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The Prone position (Part 1)
A new shooter might be forgiven for wondering how hard it can be to lie on the ground and hold a rifle. Lying down, pointing a rifle at a target and squeezing the trigger sounds like an easy thing to do. In reality, the position of the body in relation to the rifle, and to the target, takes a lot of work to get right and has a great affect on the quality of the shooting.
To give an example of how important body position is the shooter should bear in mind that they are trying to hit the very centre of a target that is somewhere between 15 yards and 100 yards away. The width of the centre of the target is so narrow that a small movement can result in missing the centre ring. For example, a 0.25mm movement in the position of the shooter becomes a 6mm movement at the target which, at 25 yards, is enough to drop 2 points out of a possible 10 on a single shot. Trying to hold anything steady within a tolerance of 0.25mm using the muscles in the arms is a difficult task, which is why the position and alignment of the body in relation to the target is very important.
There are three common variables in the prone shooting position: The angle at which the body is turned away from the line of fire, the position of the legs in relation to the line of the body and how far off the ground the torso is raised (upper body and arm placement). Varying the position of each of these things has different advantages and the shooter must find, through practice, the combination that suits them best.
The angle of the body away from the line of fire
Leg positions
The angle of the body away from the line of fire
A good basic prone position. The shooter’s body is at an angle of 10-20 degrees to the line of fire and the line of the body and shoulders creates a ‘T’ shape
The torso of the shooter should be lying at an angle of 10-20 degrees from the line of fire. Lying at an angle makes it easier to hold the rifle and it is also easier to position the eye behind the rear sight. Breathing is easier and tension in the neck is reduced. It can sometimes be beneficial to lean the body slightly to the left side as this will improve the range of motion the chest can have whilst breathing. However, doing this will increase the load in the left arm and it will tire more quickly.
Leg positions
The left leg of the shooter should extend straight out in line with the body. The foot can point to the left or right, or it can be vertical and resting on the toes. The leg should be relaxed and have no muscle tension.
The right leg position can vary depending on the shooter’s preference; it can be extended straight or bent at the knee with the knee drawn up towards the torso. If the leg is straight is should be angled to the right with the foot pointing outwards, away from the body. The angle provides lateral stability to the position and can prevent the shooter from rolling to the left or right.
The prone position with both legs straight can be more comfortable for some people. The feet are pointing outwards helping prevent the body from rolling to either side
More common is for the right leg to be bent at the knee with the knee drawn up towards the torso. The position of the knee and degree of bend is different for each person, but if raised too high the position can become uncomfortable after a short period of time.
The prone position with right knee raised towards the torso.
The right knee has been raised too high and is likely cause discomfort in the back and legs