Issues shooting through a barrel

[NicVerAZ]

Is there any particular technique on how to shoot through a barrel?

Last night was my second try at shooting steel at Rio and I completely screwed up the stage with the barrel, missing 3 in total and going through all my mags (I carry 3 mags: 18+16+16).

The barrel shots was the worst. Last week I made the mistake to shoot with the pistol INSIDE of the barrel. Which is of course loud as heck and the RO gave me a bad rap, of course but, since I am a novice, he let me go with a warning.

So yesterday I made sure to shoot out of the barrel, but crouching forward put me off and I could not hit the darn targets. I am not sure what all I did wrong, maybe next time I ask someone to video me so that I know.

What are general words of advice as to how to shoot through a barrel?

Thanks in advance!

[Mark R]

Sight picture - Squeeze

No different than shooting while standing up.

[Amerflyer48]

instead of crouching take a knee maybe, it is more stable...

and don't focus on the barrel just get lined up and adhere to the basics of marksmanship

my first few barrels were disasters also until someone told me to "forget about them if you know you are lined up and will shoot through them they are over 30 " diameter and you shoot a bullet that is less than 1/2" how big a barrel you need to quit worrying and start shooting ??"

after that I forgot about the barrels and focused on shooting straight and finding the most stable way to do it depending on the height I needed to shoot from, also how to keep my head in the proper orientation not rolled over and looking out corner of glasses whihc distorts your sight picture.

Hope this helps

John

[chirpy]

I'm not sure what cof you were shooting but "watching the front sight" always works for me. I know from experience that shooting thru a barrel is loud and can be distracting (add ear plugs under your muffs if necessary) but I have never had a RO give me grief for doing it, nor have I been penalized unless the cof specifically states not to (which I have never seen). Sometimes the cof is such that you have to shoot thru because of target placement! If I were having this problem I would watch the more experienced shooters during the time given after the walk thru and try to take from them and modify to suit your shooting style and ability. Ask someone to watch and make suggestions. Also df practice at home w/an unloaded (checked and double checked and no ammo around) pistol and a safe backstop. Should be easy to do. Make sure you have a solid base/stance and go to one or both knees if necessary until you have more experience. A stance that you can lean slightly to either side to get all targets. Sounds like you might have a hang-up with this that should go away (mostly) the first time you shoot it successfully. Hope others might chime in on this...maybe even someone you shoot with. Good luck,

Richard

[NicVerAZ]

Richard, this is Tuesday Night Steel at the Rio Salado ("Phoenix Sign") gun range. Rules loosely based on USPSA.

Here is the barrel (this is Michelle Viscusi from Top Shot, she shoots there):

She is about 5"2, I am 6". I may indeed have to put a knee down.

Also note my comment in the video, pretty much what I said here. Shot the way she did, but since there is a bunch of folks behind waiting for their turn, shooting from inside the barrel is simply chided upon.

[chirpy]

Being 6' can be a problem on a stage like this. If I were that tall I would probably take a step back with my left foot and go down on my right knee and shoot thru the barrel assuming that is OK with the RO. Stepping back gives you a bit of room to work and going down on the right knee gives you a stable platform to shoot from and a way to push off to the left bank of targets. As for missing the steel thru the barrel I have no clue what might be happening because they are big enough that you should have no trouble with them. Again, good luck,

Richard

[lumpygravy]

I'd avoid shooting from inside the barrel, but not because it frosted the RO or anyone watching. Yes, it is loud(er) than shooting from outside, but if the noise level bothers the RO or other spectators, they need to remember that they are at a shooting range where loud noises are quite common.

I'd avoid shooting from inside the barrel because:

1. if you're deep in the barrel, you have to withdraw from the barrel
   
2. as you withdraw from the barrel, there's the risk of contacting the barrel and the subsequent risk of losing your grip on your gun
   
3. in recoil, your gun could contact the barrel and cause a malfunction
   
4. withdrawing is excess movement and usually slower
   

Watching the video, it looked like the start position was hands on barrel and at the start, engage the first array with all shots passing through the barrel.

Being 6' tall, you may actually have a slight advantage in that you could stand further back because your arms are longer (probably) than the young lady in the video (who clearly shot from within the barrel). I did not see a box or any rear fault line at the barrel so I would do as Chirpy suggested and take a step back and from there you can choose to kneel or squat - whichever you feel is the position that gives you enough stability to make the shots. Whether you choose to kneel or squat, the objective is to keep your body, from the waist, up as close to your normal upright stance. You should dry fire both positions to determine your limitations with each position.

