Tired of flinching?

Rifle flinch, also known as recoil anticipation or heeling, is something even experienced hunters struggle with. Unfortunately, flinching can have a detrimental impact on the accuracy of your shot. But as frustrating as it might be, it’s an entirely natural reflex. Here’s how you might be able to override it.

Retrain yourself
Firing blanks is one way to train yourself to avoid blinking or flinching, but it’s not necessarily the most effective method. It’s easier to replace a bad habit with a good one than it is to give it up entirely. To this end, try to give your eyes something to do. Tracking a point in front of you when firing may help you avoid closing your eyes when the shot breaks.

Work on your technique
Poor posture can amplify the effects of recoil, making it harder not to flinch when firing. Make sure you have a solid grip on your rifle and that you’re not trying to control recoil. There’s no way you can prevent recoil from moving your rifle, but you can minimize its effects by learning how to recover from it.

Get the right equipment
In some cases, you may want to consider a smaller caliber. There’s also a range of accessories you can purchase to minimize the effect of recoil on your body.

Every hunter needs to learn to deal with rifle flinch. Talk to other hunters or a professional at the shooting range to get more tips.