What should you concentrate on when using a scope?

I concentrate on my trigger pull and my breathing. But i stink at paper targets and psych myself out. If its a reactive target or prey I seem to worry more about breathing and trigger. I know its not a scope answer but it kinda is cause if I dont concentrate on those, my scope wanders like a drunken sailor on shore leave.

That is a pretty good question. Personally I concentrate on the target, whether paper, reactive or live. Point being if you focus on the target and keep the aim point small it tends to help settle the movement of the scope/gun. the old saying, "Aim small, miss small" is a pretty good mantra to "aim" by. I will add that with airguns especially, I also hold my pose until I can actually focus on the "hole" made by the round after pulling the trigger. Or until the target drops or stops spinning, you get the idea. Surprising how much this helps keep groups tight. hope this helps.

"Crutcherro1"This is an elementary question, but I don’t know the correct answer...
I’ve always been told when using iron sights to concentrate on the front sight, not the target. But what should you concentrate on when using a scope? Is it the target, the crosshairs or both?
I try to just center the crosshairs on the target and hold it there for a shot, but is that correct? I don’t consciously concentrate on either. 

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I understand that question! Had it myself. I used to shoot military match with peep sights and scopes were a foreign object. The correct answer is you focus on the reticle for the same reason we focus on the front sight.

You need to practice then practice some more to get your body’s muscle memory working where you are absolutely still the moment you pull the trigger and a fraction of a second longer. I use a laser bore site for practice that way you can easily see any movement when you are on target. I personally fire at the completion of my exhale where I try to get the site of the crosshairs to do the same micro movement on the target inorderbthe get more consistent. I also practice keeping my heart rate down as I find my accuracy is best when I’m fully relaxed

Both the cross hair and target should be in focus at whatever range you are shooting. When looking through the scope your eye shouldn't be straining to see one or the other.

Agree with the above. I try to drill a mental hole where I want the pellet to land, a little tunnel of visualization. The cross hairs tend to stay closer to that imaginary point than if I just look at the target and cross hairs as separate entities.

I teach 4H shooting sports and we put a laser pointer, one of the cheap flashlight/laser combo's, on a Ruger 10/22 stock- no barrel or gun, just the stock. you can tape it on or rig some string, let it rest where the barrel is.

We play a game called "Steady Eddy"- you assume a shooting position, turn on the laser, aim it a target or spot on the wall. We time each other or have shoot off's from our shooting position, as to who can hold the position the longest.

They learn quickly about natural point of aim, relaxation, focus.. lots of fine motor details without using ammunition.
Its a great indoor game when it's too rainy or cold to shoot. 

Crosshairs and target should both be in focus, but that also depends on if you are shooting with quality optics or not.

"Harmless"Crosshairs and target should both be in focus, but that also depends on if you are shooting with quality optics or not.

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The above is very true, if your parallax adjustment is not correct your not aiming at the target. You may hit the target but not where you wanted then you say I guess I had another flyer 

What ever method you try be consistent and don’t mix them up I find what works for me on the bench and prone does work as well when standing or sitting (I add the use of a sling for those positions)

When shooting Iron sights like on a handgun you focus on the front sight because your eyes can’t focus on objects at two different distances IE front sight and your target. Shooting thru a scope if all is adjusted correctly, everything is in focus. Most bench rest shooters focus on the target. But there are two thoughts here. For me focusing on the target works for my eyes. And have done it that way for 40 years. Since getting into airguns I bought a scope withe a multiple aiming points and the dots like a MOA-H type. I would get eye strain after shooting for a while. So I thought I needed better optics. So I spent more money. Using this type optical I start trying to focus on the reticle. Thats where my eye strain comes from. So I guess it comes down to try both and decide what works best for you.
Jim

Breathing