Rifle Fundamentals: Shooting and Follow-Through

by
posted on March 12, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
anchutz1.jpg
When you have learned how to perform the first four fundamentals of firing the shotaiming, breath control, hold control and trigger control—you are ready to put them all together and begin shooting.

Shooting Groups. After doing several dry fire shots, begin shooting with live ammunition by shooting three or five shots on a target. If you go through the fundamentals correctly, your shots should form a cluster, or group, on the target. At first, it doesn't matter where your shots are on the target. It only matters that your hsots be together in a group.

With practice, your groups will become smaller and smaller. The key to getting good groups is always apply the fundamentals, so you are able to shoot the same way shot after shot.

Follow-Through. The fifth fundamental of firing the shot is follow-through. In most sports, following through means completing a movement. For example, think of a baseball swing or golf swing. In shooting, it means to continue aiming, breath control and hold control until after the shot is fired.

Do not anticipate the shot and move before and during the time the bullet is still in the barrel.

A part of follow-through is remembering what your sight picture looked like when the shot was fired. Was it good or were your sights pointed to one side or high or low? Remembering what your sight picture looked like when the shot was fired will tell you where the shot should have hit the target. It is vital to good shooting.

To practice, try shooting additional groups, and be sure to concentrate on follow-through. Try to continue aiming, breath control and hold control for two full seconds after each shot is fired.

The next Rifle Fundamentals article will cover sight adjustment.

Latest

Usashooting 2025Sept 1
Usashooting 2025Sept 1

U.S. Shotgun Team Reigns Supreme in 2025 International Season

Team USA’s shotgun athletes have captured 34 international medals in 2025, showcasing excellence from Olympic legends to junior stars

Review: Springfield Armory SAINT Victor 5.56 Rifle

Springfield Armory’s SAINT Victor 5.56 is loaded with enhancements that make it a strong contender as an all-purpose, AR-style rifle

Remington’s .22 Short Rimfire Ammo is Back

Remington brings back the .22 Short rimfire with updated loads for plinking, pest control and beginner training.

SK Customs Unveils ‘Kingdom of Atzlán’ Colt 1911 Series Honoring Aztec Heritage

SK Customs’ new .38 Super Colt 1911 handgun series blends Aztec mythology with handcrafted firearm artistry

Drew Cup Selection: U.S. Juniors Set Sights on Prestigious International Smallbore Showdown

The 2025 Drew Cup brings elite international smallbore competition to U.S. soil, where junior shooters compete for national pride via a postal qualifier

Competitors’ Corner: September 2025

Highlights from the September 2025 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.