[ccrn]

If you you want to shoot outside of your unit having any rifle helps. Having an M4 is great if even just to dry fire and rehearse magazine changes.

As far as marksmanship Im not an expert but having spent 10 years in the Army, 4 years in the Infantry and 6 years SF support with trips to the box, Ive done a little shooting. The same basic marksmanship for shooting a 22 applies to shooting an M4 or sniper rifle. Just different positions, moving targets, and while moving. Even with owning my own AR15 and having shot some courses, nothing prepared me as much as just being in the Army and shooting with my unit. Doesn't your unit shoot regularly? I was in a National Guard Infantry unit and we shot every month. Typically an 18 hour day. We went to the shoot house a couple times a year. Thats what we got and we did the best with that. I think half the battle is just wanting to be better than you currently are. Constantly striving to be better. Im still doing that., dry firing almost daily and shooting occasional competitions.

I think if you stay in good shape (maybe do a taper before your competition vs going out to see if youre in shape or not) and shoot some with that little 22 you have youll be fine. Just use BRASS (breath, relax, aim,site picture, squeeze) .

As far as "differences" of shooting with a 22 or M4 the biggest difference the US Army teaches (and I use) is if you have time and youre just zeroing your weapn etc then they teach to hold your breath in the neutral spot between breaths, when your lungs are neither empty or full. While youre still comfortable, take your shot.

With an M4 in a combat shooting scenario you want to take your breath in then hold it while you take your shot.

An advanced standing posture with M4 is to face your target, pull your weapon in tight, pull your elbows in tight to your sides, round your shoulders slightly forward, and take in a big breath. Youll find this sucks the weapon in tight and gives you a stable turret.

*Make sure your hand is high up on the pistol grip, as high up on the back strap as it can go
*Pull the weapon in tight to your shoulder pocket
*I hold my non-firing hand all the way out on the end of the free floating tube but you probably have a gov issues piece with short fore-grip and iron sight. Use this to pull the weapon back as well, or a Chicago grip if you use one (I bought my own when they were popular)
*Squeeze or pull the trigger back with the pad of your finger
*If youre using red dot focus on the target. If youre using iron sights focus on the front sight post keeping the target blurry. Works good with handguns too (flash sight picture)
*I was taught in the Infantry (and at Group) to stand facing the target while shooting. Dont stand bladed.

This is all stuff I learned in the Army or at shooting schools. I never shot before the Army and didnt grow up with guns. Everything you need to be a great shooter and shoot expert is in an Army manual. Instead of reading a SOF sniper manual perhaps get your military M4/M16 manual and read every word.

If you really want to get good I cant recommend competition enough. Civilian competition completely changed military shooting in America when Tier 1 and Tier 2 guys started going to events after their first few trips to Afghanistan and Iraq. ITs all over America in the form of 2 gun, 3 gun, Steel challenge, IDPA and USPSA.

Search Frank Proctor on ******* that guy has forgotten more than most people knew and he knows how to blend competition and combat shooting which he sees as on and the same. He was our senior instructor when I was still support in group.

See you on the high ground-