Do you have scientific data to prove this, or a “hunch”?
My experiential sample size is admittedly smaller than some, but after witnessing hundreds of animals get shot by myself/partners/clients, I’ve witnessed what I’ve described above multiple times. A guy is afraid of his rifle before ever having an animal put in front of him. Shoots 10” groups at paper at 100 yards, misses animal. I give him my rifle with the assurance that it “kicks a lot less than your rifle” (whether that’s true or not is irrelevant), and he kills the critter.
He shot perfect just by telling him the rifle kicked less? Never seen that happen.
I don't know about perfect, but yessir he shot well enough to hit center-chest. Ever see somebody bothered by the recoil or blast of a larger rifle shoot better when you hand them a .22 or .223? It's the same effect. The fear/anticipation/aversion to recoil and blast is a mental thing, and is all in their head.
Exactly.
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
