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Shooting is the act or process of discharging aprojectile from a ranged weapon (such as agun,bow,crossbow,slingshot, orblowpipe). Even the acts of launchingflame,artillery,darts,harpoons,grenades,rockets, andguided missiles can be considered acts of shooting. When using afirearm, the act of shooting is often calledfiring as it involves initiating acombustion (deflagration) of chemicalpropellants.
Shooting can take place in ashooting range or in the field, inshooting sports,hunting, or incombat. The person involved in the shooting activity is called ashooter. A skilled, accurate shooter is amarksman orsharpshooter, and a person's level of shooting proficiency is referred to as theirmarksmanship.
Shooting has inspired competition, and in several countries rifle clubs started to form in the 19th century.[1] Soon international shooting events evolved, includingshooting at the Summer andWinter Olympics (from 1896) andWorld Championships (from 1897).[2] TheInternational Shooting Sport Federation still administers Olympic and non-Olympic rifle, pistol, shotgun, and running target shooting competitions, although there is also a large number of national and international shooting sports controlled by unrelated organizations.[2]
Shooting technique differs depending on factors like the type of firearm used (from ahandgun to aprecision rifle); the distance to and nature of thetarget; the required precision; and the available time. Breathing and position play an important role when handling a handgun or a rifle. Some shooting sports, such asIPSC shooting[3] andbiathlon also include movement. The prone position, kneeling position, and standing position offer different amounts of support for the shooter.
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In the United Kingdom shooting often refers to the activity ofhuntinggame birds such asgrouse orpheasants, or small game such asrabbits, with guns.[4] A shooter is sometimes referred to as a "gun". Shooting may also refer to theculling ofvermin with guns.Clay pigeon shooting is meant to simulate shootingpigeons released from traps after live birds were banned in the United Kingdom in 1921.[5]
Shooting most often refers to the use of agun (firearm orair gun), although it can also be used to describe discharging of any ranged weapons like abow,crossbow,slingshot, or evenblowpipe.[4] The term "weapon" does not necessarily mean it is used as a combat tool, but as a piece of equipment to help the user best achieve the hit on their intended targets.[6]
Shooting is also used inwarfare,self-defense,crime, andlaw enforcement.Duels were sometimes held using guns. Shooting without a target has applications such ascelebratory gunfire,21-gun salute, or firingstarting pistols, incapable of releasing bullets.
In many countries, there arerestrictions on what kind of firearm can be bought and by whom, leading to debate about how effective such measures are and the extent to which they should be applied. For example,attitudes towards guns and shooting in the United States are very different fromthose in the United Kingdom andAustralia.[7]
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TheNational Rifle Association of America definesfour basic "competition" or "field" shooting positions. In order of steadiness/stability (the closer you get to the ground, the steadier you are), they areprone,sitting,kneeling, andstanding (also called "offhand").[8]
Hythe positions (Hythe School of Musketry was formed in 1853 to teach the army how to use the rifle in kneeling and standing positions), American and French positions were known variations of the kneeling and standing positions utilised by their respective armies.[9]
Another common, but aided, shooting position is thebench shooting position. There are also numerous shooting aids from monopods to tripods to sandbags and complete gun cradles.[8]
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The rice paddy squat (or rice paddy prone) position is a moderately stable position that supports both elbows, which makes it more stable than kneeling but keeps a high level of mobility. Its higher center of gravity is still be stable than sitting or prone. It was a traditionally-taught marksmanship position but lost popularity after theKorean War.[12]
The position was sometimes referred to as the Creedmoor position and has a number of variations. It was known in the latter half of the 18th century and later revived by a small number of shooters in the 1860s with the introduction of competitive long range shooting at the NRA[which?] rifle meetings. It continued in use into the 20th century for match riflemen. The position was really developed during the 1870s as a consequence of great interest in long-range shooting associated with the international matches. Back position provided the most stable platform for the rifle in those competitions where no artificial support, including slings, was permitted. It was even superior to shooting prone unsupported.[13]
Lying on one's side is not a normally-chosen position but may be a used when reacting to a threat, when may be used behind a barricade to present a very small target since only the gun hand and a piece of one's face are normally exposed, with the rest covered by the barricade.[14]
This position involves a shooter leaning on something like a wall, a tree or post. The rifle barrel should not be rested against it because it is steadier to lean the body.[15] It's usually combined with standing and kneeling positions.
The sling is used to create isometric pressure to increase steadiness. While the use of a sling is of questionable value in shooting from the standing position, it is very much worth using from kneeling, sitting, or prone. It is also used in back position, and the sling is then looped around the foot and takes the recoil.[13] Proper use of the sling locks the rifle into the body and enhances that solid foundation so critical to delivering an accurate shot.
A type of shooting sling. All positions are strengthened through the use of ahasty sling. The formaltight sling is detached from the rear sling swivel and tightened above the bicep of the supporting arm. Almost any carrying strap can be used in thehasty sling mode. There is often a compromise between the most comfortable "carry" length for shooter's sling and the ideal tension for ahasty sling. The steadiness achieved is almost as good as atight competition sling, and it is much faster.[8][11]
InISSF shooting events, 3 out of 7 shooting positions are used. Positions not used are supine, sitting, rice paddy squat, and side position.
WBSF governsbenchrest shooting.
IPSC shooting events use prone, offhand and supported shooting positions.
There are somecompetitions, such asfelthurtigskyting, in which shooting position is freestyle. That means that the shooter decides which one of the four positions they'll use.
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