Allen's Rifle Tips Page

This is my page of hints and kinks I've picked up over the years that I haven't figured out how to incorporate elsewhere on this site. If you have other suggestions, I'd welcome hearing from you. Email them to me at the address below.

• Check the bedding screws on your rifle on a periodic basis - like before every competition. (They tend to work loose) Loose screws can adversely affect shooting accuracy!

  
  

• Keep a set of tools you will need to adjust your rifle with the rifle. For my rifle, that includes a flat blade screw driver, and an Allen wrench.

  
  

• Don't put off cleaning the rifle after shooting in the winter. If you're too tired when you get home and put it off for a day, you may get rust. Make sure the rifle is thoroughly cleaned and dry as soon as it reaches room temperature. At the very least open the snow covers and set the rifle upright to air dry.

  
  

• Make sure when you clean your rifle after shooting (especially in the winter) that you also clean around the front sight hood and rear sight assembly to prevent rust.

  
  

• If you do Summer biathlon, bring some duct tape along - occasionally you'll find racks that have metal that will scratch your rifle. Use the tape to cover the bare metal (not your rifle!)

  
  

• If you're like me and can't remember which way to turn the micrometer screws to adjust the sights, tape instructions to the inside of your rifle case.

  
  

• If possible, try to zero your rifle under the same lighting conditions that you will be shooting under when you are racing.

  
  

• Even same model rifles may shoot best with different brands of ammunition. Get together with some fellow biathletes and buy a variety of ammunition and select the ammunition that shoots best in YOUR rifle.

  
  

• If using the Marlin rifles, don't jam the cartridge in too hard - the rifle will tend to jam if you do

  
  

• Rifle should be laid down with the bolt handle down.