Any body tried a Shooting bench and bags ?

[D Pete]

I tried my air rifles off the bench and sand bags I use for my rimfires, It didn't work. I guess it was to solid for the double recoil. The shots were wild, any ideas why? RWS 34 & Beeman R9

[Chuck]

i've had so-so luck with sandbags, but not great. anyone here know the most accurate way to shoot an airgun. i need to get my scope sighted in better.

[Carl l.]

D. Pete

I shoot my RWS-34 from bench rest and It does ok. I will need more information

1. Do you use a scope and what kind?
2. How far were you shooting?
3. What kind of pellets are you using?
4. Is the stock tight to the barrel? On the RWS-34 You need to tighten the 2 screws that hold the trigger guard real tight. If they come loose it will not shoot the same.
5. Make sure the scope is real tight also. I have found out the air rifles are hard on scopes.
Maybe some of the other fellows can help you better than I can. Check these things and see if it helps. Carl L.

[Dand]

I shoot my R7 over a bag or bags but I don't hold it real tight, let it move a bit and I can get very small groups at 29 feet with a peep sight - like .25 to .4 inches total group.  I believe I've read where spring guns have to be allowed to move a bit.   I put the front bag  just a little forward of the trigger guard.  Experiment a bit with lighter holds and different positions of the bags  - its all very different from burning powder.

Good luck.  You should be able to get some excellent groups with the R9.

[Lawdog]

I put a small foam rubber covered pillow(got it from the doll buggy that my girls used to have) under the fore end of my springers when shooting from a bench.  It helped me with my groups.  Lawdog

[ZVP]

The prime idea in shooting from the bench is NOT to make a "springer" type rifle unable to reciol.
 I use my open palm on the forearm, hold the rifle loose, but completelly with the trigger hand, and get square bearing of the buttpad on the sholder.
 A springer needs this "float" to accomplish the recoil cycle, otherwisethe reaction of it's powerplants discharge forces get translated into  inconsistant movements of the gun.
 Noone could (or should)  hope to try to contain a springers movement during firing it!
 CO2 and Pneumatics may be rested firmlly upon sandbags, as their discharge  is not dependent on such a severe a mechanical reaction.
 No matter what type of rifle is fired, NEVER rest the barrel, rest the forearm!
 Even shooters of recoiless actions, should use the open palm. (Note the Olympians...).
 HTH,
 ZVP

[Questor]

The problem is that you're resting the gun on the bags. Instead, rest your hand on the bags, then rest the gun in your hand. Don't grip the foreend of the rifle tightly. It has to be allowed to recoil freely with this type of gun. If you do that, your groups should improve dramatically. This is a quirk of springer air rifles.