{"id":4665,"date":"2024-01-25T22:20:33","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T22:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/?p=4665"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:35:59","slug":"how-to-better-see-bullet-impacts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-better-see-bullet-impacts\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Better See Bullet Impacts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Our friend <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/flight-time-shot-placement-and-high-shoulder\/\">James Eagleman<\/a> of the Barbour Creek Long Range <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" title=\"Hunting\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"347\">Hunting<\/a> &#038; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/shooting-a-rifle-accurately-in-high-wind\/\">Shooting<\/a> School teaches us how to better see your bullet impacts.<\/strong><\/p><p>Hearing the ping of a bullet making impact with a steel target is one of the most satisfying sounds in the world to shooters. But what about being able to see your bullet impacts as well? According to our friend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@barbourcreek\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James Eagleman<\/a> of the Barbour Creek <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/tekoa-hd-4-16x44-rifle-scope\/\">Long Range Hunting<\/a> &#038; Shooting School, most of us pull the rifle so much we don\u2019t even come close.<\/p><p>The way James teaches his students is by getting yourself set up so the gun will essentially react the same every time whether you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/riflemarksmanship-supported-shooting-positions\/\" title=\"Rifle Marksmanship Supported Shooting Positions\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1719\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shooting off a bench or in a prone position<\/a>.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-better-see-bullet-impacts\/#Setup_and_the_Soda_Can_Grip\" >Setup and the Soda Can Grip<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-better-see-bullet-impacts\/#Lining_Up_to_See_More_Bullet_Impacts\" >Lining Up to See More Bullet Impacts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-better-see-bullet-impacts\/#Preload_Your_Position\" >Preload Your Position<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-better-see-bullet-impacts\/#Hold_That_Trigger\" >Hold That Trigger<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/how-to-better-see-bullet-impacts\/#James_Eagleman_The_Barbour_Creek_Long-Range_Hunting_School\" >James Eagleman & The Barbour Creek Long-Range Hunting School<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Setup_and_the_Soda_Can_Grip\"><\/span>Setup and the Soda Can Grip<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>If you\u2019re following James\u2019 setup, you\u2019ll use a bipod just like you would on a hunt, and you\u2019ll run a rear <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/shooting-22lr-rifle-in-a-whole-new-way\/\" title=\"Shooting a 22LR Rifle in a Whole New Way\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"526\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shooting<\/a> bag. James recommends what he calls a \u201csoda can grip.\u201d This means you\u2019ll grip the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/benefits-of-a-floating-center-dot-reticle\/\" title=\"Benefits of a Floating Center Dot Reticle\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1535\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shooting bag with your thumb in the center<\/a>, allowing you to get a really good squeeze and raise the back of the stock. This will help you see points of impact when you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/scope-sighting-made-simple\/\" title=\"Scope Sighting Made Simple\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1386\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shooting at 100 yards<\/a> all the way out to 1000 yards.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@barbourcreek\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4669\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Soda-Can-1024x688.jpg\" alt=\"Our friend James Eagleman of the Barbour Creek Long Range Hunting &#038; Shooting School teaches us how to better see your bullet impacts.\" width=\"597\" height=\"401\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Soda-Can-1024x688.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Soda-Can-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Soda-Can-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Soda-Can-1536x1032.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Soda-Can-447x300.jpg 447w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Soda-Can-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Soda-Can.jpg 1599w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 597px) 100vw, 597px\" \/><\/a><\/p><p>Another important thing to note about a soda can grip is make sure you\u2019re squeezing the bag tight enough that it doesn\u2019t cause the stock to shift during recoil.<\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lining_Up_to_See_More_Bullet_Impacts\"><\/span>Lining Up to See More Bullet Impacts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>To have parity with the prone position when it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/prepping-your-scope-for-long-range-hunting\/\" title=\"Long Range Hunting Prepping Your Scope\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1505\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shooting off a bench<\/a>, make sure that you are not pocket shooting. As in, do not position the stock in the pocket between your chest and shoulder and position your body crookedly in relation to the gun.<\/p><p>Most of us were probably taught to do it this way; shooting off a rectangle table that forced us to torque our bodies one way or the other. Take a right-hand shooter for example. If you\u2019re pocket shooting, the stock will jerk to the right and the barrel will shift to the left during the recoil process, which will cause you to have a hard time seeing your hits.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@barbourcreek\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4666\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Center-Peck-1024x617.jpg\" alt=\"Can you see your impacts?\" width=\"573\" height=\"345\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Center-Peck-1024x617.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Center-Peck-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Center-Peck-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Center-Peck-1536x926.