Friends Don't Let Friends Have Dorky Gun Set Ups
Posted by Warrior Poet Society on Sep 2nd 2022
WPS instructors have seen all manners of strange configurations of rifles and accessories in their years of teaching shooters of all levels how to build and shoot their weapons properly. In the words of Paul Perkerson: "Just because it's something you can get on your gun in Call of Duty doesn't mean you need to use it in real life."
Rifle Sling Attachments. The WPS Rifle Sling (also known as the jedi buckle sling) you attach to your rifle should allow your weapon to hang comfortably yet snugly against you with the barrel pointing slightly away (partly for mobility and partly because you don't want the muzzle singeing your thigh areas.) Sling should also fit to give you mobility for shooting and added stability.
Pro Tip: To accomplish this, the sling should be attached on the fire side of both the muzzle and the butt stock.
Mounted Optics. Built-in iron sights should, of course, be mounted properly on your gun and not obstructing your scope or the functionality of your rifle. And speaking of scopes, yours needs to be mounted to fit your body and your needs in collaboration with your adjustable butt stock and other ergonomic considerations. If you're mounting a scope for the first time or just aren't sure quite what to do, you can check out Ryan Cleckner's Long-Range Shooting Class on the WPS Network
Pro Tip: Your scope really should not wiggle at all.
Foregrip. A lot of people like to use foregrips for recoil management but aren't quite sure about placement. Of course, we teach things of that nature in our Rifle 1 Class, but as a rule of thumb, your foregrip should be positioned vertically on the bottom of your rifle, not the side. It should be placed so that you can get two to three fingers around it to create tension and thus aid in recovery after each shot.
Flashlights, etc. As with all other modifications and add-ons, your flashlight will typically be side mounted so as to keep out of the scope and iron sights. You don't want anything to block the powerful throw of your light, and you don't want anything reflecting light back in your direction.
Pro Tip: Regarding butt stocks, they're adjustable because we're not all built the same. Find the right length for you.
For more on how you and your friends can avoid some of the common and not-so-common rifle buildout mistakes, check out our training videos on WPSN and our selection of training courses.
Train Hard. Train Smart. Live Free.
