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Construction of the Kneeling Shooting Position
1. Preparation: The kneeling position is started by placing the mat on the firing position or point, the mat is placed at an angle facing or pointing 10 to 20 degrees to the right of the target. The upper left corner of the mat will then be pointing to the target center.
(a) Place the spotting scope between the firing line and the left shoulder position while in firing position. This will allow the athlete to view the target while charging the rifle.
(b) Place the ammo block to the right of the firing position between the right shoulder and hips at a comfortable position.
(c) All other items required by the athlete can be placed to the right of the shooting position but not in such a manner as to disrupt the athlete next to your position.
NOTE RULE: Do not place any items of equipment on or forward of the firing line during live competitions.
2. Taking the position: KNEELING
GENERAL As a general rule, the results of firing from the kneeling position will be as perfect and stable as the prone position. However, untrained athletes will find it very difficult at first to maintain their position during competition. Aching occurs in the foot, leg, and buttocks, which sometimes result in reduced concentration and less effective holding-aiming-firing sequence. Provided the position is constructed correctly, problems of this nature can be corrected during training. If the kneeling position is balanced and the neurophysiological system is used by the non-dominant entity, the Quiet Zone will appear for a brief period as the lungs become balanced. This period is normally ½ to ¾ of a second long and then leaves. After a period of time the athlete will have to start the shooting sequence again as the Quiet Zone will not reappear until the athlete has again restarted the shooting position. How can an athlete prepare for the kneeling position? Simple, take the kneeling position in front the television without the rifle. While the athlete watches the TV program the leg muscles will stretch and ease the discomfort to the athlete. About a week of this and the athlete will be ready to shoot the perfect bull's-eye in the kneeling. Remember, the goal is to fire 60 one-shot matches resulting in perfect bull's-eye without a miss. On the range the shooting athlete takes the position pointing 20 to 30 degrees to the right of target. The rifle is balanced as in other positions just at the front of the trigger guard. If the hook or butt plate must be extended the necessary movement of the counter weights must be accomplished. The natural point of aim is taken by assuming the kneeling position and looking through the thumb and index finger at the bull. The natural point of aim is seen as the black bull fills the space between the thumb and index finger. The left knee will also be pointing at the bull down range. The balance of the position and rifle fall into two lines of balance. The rifle balance starts at the central balance point at the front of the trigger guard and continues on a direct line through the left elbow and left knee to a point just forward of the left heel of the left foot. The position point of balance starts a point of neck and shoulders, continuing on a direct line to the floor point half way between the right and left feet. The rifle balance line is a Sub-balance line of the main position balance line.
SPINE The spine is slightly inclined forwards, so the full weight of the body rests exactly on the three-point position "left foot - right knee - right foot" and is balanced evenly. The shoulders hang loosely forwards and relaxed in their relationship to the backbone/spine, forming, as in the prone position, the shoulders at right angles to the spine/backbone.
NOTE FUNCTION: If the spine and shoulders are not at right angles to one another during the position construction and shooting, considerable lateral instability will have to be expected.
The backbone/spine must be relaxed and yet not hunched. It should be slightly bent without the muscles having to be flexed. This is important, as the stability of the shooting position is dependent upon the athlete's construction of the perfect shooting position and receiving the perfect bull's-eye. The Quiet Zone appears as the lungs approach perfect balance, air neither inhale or exhale. The rifle is perfectly sighted, lungs are in perfect balance, the Quiet Zone arrives, trigger is pulled straight to the rear, validate the shooting process and the perfect bull's-eye.
LEFT FOOT The left foot must be directly below the rifle and at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees to the right of target. In this way, the position of the leg is at its most stable. Here, as in standing, the kneeling position requires a good pair of flat sole and ankle supporting shoes to wear during shooting. They are for shooting only and not walking. A second pair of shooting shoes will be used for training and may be scuffed and for walking around the range if the athlete wants. The match shoes must always be protected from damaged.
LEFT LEG The left leg must be vertical, or depending upon the body size, inclined slightly forwards below the rifle. No sideways or lateral movement of the leg is permitted
RIGHT FOOT The right foot must be straight, or with the heel slightly turned outward, and resting on the tip. A kneeling roll supports the instep, the toe presses firmly on the ground and the heel presses directly onto the bone of the right buttock (bone-to-bone support). The sole of the shoe must be firm, as it is only in this way that the body is supported at the ground point of contact, and the weight of the body has three effective and stable supporting points. As with the left foot, a pair of shooting boots must be worn to reinforce the shooting position.