Then comes the part about actually shooting through a barrel. The barrel is intended to limit your view and control angles of fire but the presence of the barrel should not change your shooting technique. Any target you can see through the barrel should receive the same target aquisiton, focus and attention as if the barrel was not there. You may have to change your body position (i.e. kneel or squat) to see the targets, but once you can see them, the shooting is the same.

[bdpaz]

Last week I made the mistake to shoot with the pistol INSIDE of the barrel. Which is of course loud as heck and the RO gave me a bad rap, of course but, since I am a novice, he let me go with a warning.

shooting from inside the barrel is simply chided upon.

I'd avoid shooting from inside the barrel, but not because it frosted the RO or anyone watching. Yes, it is loud(er) than shooting from outside, but if the noise level bothers the RO or other spectators, they need to remember that they are at a shooting range where loud noises are quite common.

I don't know what "gave me a bad rap" or "chided upon" means but I have been at many matches at Rio, both Tuesday Night Steel and the weekend USPSA matches, and never seen anyone upset by a shooter with his gun in a barrel. What I have seen is that almost every time it happens, someone (or several someones) will try explain the drawbacks and suggest alternative methods. And a huge drawback at night is that the barrel blocks the light and will make it hard to see your sights.

[45 Raven]

Lots of other folks have responded to your post and provided you with some alternative suggestions that may help you when shooting through a barrel. But I'm with bpaz on your comment about "being chided upon" or given a "bad rap" for shooting through a barrel at the TNS match at Rio Salado.

I've been shooting the TNS matches for a few years and have never seen a rangemaster criticize a shooter for shooting from inside a barrel. On many occasions I have seen them make suggestions to new shooters that it would be much easier to hit the targets with less distraction if they shoot from outside the barrel.

They were doing this in an attempt to be helpful . . . . not to "chide on" the shooter or give him/her a "bad rap".

Who knows it may have been me that made the suggestion? Take it for what I'm sure it was intended. Helpful advice!

K

Last week I made the mistake to shoot with the pistol INSIDE of the barrel. Which is of course loud as heck and the RO gave me a bad rap, of course but, since I am a novice, he let me go with a warning.

shooting from inside the barrel is simply chided upon.

I'd avoid shooting from inside the barrel, but not because it frosted the RO or anyone watching. Yes, it is loud(er) than shooting from outside, but if the noise level bothers the RO or other spectators, they need to remember that they are at a shooting range where loud noises are quite common.

I don't know what "gave me a bad rap" or "chided upon" means but I have been at many matches at Rio, both Tuesday Night Steel and the weekend USPSA matches, and never seen anyone upset by a shooter with his gun in a barrel. What I have seen is that almost every time it happens, someone (or several someones) will try explain the drawbacks and suggest alternative methods. And a huge drawback at night is that the barrel blocks the light and will make it hard to see your sights.

[NicVerAZ]

Well, I was told the first night I shot there to avoid shooting from inside, due to the extra noise.

Now, this was one RO and everyone will be an RO there at one time or another, and it's a question of time before I do that job myself (once I have learned the drill and feel confident). That means probably a different opinion each time...

It took me about 75 seconds to clear that stage last Tuesday, probably most of half of it in the barrel.

But then, I am a noob, I am there to learn and have fun before being even remotely competitive, so I appreciate all the free advice.

Thanks for all the help.

[bdpaz]

Well, I was told the first night I shot there to avoid shooting from inside, due to the extra noise.

Now, this was one RO and everyone will be an RO there at one time or another, and it's a question of time before I do that job myself (once I have learned the drill and feel confident). That means probably a different opinion each time...

It took me about 75 seconds to clear that stage last Tuesday, probably most of half of it in the barrel.

But then, I am a noob, I am there to learn and have fun before being even remotely competitive, so I appreciate all the free advice.

Thanks for all the help.

I wasn't there so you may well have come across someone who was bothered by the noise (although there is no rule against it and no way for him to penalize you, so his opinion doesn't matter) but most likely he meant that the extra noise was a problem for you. And it is definitely is a distraction! Really, the biggest problem with your gun in the barrel is the lighting. You can get a shadow on your sights and align them incorrectly without even realizing it.

Edited March 9, 2012 by bdpaz