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Center-Peck-498x300.jpg 498w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Center-Peck-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Center-Peck.jpg 1754w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 573px) 100vw, 573px\" \/><\/a><\/p><p>James teaches that the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-6-5mm-creedmoor-rifle-round\/\">rifle stock<\/a> should be &#8220;center pec&#8221; to keep your body mass behind the rifle.<\/p><h2><\/h2><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preload_Your_Position\"><\/span>Preload Your Position<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>As James teaches it, put your rear end directly under the butt stock and lean into your setup as much as possible. You\u2019ll notice the legs of the bipod will bend forward. This is called a preload.<\/p><p>In the preloaded position, your setup will move directly backward when the rifle is fired. Your body mass will then shift everything forward back into the battery, or target, so you can see your hit. The stock should be sitting right in the center of your pec, not your shoulder pocket, with your shoulders square toward the target.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2Kw38yOSU_8?si=TAaB8NdnrqKdMTs7\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><strong>Take a look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2Kw38yOSU_8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video<\/a> to watch James shoot at 600 yards.<\/strong> First, he shoots his recommended way. Pay attention to the gun and see how it tracks. James\u2019 head is vertical, and he\u2019s leaning into the gun. With this position, he\u2019s able to see his bullet impacts perfectly.<\/p><p>Then, he\u2019ll <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/compensating-for-shooting-angle\/\" title=\"Compensating for Shooting Angle\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shoot the old-fashioned way with his body angled<\/a> and the stock deep into his shoulder pocket. His second camera angle shows how much the recoil process shifts his body to the right. The barrel of the gun literally moves multiple targets over, preventing him from seeing his hit. Many of us can attest to this same response from the recoil.<\/p><p>Again, no matter if you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/long-range-shooting-etiquette\/\" title=\"Long Range Shooting Etiquette\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1362\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">shooting at the range<\/a> or in the woods, you should square your shoulders toward the target. Keep your head as vertical as possible, lean into the gun, and put that butt stock on the center pec. This will help you see all your hits. Plus, as many of us spend our days at a computer slumped over a keyboard, it can help with our overall posture!<\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hold_That_Trigger\"><\/span>Hold That Trigger<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p>The last point to iterate here is to keep pressure on the trigger after firing the shot. Trigger control should become a reflex action that occurs once your mind subconsciously realizes all factors needed to fire the shot are present: sight picture, correct position, relaxed body, etc. And when you can hold the trigger for one full second after the shot, it will help eliminate inconsistencies that occur during the <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/rifle-marksmanship-trigger-control-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trigger<\/a> squeeze.<\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><h2><a href=\"https:\/\/barbourcreek.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4673\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Barbour-Creek-Logo-1024x883.png\" alt=\"Can You See Your Impacts?\" width=\"320\" height=\"276\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Barbour-Creek-Logo-1024x883.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Barbour-Creek-Logo-300x259.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Barbour-Creek-Logo-768x662.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Barbour-Creek-Logo-348x300.png 348w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Barbour-Creek-Logo-150x129.png 150w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/01\/Barbour-Creek-Logo.png 1153w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/h2><h2><\/h2><h2>James Eagleman &#038; The Barbour Creek Long-Range Hunting School<\/h2><p>1SG (RET) James Eagleman is a 26-year Army, Sniper and Master Instructor. He was selected as the Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army Sniper School and U.S. Army Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC) and was a Master Instructor for the US Army, teaching ITC.<\/p><p>James not only brings years of military experience with combat and deployments overseas, but also has many years training civilians in long-range <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/all-about-hog-hunting\/\" title=\"All About Hog Hunting\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"698\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting<\/a>, internal, and external ballistics. His revolutionary wind calling technique is considered by many to be the most comprehensive taught anywhere in the world.<\/p><p>Barbour Creek\u2019s goal is to provide their clients with the skills and knowledge to make that once-in-a-lifetime shot whenever and wherever it presents itself. Their long-range <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/binoculars-for-turkey-hunting\/\" title=\"Binoculars for Turkey Hunting\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"697\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hunting<\/a> school is all-inclusive, providing lodging, full-course meals, rifles, and ammunition for a reasonable price. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/barbourcreek.com\/level-1-long-range-shooting-and-hunting-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn More<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Better See Bullet Impacts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12029,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2255],"tags":[2364,2883,2895,2901],"class_list":["post-4665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-extra-topics","tag-barbour-creek","tag-james-eagleman","tag-long-range-hunting-school","tag-long-range-shooting-school"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4665"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11312,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4665\/revisions\/11312"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12029"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}