KNEELING ROLL Kneeling rolls must be secure. They must not change during the competition, as this can affect the entire stability of the position. The roll should be filled with wood shavings, straw, sawdust, or rug.
NOTE RULE: The kneeling roll size is 7 inches in diameter and 9.5 inches long.
While the length of the roll does not influence the position, the diameter is very important.
1. The angle of the foot and the sole of the shoe to the ground. If the roll is too thick, it is subject to the entire body weight and additionally the sole does not give the required support.
2. If the roll is too thick, the sighting, provided that the body position is correct, will be below the target, and if the roll is too thin, the sight will be above the target. The position or body weight is placed upon the sole heel and not on the ankle.
3. The even weight distribution on three supporting points. If the filling is too thick, the left foot will he subjected to stress and will give to impression of falling forward in the position. It can be seen from the three examples that the fit of the roll is very important. The correct diameter can be worked out from the length of the limbs and the shoe size of the athletes.
NOTE RULE: The left elbow will not protrude over 3 ½ inches beyond the left knee while shooting from the kneeling position.
RIGHT LEG The position of the right leg in relation to the left leg should form an angle of about 30 to 40 degrees. This angle may be difficult for some athletes and it can be reduced. If the angle of 40 degrees is exceeded, excessive weight is transferred to the front and onto the left leg. Each athlete must experiment and find out which is the ideal angle for the athlete.
BUTTOCKS As already indicated, the bone-to-bone of the right buttock should rest on the heel of the right shoe. This makes a stable connection between the bone structure and the ground through the foot.
LEFT ARM The left elbow is placed in the hollow between the kneecap and the femur. The left forearm rest on the extension of the femur. The weight of the rifle is therefore transmitted directly to a stable base, the thigh.
LEFT HAND The rifle stock rest on the ball of the thumb. The fingers are completely relaxed and do not touch the stock. All flexing of the hand muscles is to be avoided, as it can affect the steadiness of the position.
RIGHT ARM/SHOULDER It is the right arm, and thereby the right hand, that has the ultimate responsibility for firing and also for ensuring a proper shoulder contact. The shoulder contact must be made without muscles being flexed. The necessary pressure on shoulder is brought about by the weight of a completely relaxed right arm; the right hand holds securely onto the pistol grip stock with two middle fingers. The majority of the mistakes occur in the kneeling position because the shoulder is too high and in a cramp position. The reason for this is to be found in shoulder position adjustment during the construction of the shooting position. The rifle butt or butt hook is placed into the shoulder pocket of the right or left shoulder. Care must be taken in Big-bore that the rifle butt is not located on or in contact with the collarbone going to the neck. The Butt-hook is placed in such a way that the hook lies next to the ribcage and not tightly under the arm pit.
RIGHT HAND The thumb of the right hand, without pressure being applied, rest on the rifle stock. The index finger is on the trigger, has no contact with the stock. The rifle is only drawn into the shoulder by the middle two fingers. The right wrist is extended and acts as a direct extension of the lower arm. The hand grasps the grip of the stock and the trigger finger pulls directly backwards. As in the other positions, the two inner fingers are pulled against the grip to firm or lock the wrist during the firing sequence. Lastly, the trigger hand and arm is in a straight line, which includes the wrist. The thumb and index finger forms an L with the trigger finger parallel with the rifle stock and ready to engage the trigger.
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION OF BODY The weight of the body and the rifle is distributed evenly between the three bearing points `left foot, right knee, right foot tip or instep with roll'. As a result of the space between these points, the main weight lies within the triangle. In this way, the position has maximum stability. We acknowledge that every athlete varies a little. This is not a problem, as the athlete must adjust the rifle until the sighting path is clear through the rear sights. The athlete must remember the rifle movement (cant if any) cannot exceed 2 degrees without the movement changing the sights and sight zero. Normally, a cant is not required if the position is correctly established and the stock is correctly sized to the shooting athlete. Because of the nature of the kneeling position rifle orientation occurs naturally, however, if the sight does not fall on the target bull naturally, the whole shooting position must be reconstructed. A straight line from the right shoulder or upper right arm through the left hand, left elbow and left knee to the target.
SLING Place the sling in the high sling position on the upper left arm. Attach the sling to the rifle allowing adequate length for a loose sling fit. Tighten the sling until the rifle is supported totally by the sling without muscle tension. Move the forehand stop against the left hand and secure the forehand stop-locking nut to the rifle stock rail. Check the natural point of aim and make any adjustments necessary. Shooting across the position is caused by sling that is too tight. The shooting athlete must shoot out of the position not across the position.