The Prone Position

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Sandbags

16 February 2001
By JD Hicks *

The object of a bench rest is to provide a stable and repeatable platform for
executing a string of shots. True enough. Is that not also exactly what the prone
position can do? Bill Pullum and Frank T. Hanenkrat say the prone position should
provide a sight picture that is motionless and that an experienced shooter should
easily be able to hold a scoped rifle on the inside of a single .22 caliber bullet hole
at 50 meters. A .22 caliber bullet hole at 50 meters is less than a half-minute of
angle. In comparison, the 10-ring on a UIT target is one full minute and the 10-ring
on the 600yard NRA Highpower Rifle target is about two minutes. To achieve this
half-minute hold, it is necessary to learn and employ what the U.S. Army Sniper
Training Manual calls the three elements of a good position: bone support,
muscular relaxation, and natural point of aim.

Bone support and muscular relaxation provide a system in which the weight of the
rifle is transferred from bone to bone, and ultimately to the ground, without being
interrupted by any special muscular effort. It is very important to understand this
concept. If one were standing on a street corner and decided to unconditionally
relax every muscle, the body would collapse into a heap. It is easy to agree,
however, that standing can be done while remaining fully relaxed. Standing, after
all, is something routinely performed without any special effort. This is exactly the
sort of relaxation that is required in the prone position.

The third component is a natural point of aim. Using the bench rest example again,
no shooter would lower the point of impact by pressing down on the rifle while
trying to slowly pull the trigger. Rather, the front rest or rear bag would be adjusted
in preparation for making the shot. One could also visualize a mannequin with a
rifle glued in place.

The mannequin's natural point of aim is what it is. The only possible way to get the
rifle on target would be to move the mannequin and, therefore, the rifle, right or
left, up or down - just like the bench rest. The prone shooter, then, must learn to
similarly adjust their point of aim.

In order to achieve a solid prone position that allows the shooter to maintain the
proper bone support and muscular relaxation, it is necessary to learn the basic
principles of the position. It is interesting to note that there are widely differing
ideas about this perfect prone position amongst top scoring shooters. However,
according to Pullum and Hanenkrat, this is not the least bit strange. They explain
that, within reasonable bounds, specialized variations based on physical size and
other factors are to be expected. Nevertheless, the basics are not to be overlooked,
and variations that violate the three elements of a good position must be avoided.

The basic principles can be thought of in several logical groups. These groups are
the left arm and hand; the right arm and hand; the legs and spine; and the head and
neck. The discussion begins with the left arm, hand, sling and handstop.

Position of the Left Elbow

World-class prone shooter Ernest Vande Zande says the most common error prone
shooters make is developing a position where the left elbow is not extended far
enough forward. The left elbow should be fully extended and set just to the left of
the rifle. The placement of the left elbow should not be the enabling factor for
building a "high" or "low" prone position. "High" and "low" prone positions are
just what they sound like. A "high" position is one in which the left hand and
indeed the entire position is high off the ground relative to what would be the
lowest possible legal position. Moving the left elbow farther out to lower the
position or closer to the body to lift the position is a mistake.

The left elbow is the single foundation point of the entire position. Everything else
is adjusted and oriented around this point.

Position and Configuration of the Sling

The sling running from the upper left arm to a point on the rifle near the left hand
forms a triangle with the upper left arm and left forearm.
The sling must transmit the rifle's weight to the bone in the upper left arm, thus
removing the need for the muscles in the left arm to hold this weight. The sling
should be made of a material that does not stretch and is as wide as the rules allow.
A sling that stretches will allow the position to creep and become increasingly
difficult to maintain without extra muscular effort. The sling can also slip down the
upper arm if it is not adjusted snugly and held in place with some type of keeper.
This can likewise degrade the position or cut off the flow of blood. Most shooting
jackets have some type of hook, ring or strap on the top of the left arm expressly
for this purpose. A heavy button sewn to the sleeve just below the sling will work
just as well. A wider sling is less likely to cut off the blood flow as it spreads the
weight of the system over a larger area of the upper arm.

The sling should be placed either high or low on the arm, but not in the middle.
The brachial artery can become compressed between the sling and the bone when
the sling is placed in the middle of the upper arm. A "high" prone position usually
works best with the sling higher on the arm, and, conversely, a "low" prone
position usually works best with the sling lower on the arm.

The sling should extend from the upper arm in a straight line on the inside of the
left wrist. It should then pass flatly under the wrist and back of the hand to the
connection point on the rifle. Pullum and Hanenkrat remind shooters to remove
their wristwatch. It may also be necessary to adjust the cuff of the shooting jacket
and/or the shooting glove under the sling at this point. It is certain that any extra
bulk from a watchband or heavy jacket seam will become a distraction under
continued pressure from the sling.

