The Rifleman Series (Part 5)

8/14/2019 The Rifleman Series (Part 5)

1/5

The Rifleman Series -- Part Five: Natural Point of Aim (NPOA)

Welcome again to our series on becoming a Riflemansomeone who can, with

rack-grade rifle and surplus ammo, maintain a 4 MOA group at ranges from 25meters to 500 yards from field positions.

In Part Four, we discussed the 6 steps to firing the shot. Course by now, you

have these committed to memory, right?

But for folks who might have just joined us, Ill repeat em :

1. SIGHT ALIGNMENT -- Line up the front and rear sights

2. SIGHT PICTURE -- Keeping the sights lined up, bring them onto the target

3. RESPIRATORY PAUSEDeep breath, exhale partially, hold breath as front

sight touches bottom of target

4A. FOCUS YOUR EYE -- Focus your eye on the front sight

4B. FOCUS YOUR MIND -Keep front sight on target

5. TRIGGER SQUEEZE- Squeeze straight back while front sight stays on target

6. FOLLOW THROUGH -- Sighting eye open, take mental picture of where sights

were when rifle discharged, and follow through with trigger

Today, were diving deeper into Step Two of firing the shot and discussing

Natural Point of Aim (NPOA).

NPOA is the one factor which separates the Riflemen from the wannabees. Like I

said last time, you have two basic choices in getting and keeping your sight

picture. First way is to use your muscles and fight your bodys natural alignment so

as to force the sights onto the target.


2/5

Thatll work maybeas long as you can:

a) use the same amount of muscle power to force your body into the exact same

position for each shot (remembering, of course, that even the Quick and Dirtysingle-sheet Army Qualification Test will require 40 shots), and

b) keep your muscles from growing tired and starting to tremble as you fight your

body to keep your sights on target.

Being that youre one of the bright students here (or, like Fred, youve gotten tired

of doing the same thing and getting the same results), youre gonna want to haveyour body work with you, rather than against you. So youre going to use the

second way, which is your NPOA.

What does NPOA offer you?

If you dont get your natural point of aim, your shots will be off the center of the

target, even if fired perfectly. Why? Because your body is out of position, and you

have to muscle the rifle to get your sights onto the target. That muscle strain is

difficult to replicate, shot to shot, and it wears out your bodys fine muscle control

pretty quickly.

A Rifleman takes his shooting position so that his rifle, with his body relaxed, is

pointing at the target. He doesnt have to fight muscle strain and he makes his job

of firing the shot a lot easier. Best of all, his shots will be on target, accurately and

consistently, because hes not fighting his bodys natural position.

Heres a guarantee: learn to establish your NPOA and use your sling in all

positions (more next time), and youll reduce your groups by at least 33%, maybe

more. Promise.

Sounds like its worth the trouble, right?


3/5

Thought so.

So how do you find your NPOA?

First, follow Step One of firing the shot and align your sights once you are inyour shooting position. Next, follow Step Two and get your sight picture by lining

up on the target with your sights.

Now the NPOA work begins. Close your eyes, relax your body, taking a deep

breath in and let it out.

Open your eyes and check your sight picture. 9 times out of 10, your sight picture

will have changed, because your body is now relaxed.

Youll now reestablish your sight picture by making slight adjustments in your

position. If you are in theprone position, youll shift position pivoting around your

forward elbow to bring the sights back on the target. In other positions, you will

make whatever small adjustments in your position so that the rifle points naturally

at the target.

Satisfied with your position? OK, lets test your work.

Once again, close your eyes, relax your body, inhale deeply, exhale, open your

eyes, and check your sight picture.

Depending on your position, your sights may be dead on target. If not, repeat the

cycle:

- Establish your sight picture

- Close your eyes

- Relax your body

- Inhale deeply

- Exhale

- Open your eyes

- Re-check sight picture

- Make slight adjustments to your position, and


4/5

- Repeat

How many times do you have to repeat this process? Youll want to repeat it until

when you open your eyes, your sights are naturally on the target. No more, and no

less.

Once you establish your NPOA, MAINTAIN YOUR BODY POSITION from shot

to shot by not moving that forward elbow supporting the rifle [prone] or keeping

your position steady [all other positions]. Even tougher, youll need to keep that

same body position as you reload and fire a fresh magazine.

If you move, your shots will move. Its that simple, and that important.

Now, I know that someone out there is thinking, Why do I have to go through all

of this hooey just to fire a shot?

Well, guess what?

You dont have to. You can fire each shot just the way you have always fired each

shot.

Thing is, though: if you do that, youll get exactly the same results that y ou always

have.

The rest of us want to be Riflemen. We are willing to overcome our sloth and

change our habits, whatever the cost, because we want to join that elite top 5% of

marksmen in America. We know that if we do that, well be among the best

shooters in the entire world.

And we are committed to that goal. Even if that means memorizing some stuff that

we dont want to memorize, and forcing our bodies into positions that are pretty

darned uncomfortable, at least at first.

Most of allwe are committed to becoming Riflemen, even if it means going

through the NPOA cycle 10 times for every shot, until we get the hang of dropping


5/5

into a good position from the beginning.

You see, when ol Fred told you that NPOA sorts out the wannabees from the

Riflemen, he was speaking in two senses.

First, NPOA is the technique that will allow you, with practice, to shoot 20 groups

at 500 yards. Without it, youre toast.

But even more importantly, the learning and application of the NPOA process is

where you build the self-discipline, perseverance, and moxie that will benefit you

for the rest of your life, both as a Rifleman and as a citizen.

So, right now, while the information is still freshgo to your gun safe, grab yourrifle, ensure that it is unloaded (chamber and mag), and take 15 minutes of dry-

firing practice from prone position using the NPOA steps weve been discussing.

Start slowly, and repeat each step quietly to yourself as you do it. If you can, get

your spouse, roommate, or eldest child to help you by reading the steps as you go

through them.

Take that practice 3 times a week, 15 minutes a session, in the comfort of your

homepractice, persevere, persist. You dont even have to go to the range but of

course, if you can get to the range, dont miss the opportunity.

You CAN do it! See you next time, with your slings!

Next time, Fred discusses the importance of the rifle sling, along with other

shooting tips.

The Rifleman Series (Part 5)

Documents

Transcript of The Rifleman Series (Part 5)