Spotting for Dummies

[Wondering Nomad]

I was in the B clinic this past weekend and was having difficulty offering spotting advice for my shooting partner. One of the issues was my scope was lacking a proper ranging reticle for this sport. One of the instructors (Charles i believe) suggested using the targets as a guide. What's the quickest, most efficient, or most helpful way to determine the distance of a miss? Is there anything else we can be doing to help our shooter? I've looked through the archive and there's lots of information for the new shooter but we seem to be lacking information for the new spotter. If I have missed it, please let me know where I might find it. If all I need is a proper scope, then let me know.

The scope is my next issue to resolve.

Thanks for all the great information on the forums and in the classes.

[AR15barrels]

The reticle is absolutely the best way to call corrections.
Lacking an accurate reticle, use the target width or height.
You can call half a target width off the right edge and everyone looking through a scope can see what that means.
It's far better to call "4/10 of a mil right from center of target" though.

[Mad minute]

this might be a little basic. but i have had alot of friends make this mistake.

dont tell the shooter how to adjust the scope. make sure its clear you are just spotting the hit. telling them where the round impacted.

it the guy hits right and you tell him "1 mill to the left" as a correction, he might try to correct to the right.
i always thought it was the shooters job to adjust his scope. the spotter just spots.

[264Charlie]

this might be a little basic. but i have had alot of friends make this mistake.

dont tell the shooter how to adjust the scope. make sure its clear you are just spotting the hit. telling them where the round impacted.

it the guy hits right and you tell him "1 mill to the left" as a correction, he might try to correct to the right.
i always thought it was the shooters job to adjust his scope. the spotter just spots.

+1

[GforceJunkie]

That is about the best your going to get without a reticle you can range in. You could call out the impact using the "o'clock' system, ie "12 o'clock" is straight above, "9 o'clock" is left and then use the target size to call out distance. Example: miss, 2 o'clock, 2 plates widths.

The reticle is absolutely the best way to call corrections.
Lacking an accurate reticle, use the target width or height.
You can call half a target width off the right edge and everyone looking through a scope can see what that means.
It's far better to call "4/10 of a mil right from center of target" though.

[HeathenRifleman]

Yeah I was really sucking with my spotting as well....