The use, utility and merit of cuff-type slings are left to the reader to discover.

The Hand Stop / Sling Swivel

On the "service rifle," the sling swivel is fixed and the shooter's prone position
must be built around that fact. The length of the sling and, therefore, the height of
the position are governed to a great extent by this fixed point. This is not
necessarily the case when using a "match rifle." A match rifle may provide an
adjustable hand stop that allows the position to be adjusted to any number of
possible configurations. A good starting point for an adjustable hand stop is to
arrange it so that the distance from the rifle butt to the trigger is the same as the
distance between the hand stop and the trigger.

The position of the hand stop and length of the sling will govern the shape of the
supporting triangle discussed earlier and raise or lower the position. These
adjustments should not be initially tinkered with in order to achieve some desired
higher or lower position. Rather, a stable position should be sought and then
simply labeled as high or low. The point needs to be made that the position of any
single element of the prone position affects all others. The arm bone is connected
to the shoulder bone, to use a juvenile example. If after some experience with a
particular position one is convinced that higher or lower might be better, then
proceed to experiment with caution.

There are as many different types of hand stops as there are hands. Try several.
Finally choose the one that is the most comfortable for the longest period of time.
Using a hand stop that hurts like the devil just because Lonnes Wigger uses that
type will only help Lonnes - not that he actually needs any help. When using
multiple rifles, use the same type of hand stop on all of them, if possible.

The Left Hand

The left hand and wrist must be kept straight, as any bending will cause extra
muscles to be used and set up a springing motion that affects recoil. It is also
important not to grasp the rifle with the fingers of the left hand. Any force exerted
by the left hand will change recoil from shot to shot and thus the bullet's impact on
the target. One may also unconsciously "finger" the rifle the last little bit onto the
target when aligning the sights. This will result in shots that look and feel clean but
are off call. Just as the trigger releases the supporting fingers relax and the rifle
springs back to the true natural point of aim.

Once a stable position is established, record the length of the sling, the position of
the sling on the upper arm, and the position of the hand stop. Index numbers are
found stamped in many commercially available slings. If this is not the case, a
simple black line marked with a "P" for prone can be employed. Many rifles
equipped with an adjustable hand stop are similarly indexed. This notwithstanding,
a piece of tape or any other suitable mark may be substituted.
As an extra note: If a journal is not currently being maintained - start one now.

The Legs and Spine

The position should be oriented so that the spine is straight and relaxed. The left
leg should be parallel to the spine with the toe of the left foot pointed in towards
the position. The right leg should be brought up to about a 450 angle with the
lower part parallel with the left leg and the toe of the right foot pointing out and
away from the position. The angle of the right leg controls the relationship of the
right shoulder to the center of the position and by moving the chest up and down,
can control the effect of breathing. The individual shooter is invited to experiment
with the right leg through the entire range of motion. It is an interesting experiment
to set oneself in position and then observe the position of the right shoulder and
chest as the right leg is swung through the entire possible range. A home video
camera can be most illuminating in this particular exercise, as well as allowing
general analysis of the position. Ultimately, one will determine the position of the
right leg that is most stable and results in the least disturbance of the front sight
from pulse beat.

The Right Elbow

In Full Metal Jacket, a stern faced drill instructor growls, "Move the rifle around
your head, not your head around the rifle!" Exactly the same thing applies to the
right elbow. The placement of the right elbow must be governed by the position of
the rifle. To imitate the drill instructor, "Move the elbow to the rifle, not the rifle to
the elbow." To achieve this, the shooter must grip the rifle with the right hand first
and then plant the right elbow. It is also important to allow the right arm to relax
normally when planting the elbow. No extra muscular effort should be used to pull
or push the position into place.

Special care should be taken to guarantee that the right elbow does not slide
around. A sheet of course grit sand paper or emery paper should be in your
shooter's equipment box. As needed, the surface of the elbow pad or shooting mat
can be roughed up to improve friction.
The Right Hand
The grip of the right hand should be just strong enough to hold it in place on the
rifle. The fingers should be firm but not tight. The United States Army Sniper
Training Manual explains that one will close the whole hand while pulling the
trigger if the grip is not firm enough. This action of closing the hand along with
pulling the trigger will move the rifle off target as the shot is being fired. A simple
exercise will clearly show this action. While in the prone position with an empty
chamber and un-cocked rifle, sight on an appropriate and safe target. With the right
hand intentionally loose, pull the trigger and close the grip on the rifle snugly as
one action. Notice the wild movement of the front sight. Next, try the same
exercise while concentrating on not allowing the front sight to move. Difficult?
Probably impossible. One might also extend this exercise using the correct
technique to discover the best possible grip and hand position. This will be one that
allows the trigger to be pulled straight back without disturbing the sights.

