Doing it standing up?

[Muskett]

The Target holds should have the rifle on target, with a natural body wobble. Allow for normal "prone" breathing cycles. All the right alignments in place, and first stage of trigger taken up. At some point, usually on breathing out, everything is in place to release the shot. This time max concentration to hold that extra steady. Practice well and "perfect" aim is given the extra milliseconds to release the shot. It is not a snap, but deliberate. Those practiced and heart rate sorted can extend the millisecond longer than novices, so making the shot deliberate.

On both Target and Sporting, stance should be correct, breathing cycles done, trigger control familiar with. More deliberate than a snap and yank. On the sight picture, then concentration can give steady on target, and not a release on a swing pass of the target.
Sporting techniques can either be hold or snap. Snap is on target, stop, and fire. Best used on a x1 or Single Point no mag scope, or just bead iron sights, so giving the fastest let off. Excellent for getting central hits, but not precision.

If just a hit, or requiring precision, really depends on target size. Most air rifle shots, be it on targets or game, require precision, so holding the aim is needed. Practice extends the milliseconds to hold on aim. Practice and concentrate enough then all becomes "zoned in" where it seems there is is plenty of time to release a perfect shot. Easier said than done. Don't forget to breathe before.......and after follow through..

Have fun...

[TonyL]

Although I say so myself, when I was much younger I was pretty good at standers. Most of my shooting was hunting and the vast majority of my shots were taken standing. Then, when I started FT shooting and discovered the massive improvement in accuracy courtesy of the sitting position, I transferred this over to my hunting too and would adopt the "semi-FT" position whilst hunting. Success improved further and, at the end of the day, we owe it to our quarry to be as accurate as possible.

But that's made me a worse shot with standers. I seem to actually fare pretty okay at Bell Target when I have a go. And I think the zero magnification of open sights does my confidence with standers, and results, a lot of good. But I really must practice my standers more and get better at them again.

Some really good tips etc up above.

[Muskett]

Quad Sticks are my friend. Still need practice, and concentration especially on elevation.

Natural body wobble! We all have a natural body wobble, each person their very own. Just try holding something up, and it's there. Hold for too long and it only gets worse; can't hold your breath very long either.
High magnification scopes show that wobble a whole lot more. In our desperation to get perfect/still all that magnification information only induces us to fight it all, but sadly all our efforts are too slow and just makes a dogs dinner of it all. Frankly, puts us into sight picture panic. Best to use less, read low, magnification, and ignore natural body wobble as best you can. Practice and Buddha meditation can bring the wobble down. Zoned even less and those very best shots can get a deliberate steady to make a precise shot.
Annoyingly, some people can hold with a Ransom Rest steady with very little wobble at all. Learn to love and work with the wobble, and just concentrate to lessen it.
Fight the wobble, or try to anticipate it, generally goes wrong and throws the shot off even further. Calm is good.

When I used to Handgun shoot I found living with the wobble better than fighting it. Manager it with calmness!!! I couldn't do Ransom Rest solid, so had to ride the wobble and with trigger control familiarity was able to keep things tight on target. Practice, breathing control, trigger knowledge, and understanding your wobble, can give more milliseconds perfect. If you don't get the release, bang, then start again, as you can't fix it in one breath. Go through your shot cycle again.

Hope that wasn't too mumbo jumbo. It ain't easy. Satisfying when you get it right. Regular practice keeps the skill repeatable.

[Muskett]

All air rifle shooting, bar big target plinking, requires precision. Do whatever it takes to deliver precision, whatever position; or don't take the shot.

[gsxrman]

Its been said many times the key is to practice, find your variation of the stance with your kit. Sporting uses more muscle, target uses more technique to stabilize.
I don't hold the rifle so it sits in my palm but rather turn my wrist the other way. My lead hand/arm is my left. So the back of my left hand faces left and rifle sits on my middle three knuckles with thumb and little finger spread and also holding the rifle underneath. Like rockers do at a concert. This helps with the short arm syndrome.
The wobble, takes time to get used to it, don't fight it, breathe through it. Most people bring the rifle up over onto target, I come in from the left.
Shoot on what mag you feel comfortable at first. The wobble is there whether you on 1x or 40x. Try not to let it effect you. Breathe through it, stabilize, and if you cant hold steady enough then put rifle down, breathe and start again. Trigger action becomes almost automatic, so you will wobble onto target and hear yourself say now, so you squeeze the trigger but you have drifted off again. With practice you wont hear the voice saying now it just happens.

My mate years ago missed 4 out of the first 8 targets on a 40 Target Invitational shoot competition. He annoyed himself so much he said that's it I'm taking the rest standing. 32 Targets later he hadn't missed again. Came 3rd overall. Targets at all FT ranges and reduced kills. Takes practice to do that.

[coburn]

The dreaded unsupported standing shot in HFT. PCP and recoiling.

Stances hacks hand and foot positions hints and tips, what you got for us?

I used to do reasonably well at Gallery Rifle using the following technique. Pick rifle up, point at target, pull trigger.

[TonyL]

I used to do reasonably well at Gallery Rifle using the following technique. Pick rifle up, point at target, pull trigger.

Lol!

[TonyL]

Some further excellent tips above.

One of the main things that stands out from this (and we might all be guilty from time to time?) is knowing when NOT to take the shot, as said. Lower rifle and go through the sequence again rather than just squeezing that poor shot off as you felt you ought to / the clock was ticking etc.

[Unframed Dave]

I haven't read all the posts completely, but one of the simplest things you can do to improve your standing shots is practice follow through. Makes a helluva difference for very little effort.

Dave

[TonyL]

Very good point, Dave.

[rapidresponse1]

i like to shoot like that when im out hunting at times