I know 100% it's me and not the tools and dissecting the videos I learn something. I keep reminding my oppo that he too has a record button on his thermal viewer but he's yet to remember to press it for that split screen thermal cinematic masterpiece. One day. Cheers Clive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy_SP Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Thanks, Clive! I know that you're aware of the problem, but you may find it interesting to know that there's a technique used in archery where you line the sights up with the target, then close your eyes and relax. When you open your eyes again, you look to see how any residual torque in your body has shifted the point of aim. You then move your feet a bit so that there's no movement after relaxing. As I shoot off sticks, I try to keep this lesson in mind to ensure best results. We took down fox no. 51 of the month last night, so we must be doing something right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Thanks, Clive! I know that you're aware of the problem, but you may find it interesting to know that there's a technique used in archery where you line the sights up with the target, then close your eyes and relax. When you open your eyes again, you look to see how any residual torque in your body has shifted the point of aim. You then move your feet a bit so that there's no movement after relaxing. As I shoot off sticks, I try to keep this lesson in mind to ensure best results. We took down fox no. 51 of the month last night, so we must be doing something right! Worst scenario: fox has moved Best scenario: closer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy_SP Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Worst scenario: fox has moved Best scenario: closer! Nonsense - worst scenario: no fox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Nonsense - worst scenario: no fox. Assumed you'd close eyes quietly....:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Paddy,somewhat more seriously,psychologists have been studying very similar processes for years. The current Accurate Shooter bulletin just happens to have one such bit of research briefly outlined. This involves a Sports Psychologist undertaking a performance analysis of a competitive pistol shooter (easier to do indoors!) via biomechanical muscle activity, EEG brain waves and corresponding cognitive functions. Other research has led to the simplified,but descriptive phrase "in the zone",often claimed by superior sport performers when they feel and perform optimally,though that is probably a cognitive state,enabled by biomechanical preparations and the body being just right. (Missing is studied by sigh- cologists) :-) george Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy_SP Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Paddy,somewhat more seriously,psychologists have been studying very similar processes for years. The current Accurate Shooter bulletin just happens to have one such bit of research briefly outlined. This involves a Sports Psychologist undertaking a performance analysis of a competitive pistol shooter (easier to do indoors!) via biomechanical muscle activity, EEG brain waves and corresponding cognitive functions. Other research has led to the simplified,but descriptive phrase "in the zone",often claimed by superior sport performers when they feel and perform optimally,though that is probably a cognitive state,enabled by biomechanical preparations and the body being just right. (Missing is studied by sigh- cologists) :-) george I'd agree with the 'zone' idea - some nights I seem to do no wrong, whilst on others I appear to be able to find all the snappy twigs to stand on, foxes that run in from upwind, and equipment straps that like tangling each other up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliveWard Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Hi Paddy, I know what you mean. I do the eyes closed drill on the range to make sure of position sometimes if it doesn't feel 'right'. Shooting from the vehicle I was wound round to the left probably 110 degrees or so, so definitely not right. There wasn't the option of moving the whole truck. It's great to be able to analyse it and actually see where accuracy suffered slightly though, rather than shrug it off as some shooters may do. gbal, That all makes sense to me. If your nervous system is clogged up with unnecessary muscle information then I can see where bandwidth could be lost on the primary task. If your bodies just right then there's more processing power available for the actual job in hand. Cheers Clive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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