I have been wanting to address this issue for awhile on proficient rifle shooting, how to be, and how it's done. Learning to shoot a rifle well is not all that difficult for the most part it is more a mind-set than it is a physical act.

 When training yourself to shoot a rifle, practice is always needed for sure but in your mind you have to know that whatever your intended target is, you will be able to put a bullet right where you want it. One shot one kill.

 The basic fundamentals:

 1. Shooting glasses are a must, you must fully protect your eyes so as no dust or debris blowing in the air on the range gets in your eyes, it's pretty hard to clearly see your target if your eyes are blinking or watering from dirt or other small debris that has gotten in them.

 2. Hearing protection, muzzle blast flinch causes more eratic shooting than a recoil flinch, muzzle blast from a modern high power rifle is pretty severe and will cause even good rifle shooters to miss their mark.

 3. Breathing is another critical issue in becoming a good rifle shot. You simply cannot shoot well while inhaling or exhaling, you must hold your breath while squeezing the trigger. This must be practiced until it becomes second nature, or, part of your mind-set.

 4. Trigger pull is very critical and this one little thing has more to do with flyers in a group of well placed shots than anything. Squeeze the trigger, you've heard it a million times but you most likely still jerk the trigger.
 Simple question; If you fire a series or string of shots does your rifle startle you everytime it goes off?
 If yes, you probably do squeeze the trigger.
 If no, then you are definately jerking the trigger.

 5. You must shoot from a solid rest of some sort in order to gain confidence in yourself and your rifle. Shooting benches and rifle rests are critical items in learning to shoot well and gain confidence.

 6. When at the range for a day of shooting, know your ability for the scope and rifle capability that you are shooting that day. In other words, if there is a cross wind blowing that day on the range of about 10 mph don't try shooting a .22 rimfire at 100 yds. unless you can accurately dope the wind for each shot. Instead shorten your range to about 25 yards for the above mentioned situation.

 7. Shoot often, every chance you get to visit the range go out for a day of shooting and vary the distance at which you shoot. You should vary your distance by sight and not tape measure, unless of course when hunting each animal you shoot at is at a given distance all the time.

 8. Practice all the above 7 things till you become proficient with a rifle, shooting, from a solid rest and bench.