Proper Technique

[bellavite1]

Now I am confused:
First of all:
I am from Italy, where ar-15s don't exist and firearms in general are heavily regulated.
Therefore I am for the most self-taught.
So far I have been shooting my ar pulling it (slightly) in the pocket shoulder with both firing and non-firing hand.
A friend told me (to my surprise) that the correct way to fire an ar is with the non-firing hand pulling in the shoulder and the firing hand pushing forward on the pistol grip creating isometric tension (like in pistol firing), making the stock more of a third contact point to stabilize the rifle than a recoil-transfering part (recoil would be mostly absorbed by the firing hand pushing forward on the pistol grip).
I went on line and found an army training manual that states clearly that my original way to PULL on the pistol grip is the correct way to do it, but at the same time my friends advice to PUSH it makes sense as well.
He is a vet, therefore I am sure he knows what he is talking about.
I know I should do whatever works for me (and so far it worked pretty well), but I am curious as to which is the correct way.
Any thoughts?

[Bailey Guns]

For what it's worth, I've always been taught (in the military and in LE) that pulling into the shoulder with the firing hand while resting the front of the rifle on the non-firing hand is proper.

That's also how I teach rifle shooting.

If you watch guys in competition you'll always see them just resting the forearm of the rifle on the non-firing hand when shooting.

One mistake that's common is resting the butt of the rifle too low in the shoulder pocket. You should probably have only about the lower third of the butt-pad in the shoulder pocket. That keeps the gun up nice and high and keeps you from leaning your head down too far to get to the gun. Having the gun too low can cause issues with proper breathing/breath control.

[Irving]

I'm under the impression that once you find the correct hold, you should be able to completely remove your support hand and still keep the rifle on target. That'd be pretty hard to do if you were trying to create isometric tension.

At the same time though, that was for a Garand with a sling, and I don't have an AR-15.

[Elhuero]

pulling the rifle with one hand and pushing with the other seems silly to me. how then would you shoot from a berm or with a bipod?

what bailey said does not seem silly to me.
he's got it right.

[ChunkyMonkey]

At the same time though, that was for a Garand with a sling, and I don't have an AR-15.

Wait all this time, you don't even have an AR?! WTH Stu... I got a couple plinkers you need to buy! And I vote we remove that 'zombie slayer' status til he does!!!

[Irving]

You should have seen all the flak I caught on Silencer Talk for not having any NFA stuff.

I'll get there, but life has gotten in the way.

[Backinblackrifles]

There are several ways to do it and they are all correct for differant people. I don't like the push pull method. I used to rest the mag well between My bird and ring finger and pull the grip into My shoulder. I have since adopted pulling with the grip into My shoulder and try to "unscrew" the hand gaurd with the support hand and trying to "tear" the grip off with the firing hand using a high elbow. I have found that for Me this works extremly well and once I settle into the position My sights will not move untill the bump of the recoil. Seems for Me anyway that this makes for a very strong grip that "man handles" the rifle and is very easy to hold waiting for a target to pop up, step out from cover, wind to die down and so on. This is the hold I use for distance. When I use My carbine I use a light grip with both hands and just settle maybe 1/3 of the but into My shoulder pocket for Me this lets the carbine just swing and point for Me with out having to even think about it and I know that within 30 or so yards a target 8in. across is in deep doodoo.

Just look around at the differant stances and methods used by most teachers then practice differant ones, mix and match and find what works for You.

End note there is no right or wrong way to do it as long as You are safe and in comand of the muzzle.

Shooting is easy and You can find tons of info out there and get lost in the gear and toys and the methods and the arguments and and and and and and....... It is really easy put the sight on the target and keep the sight on the target until the bullet leaves the barrel. At the end of the day it is who has more holes in the X ring and that is undeniable proof that what You are doing works best for You people for some reason will still try and argue with You about. But the proof is in the pudding as they say.

[mx'r]

I hold my AR at the hip, and close my eyes when firing. That's how the movies show it. (Steven Seagal)

[StagLefty]

I hold my AR at the hip, and close my eyes when firing. That's how the movies show it. (Steven Seagal)

I just keep the gun moving all the time-better coverage !!

[mx'r]

I just keep the gun moving all the time-better coverage !!

that also