Prone Position

[FSTC]

Share your thoughts on prone position.
Legs Bent

Legs Flat

Urban Prone

Not In Line with the Rifle

In Line with the Rifle

 

[slap shot]

tbh, not in line and with legs bent

 

[AllaSnackbah]

in line with legs flat

 

[SJan]

Legs bent, and not in line with rifle if/when shooting 'true' prone, with a sling, off of your elbows. Your chest should be off of the ground, so breathing will not move point of aim very much.

Off of a bi-pod or rest, legs flat and straight, the shooter is not supporting all of the rifle. The shooter is closer to the ground and has a lower profile this way.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

They all have their purpose. This is kind of like saying Pliers; Linemans or Channellocks?

 

[LuvDog]

Legs bent... Mostly in line but not exactly. I guess I mix a few of these together.

 

[Billsail]

Whatever is comfortable.

 

[jasons]

The "correct" position is in line with the rifle and knee cocked to take pressure off of the diaphragm. (Really skinny guys can sometimes get away with straight legs, non-very skinny guys will most likely get a pulse.)

 

[Twigg]

Go to an Appleseed shoot and you'll have a chance to see what really works.

(bent, not in line)

 

[trippingpara]

Legs bent in line

 

[BostonVI]

Legs bent in line. I try to get my feet parallel with the ground but its so uncomfortable that I end up shooting worse.

 

[GunGrey]

Flat and inline

Never taught to do it that way just kinda do it cause it's comfortable

 

[Gillham]

One thing I learned from competition shooting, lay there with your rifle on target. Close your eyes, breathe and concentrate on keeping your target sighted (with your eyes closed). Open your eyes and see where you've ended up aiming. Shift your hips in the opposite direction of the way you drifted and repeat. If done correctly, you can close your eyes and your rifle will be on target when you open them again. Meaning your body is pointed in the right direction and you're physically doing less to aim.

IIRC I maintain a straight line through my shoulder/arm/elbow, down through one of my legs. The other leg out, and bent.

 

[jcbell1007]

Legs bent, mostly in line is most comfortable for me when supporting the rifle with my arms.

If I have some sort of rest, then it depends on what's underfoot.

 

[PatMcD]

Makes a difference: scope or no scope? sling or no sling?

To illustrate, this is a more or less "classic" prone position. Used when the sling is utilized in the prone position. Notice how he's pretty much behind the rifle, but just ever so slightly off to the left. He has to be when that forward arm has the sling on. Leg bent to get his diaphragm off the deck. Irons sight or scope.


Now we see a lot more of this type of prone position. Directly behind the rifle, no leg bend. Can really only be used when not using the sling. A lot of the "Belly Benchrest" shooters have gone to this and the scores prove it.