How to Improve Your Shooting Accuracy: Proper Fit

There are many ways to improve your marksmanship ability and shooting accuracy, but without the right equipment, it is hard to progress. Proper fit is key to successful shooting.
One size does not fit all. Many people either discount this fact or take it too far. In example, a smaller person doesn’t necessarily need a smaller gun – perhaps just a shorter length of pull. It is important to make sure that a gun fits you properly before spending lots of time training and money on accessories. If your length of pull is too long or short, shooting is not only uncomfortable but accuracy suffers. If you are straining to look through your sights, you aren’t getting a consistent head position.
If someone’s first experience with firearms is negative, they are unlikely to return.Consistency is imperative in all aspects of shooting, but it is impossible to get with an ill-fitted gun. When I started shooting long range, I had a stock that was far too long for me. In order to look through the sights I placed the butt of the rifle on my collarbone. This was not only painful and contributed to my developing a flinch, but skin and bone didn’t provide an opportunity to develop muscle memory. Switching to a stock with a shorter length of pull made a world of difference. Being comfortable allowed me to focus on the fundamentals of marksmanship while the shorter stock allowed for proper eye relief.

Manufacturers have realized just how important fit is, offering stocks with adjustable length of pull and various aftermarket accessories. Adjustable cheekpieces are not just for competitive shooters or those in search of the greatest accuracy. Finding a gun that fits is perhaps most critical with new shooters. If someone’s first experience with firearms is negative, they are unlikely to return. It’s important to set yourself and others up for success.
It’s important to set yourself and others up for success.