Editing Shooting (section)

==Shooting positions==
{{howto|date=November 2022}}
The [[National Rifle Association of America]] defines '''four basic''' "competition" or "field" shooting positions. In order of steadiness/stability (the closer you get to the ground, the steadier you are), they are [[Prone position|prone]], [[sitting]], [[Kneeling position|kneeling]], and [[standing]] (also called "offhand").<ref name="petersenshunting.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.petersenshunting.com/editorial/basic-shooting-positions-every-hunter-should-master/272545|title=Basic Shooting Positions Every Hunter Should Master|first=Craig|last=Boddington|date=October 30, 2015|website=Petersen's Hunting}}</ref>

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.<ref name="auto">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41334509|jstor = 41334509|title = Journal of the Society for Arts, Vol. 9, no. 443|last1 = Le Neve Foster|first1 = P.|last2 = MacGregor|first2 = John|last3 = Scott|first3 = Wentworth L.|last4 = Rule|first4 = Barrow|journal = The Journal of the Society of Arts|year = 1861|volume = 9|issue = 443|pages = 473–490}}</ref>

Another common, but aided, shooting position is the [[Benchrest shooting|bench shooting position]]. There are also numerous shooting aids from monopods to tripods to sandbags and complete gun cradles.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>

===Prone===
[[File:2020-01-08 IBU World Cup Biathlon Oberhof IMG 2590 by Stepro.jpg|thumb|Athletes fires from the prone position at a Biathlon competition]]
* The steadiest and by far the easiest to master. Done correctly. it can be as steady as shooting from a bench rest.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
* Probably the least used in the field because, all too often, vegetation gets in the way and obscures the view.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
* Variations:<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
** classic – with the body at an angle (left for right-handed people, right for left-handed)
** modern – with the body more directly behind the rifle with the shooter's strong side leg slightly bent.
* Test for correct body position: wrap your arm into the hasty sling and drop down into prone, sighting at the target. Close your eyes. When you open them you should still be aiming at the target. If you are not, then your position is off. Also, if the shooter's sight picture returns after the firm kicks to each muzzle, then body alignment is good. If not, adjustment is needed.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
* Usual advice is to use a sling for this position<ref name="welikeshooting.com">{{Cite web|last=Krieger|first=Aaron|date=October 2, 2012|title=Four Basic Shooting Positions|url=https://welikeshooting.com/tips-how-to/four-basic-shooting-positions/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=welikeshooting.com}}</ref>
* Aided prone position – prone with pack or bipod

===Sitting===
[[File:Posizione libera.jpg|thumb|An athlete fires from the sitting position at a Field Target (FT) shooting event]]
* This position is relatively easy to get into, but more difficult to get out of quickly and provides clearance for low to medium-height obstacles that would interfere with the prone position.
* Proper sitting position is extremely difficult to master.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
* Variations:<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
** open leg
** cross leg (aka pretzel style) – the steadiest sitting position.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
** cross ankle
* The test for correct body position is the same as prone.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
* Usual advice is to use a sling for this position.<ref name="welikeshooting.com"/>
* Aided sitting position – sitting with tripod

===Kneeling===
[[File:Spc. Sagen Maddalena and Mary Tucker at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games 50m rifle 3 position, July 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (51348063567).jpg|thumb|Sagen Maddalena kneeling in the 50m rifle 3-position rifle event at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games]]
* There were numerous variations of the position throughout history.<ref name="auto"/>
* Best for times when shooter needs to shoot quickly, but it is a bit too far (or he is breathing a bit too hard) to risk a shot from the standing position.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
* Considerably steadier than standing position.
* For most people it is not nearly as steady as sitting but it is much faster to get in and out of.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
** For some people this position can be almost as steady as the prone position.<ref name="welikeshooting.com"/>
* Strong-side knee is on the ground, weak-side knee and foot are pointing at the target while weak-side knee is supporting the elbow (It is important that the bony tip of the elbow not be planted on top of the knee cap – bone-on-bone contact allows for too much movement or it can slip.) 
* Variations:<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>
** sitting on strong-side foot
** with strong-side foot flat
** sitting on the strong-side foot's heel with the toes grounded
* Usual advice is to use a sling for this position.<ref name="welikeshooting.com"/>
*Aided kneeling position – kneeling with crossed sticks or tripod

===Standing (or offhand)===
* The quickest position to assume and is useful for quick shots and for shooting over objects.<ref name="welikeshooting.com"/>
* By far is the least steadiest of all positions. A common trait is a bit of sway in this position. The trick is learning to control the sway and fire when the shooter is at his steadiest. Breathing exercises help in maintaining the balance of the body in this position.
* The most difficult position to shoot from and to master. Mostly common among both air pistol and air rifle shooters shooting from different ranges (10m,25m,50m).
* Stock fit is essential in standing – perhaps more than in any other position. Shooter needs to have his cheek firmly welded to the stock.
* Variations:<ref name="americanrifleman.org"/>
** squared toward the target – advantages of this technique are that it allows the shooter to absorb the rifle's recoil much more effectively, to run the bolt and get back on target quickly. It also places the shooter in a more aggressive stance that allows him to move, in just about any direction, as his target requires.
** bladed stance of the rifle marksman
* Usual advice is not to use the sling for support in this position.<ref name="welikeshooting.com"/>
*Aided standing position
**Standing with sticks and stones
*** Three-legged shooting sticks are almost universal in Africa.
*** Whatever shooter's comfortable range is for offhand shooting, sticks should double it.<ref name="petersenshunting.com"/>

=== Rice paddy squat in rifle shooting ===
{{Main|Squatting position}}
The rice paddy squat (or rice paddy prone) position is a moderate-stability position that supports both elbows, making it more stable than kneeling yet keeping a high level of mobility. Its higher center of gravity will still be less stable than sitting or prone. It was a traditionally taught marksmanship position but lost popularity after the [[Korean conflict]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 14, 2020|title=How to Shoot a Rifle in the Squatting Position|url=https://www.everydaymarksman.co/marksmanship/squatting-position-rifle/|website=everydaymarksman.co}}</ref>

===Back (or supine)===
It was sometimes referred to as the Creedmoor position. There are a number of variations of the position. 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|date=April 2022}} rifle meetings and continued in use into the 20th century amongst 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.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/marksmanship/art-of-shooting/the-back-position|title=The Back Position|first=David|last=Minshall|website=Research Press}}</ref>

===Lying on one's side===
Lying on one's side is not a normally chosen position, but may be a position fallen into when reacting to a threat. In this scenario, it may be used behind a barricade to present a very small target since normally only the gun hand and a piece of one's face is exposed, with the rest covered by the barricade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/4-unconventional-shooting-positions-you-must-practice/|title=4 Unconventional Shooting Positions You Must Practice|first=Adam|last=C|date=November 7, 2013|website=Off The Grid News}}</ref>

===Leaning===
When a shooter is 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bestpracticeguides.org.uk/firearms/firing-positions/|title=Firing positions &#124; Best Practice Guidance|date=27 January 2018 }}</ref> It's usually combined with standing and kneeling positions.