Sight Alignment, Trigger Control, and The Big Lie – Book

First, a little back ground on me,
Former SGT of Marines, Expert rating with the M16A2 service rifle, Sharp Shooter rating NRA High Power Rifle running a NM M1A.
Not only does the MSGT bring home how to master the fundamentals of Marksmanship, but how to do it at range.
Due to economic issues, I had to sell my M1A and all my kit.
However, with the recent ammo shortages, I have been shooting .22 air rifle to maintain the fundamentals of Marksmanship out to 100yrds. I use his 600yrds method of sighting in exactly the same, using a NRA MR-31 target,
I also have his book, Reading the Wind, and as he suggests, shoot in windy conditions to gain the experience and knowledge of when to take the shot, or how to use hold off.
Many thanks from a fellow Marine.
Get some!

Eic

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and detailed book about high power rifle shooting

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

Hilarious! Jim Owens' writing style is one that leaves me chuckling on a regular basis. A Marine to the core (no that was not a typo), he is to the point and very detailed as he describes what he wants you to understand. I loved the detail as he went through something as seemingly simple as how to find the correct part of my finger to put on the trigger.

The book is filled with little anecdotes about funny stories that have occurred throughout his shooting career. Each one makes a point and teaches a lesson.

Some critics have described the writing as dry and, missing the subtle humor that fills the necessary details he relates, I can imagine how they could see that. I feel saddened they have missed the joy this man feels as he shares his love and understanding of the sport of high power shooting.

A downside to this book is the editing. A number of errata were noted and I found myself making a list as I read the book to share for with the author should he choose corrections for another printing. I did not note a detraction from the message caused by the typos noted. Say what you will, no point in noticing something without doing something about it.

Semper fidelis, Top.

TolkienFan

 

4.0 out of 5 stars Small, Concise and Nicely Done..

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2015

Verified Purchase

It is obvious that Jim Owens knows what he is talking about. His tenure with the USMC and the associated rifle teams leaves him in the very enviable position of being able to not only shoot competently but to relate the experience to those of us who are not fortunate enough to have his experience. If you are having difficulty with precision at various ranges, you should probably read this book. In a lot of ways it is very basic. It covers the basic skills that are taught in BRM in the military as well as some more advanced techniques. All of those techniques represent the foundation skill set necessary to master as you become a competent and efficient rifle shooter.

I purchased this book as a primer before moving on to more advanced techniques in a more advanced discipline. I am currently revisiting basic skills before taking up long range precision shooting. I have purchased several books detailing what I "need to know" and why one method is "so much better" than the rest. I think most of it is a bunch of hype. If you first practice and gain familiarity and competency with the basics, you will be better equipped to handle the more technical aspects of long range precision and the various "sniping" disciplines. That is the main reason I purchased this book.... and I am glad that I did.

This book is well written and edited, and is complete with a good amount of illustrations and images that demonstrate the author's points. Be warned however, that everything in this book is black and white. There are no color plates or images. If you absolutely must have "color" to look at, then you should probably look somewhere else. One other caveat worth mentioning.... This book is devoted to "conventional" rifle shooting using "iron" sights. The techniques described here are most useful for those who shoot NRA iron sight matches, "across the course", and "service rifle" competitions. There is precious little information here about scopes, or shooting with optical sights. However, I think it is appropriate to once again mention that the "marksmanship" techniques described in this book apply equally well to scope sighted target rifles, sniper rifles, or long range tactical rifles. If you need or want the "basics" and some advanced stuff as well, this book is a good one to begin with.

I also want to say that a lot of what is taught in this book is not really "basic". There is a lot of stuff that is reminiscent of military TMs and "the military way". But there is also a lot of stuff that is different. Most of the material is explained thoroughly and that frequently requires some technical discussion. You will need to read carefully and think if you are to gain the most from this book. If you are not up for some "technical" explanations, or if you truly don't care about "WHY" things happen the way they do, you may not get the maximum benefit from this book. There are some novel approaches to problems that are never discussed in military doctrine, AND there is a lot of stuff that Jim Owens has learned the hard way and has dedicated time and space in this book to relating or teaching to his readers. Those are the best reasons for buying and reading.....

I am giving this book four stars because it is well done and provides an honest look at the basics and some very valuable techniques that will be useful for more advanced shooting disciplines.

Rand

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to shoot more accurately????

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

Great stuff from a retired M/Sgt who has extensive experience in firearms instructions and competitive shooting. With-in the first 20 minutes I learned several things that improved my accuracy noticeably. Corrects bad habits and misinformation, plus provides tips on identifying where you're going wrong technique wise based on your shot groupings. Well worth the money and your time reading. Can't recommend it enough!!!

Marine

 

5.0 out of 5 stars If you're learning shooting fundamentals Jim is the man.

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

I am a former US Marine and shoot several different match types. All of Jim's books will help almost any shooter in most disciplines. The less experience you have the more you will get obviously. I have been shooting for decades and whenever I need a reference I go back to Jim's books. Internet search can make some things so much worse whereas these books are a clean answer to what most shooters are looking for. He's the real deal.