Target shooting is a very technical sport. As a coach I spend a lot of my time talking about details of the shooting process. So, to give you an idea, here are some of the things I do:

  1. Lay rifle on side of FP, pointing down the range.
  2. Lay shooting mat on FP.
    1. Align mat with target
    2. Check it's within FP limits.
    3. Adjust if necessary.
    4. move rifle onto mat
  3. Place spotting scope in position
    1. Align and focus scope on target, offset slightly to avoid knocking it while getting into position.
  4. Place ammo box in approximate location.
  5. Kneel on mat with support knee in position
    1. check clothing all straight
    2. jacket pulled down onto shoulders
  6. Lay down
    1. check jacket is straight and flat under support hip.
    2. place hip on jacket
    3. place support elbow in correct location
      1. adjust position with triggering hand
    4. adjust scope location
    5. raise triggering knee to provide support
    6. await range RCO command to commence
  7. Mount rifle
    1. lift rifle with triggering hand
    2. connect sling with support hand
    3. place support hand up against handstop
    4. make sure rifle is correctly located in support hand
    5. grip rifle with support hand
    6. adjust support elbow location if necessary
    7. remove breech flag and place on mat
    8. grip butt with triggering hand
    9. roll slightly towards support side (opens shoulder making it easier to place the butt exactly where I want it)
    10. place butt in shoulder in correct location
    11. roll back to my approximate position
    12. release support hand so it is relaxed
    13. touch support fingers with triggering hand (ensures shoulder is back in correct location)
    14. place triggering hand on grip
      1. locate so that trigger finger locates correctly on trigger
      2. gently grip rifle (like gripping a budgey)
    15. place triggering elbow on mat
      1. adjust elbow as necessary so it feels right.
    16. place cheek on cheekpiece
      1. adjust location of ammo box
      2. reset hand on grip
      3. reset elbow
    17. look through sights
      1. This is the first time I've looked down the range since I aligned the mat with the target. Even now the focus is on the sights rather than the aiming mark
      2. is eye centred on rearsight?
      3. if not, look away and repeat from 7(n).
      4. is foresight centred in rearsight
      5. if not, look away, very minor adjustment, and repeat from 7(o) 
      6. look away
    18. check scope position and adjust with triggering hand now that my position is set
  8. Aiming
    1. Check everything from your toes to the tips of your fingers are relaxed with no undue tension.
      1. release grip on rifle with support hand if not already done so at 7(l)
      2. does the position feel right?
      3. breath out, let it settle.
      4. look through sights
      5. are they pointing at the correct aiming mark?
      6. No: 
        1. look away
        2. adjust position and 
        3. repeat from at least 8(a) depending on how far out you were
      7. Yes:
        1. look away
        2. adjust positon, probably triggering eldow as it is only a very minor adjustment
          1. lift elbow, probably only a partial lift to take some of the pressure of it.
          2. replace elbow in slightly different position
          3. relax, does position feel right, haven't imported any tension?
          4. repeat from7(q)(iv)
    2. After a varying number of repitions through 8(a) the question at 8(a)(v) goes from
      1. correct aiming mark? to
      2. on the aiming mark? to 
      3. centred (ish) on the aiming mark?
      4. centred on the aiming mark?
    3. When the answer to 8(b)(iv) is yes, I know that next time I breath out it will come up centred on the aiming mark because I haven't changed anything. So:
      1. breath out, while taking up first pressure
      2. let it settle while doing final checks
        1. eye centred OK?
        2. foresight centred OK?
        3. aiming mark centred OK?
      3. Three OKs, 
        1. squeeze trigger. The closer this gets to instantaneous the better.
        2. hold the aim
        3. watch the recoil
        4. Post Shot Analysis (PSA)
        5. check scope to confirm PSA
        6. open bolt and eject
        7. load next round (unless it's the last shot) 
      4. Less than three OKs
        1. release first pressure
        2. minor adjustment until the answer to 8(b)(iv) is yes
        3. repeat from 8(c)
  9. Adjust  position to next aiming mark.
    1. repeat from 8(a)