Master Sergeant James R. Owens instructs shooters that the position of the right
hand must be such that the trigger finger is able to move without touching the rifle
stock. The finger touching or brushing on the stock during trigger pull is called,
"dragging wood." This makes it impossible to pull the trigger straight back or in a
fashion that does not disturb the sights. According to Master Sergeant Owens, a
symptom of this is a group of shots strung out horizontally.

The United States Army Sniper Training Manual agrees with Master Sergeant
Owens, and further states that touching any part of the rifle - including the trigger
guard - even at a slight angle will disturb the sights.

The Right Shoulder

The butt plate should be placed close to the neck and have as much contact with
the shoulder as possible. The larger the contact area is between the shoulder and
the butt plate, the less likely it will be for the rifle to slide around and require
constant adjustment. It will also be easier to keep a consistent cant angle if the butt
plate has a large contact area. A rifle supported by the very top or bottom of the
butt plate is free to swing on the pivot point created by the small contact area. The
pressure on the butt plate should be equal to the pressure on the hand stop. This
pressure should be adjusted by adjusting the length of the stock rather than the
position of the hand stop or length of the sling. Recall that the position of the hand
stop and length of the sling should be used to adjust the height of the position and
front sight. According to the Small Arms Marksmanship Manual of the Bureau of
Naval Personnel, insufficient pressure on the butt plate is the main cause of most
weaknesses in the prone position. The upper body and right shoulder should be as
close to the ground as possible. If a match rifle is being used, the height of the butt
plate can be adjusted to help improve the amount of shoulder contact and pressure.

The Head Position

Generally, in the prone position, the cheek piece will be set such that the top of it is
in line with the axis of the bore. With this in mind, the cheek piece should be
adjusted to allow the head to rest in a natural position without straining the neck or
shoulder muscles. A proper head position, in addition to being natural and relaxed,
should allow the shooter to look through the sights without obstruction from the
bridge of the nose or eyebrows. The position of the shooter's head can be quickly
referenced using the sight picture. The position and relative size of the front sight
as seen through the rear sight should appear exactly the same every time the head
is positioned on the cheek piece.

In an article published in InSights, Joseph Roberts, Jr. says that seeing your sights
the same way every time will keep you from making sight alignment errors. There
is an explanation of sight alignment verses sight picture in the appendix. Ernest
Vande Zande says that it is also important to move the cheek piece up and down
with the rear sight. Keeping journal entries for how much the sight physically
moves when adjusted from one yard-line to the next is key. If the rear sight moves
one-quarter inch to move from 300 to 500 yards for example, the cheek piece
should also be moved one-quarter inch. It should be understood that the physics of
recoil include the weight of the head on the rifle. If during the first shot the head is
being held up off of the rifle in order to align the sights and then during the next
shot the head is pressed down firmly, the recoil will be different. This changing
cheek pressure, and resulting different recoil, will cause the shots to be strung out
across the target.

Stay within the rules

Recall any position must pass the test of remaining legal under the rules. It is the
duty of every shooter to know and understand the rules. A visit from a match
official in the middle of a string of shots can be pretty distracting. Pushing the
envelope of legal is begging for a challenge.
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Appendix:
A. Sight Alignment vs. Sight Picture
Sight alignment error has a far greater effect on where a shot hits the target than
does sight picture. The reason for this is that sight alignment is angular while sight
picture is parallel. If you aim three inches off center (a parallel error), your shot
will be three inches off at all ranges. If you misalign by three minutes (an angular
measurement) a 600-yard shot will be three minutes (approximately 18 inches) off.

B. Canting the Rifle

Each one-degree of cant results in a 1/4 minute change in impact. The use of a
spirit level on a Match Rifle can prevent canting or maintain a constant intentional
cant.

C. The Spotting Scope

According to N. Kalinichenko, the spotting scope can be just as fatiguing on the
eyes as the sight picture. He suggests in his September 1970 American Rifleman
article, How the Soviets View Aiming Problems, that the same color filter be used
on the spotting scope as is currently being used for the rear sight.

D. Pulse Beat
Pulse beat is the motion of the position generated by the beating of the heart. As
the heart pumps blood through the vascular system, the pressure in that system
changes and causes blood vessels to expand and contract with this change in
pressure.

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* About the author

JD Hicks holds a U.S. record in Highpower Prone, is a High Master in Highpower
Rifle and Long Range Rifle and has won State championships in three U.S. States.