Author Topic: shooting from bench, free-recoil? (Read 645 times)

bluebayou · « **on:** October 22, 2004, 05:14:04 PM »

Okay, this is one of those "No one taught me how to shoot" kind of questions. I am new at this and I understand that consistency counts more than anything whether we are talking ammo or technique. My question is, when shooting from a bench should I hold the rifle forearm lightly/firmly with my left hand and squeeze the trigger? Or should I leave my left hand off the rifle? If I shoot with only one hand (I am using sandbags here) then the rifle moves up and to the right under recoil. Using two hands the rifle is moving less and the groups are to the left of the "free-recoil" groups. Shooting offhand I.......well, I just need some improvement. Would the rifle's movement be enough to change the POI?

lilabner · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2004, 03:09:54 AM »

Without attempting to determine exactly what is happening, I'd suggest you hold the rifle as you will when hunting - both hands, with your left hand resting on the sandbag. The POI change could be for a couple of reasons - the most likely being that you are pulling the shot off shooting one handed. With the trigger squeezed as it should be, not pulled, the rifle should recoil straight back. You should be relaxed and the gun should go off when it is ready to.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2004, 06:39:06 AM »

Practice shooting only helps if the rifle shoots good groups and you know where.. Good bench technique for a high power rifle is using properly fitting bags, the forearm is rested, the right hand holds the grip and runs the trigger, the left forearm is rested on the bench with the hand used to squeeze the rear rabbit ear bag. The gentle squeezing of the rear bag affects the minor elevation changes to get the perfect sight picture. On a really hard kicker the left hand grasps the forestock and the forearm of the left hand just below the wrist is rested on the front bag. The butt is firmly planted in the pocket of the shoulder. These direction are for a right handed shooter, southpaws reverse...

bluebayou · « **Reply #3 on:** October 23, 2004, 07:06:33 AM »

Thanks, gunnut. That is what I needed to hear-stupid as it sounds-where to put my left hand. I will also take lilabner's advice and pay attention to whether I am pulling to the right. I did find the scope loose in the mounts (another rookie mistake) so I will go back this week and see what is what.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 23, 2004, 07:51:51 AM »

Pulling the trigger is probably not the way to go. Instead try squeezing the trigger between the thumb and index finger. This tends to limit the torsional stress that makes us pull shots to the right if right handed. simply place the index finger on the trigger blade(I use the base of the first pad) and the thumb goes over the pistol grip. The hand should have a firm but not rigid grip on the rifle and you then just try to touch the index finger to the thumb,,viola!! the wonders of the opposable thumb!!

Willyp · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2004, 03:29:35 AM »

This is what i have found,shooting from the bench: When shooting free recoil,as you have stated,shots are to the right{ I'm right handed}.As to shooting with a slight grip on the fore end,shots go left ! WHY?
IMHO.A few things come into the picture. Shooting free recoil,you cheeck puts little or no pressure.on the stock? This causes you to get a slightly different sight picture,through the scope.When fireing,the gun will react to the bullet coming out the barrel.{freely} The gun will jump up and tourqe to the right or left.{twist built into the barrel} How you pull the trigger has bearing on this also?
Holding the gun,your face is tighter to the stock{Different sight picture,agan?}. Your grip,on the fore end,more or less,calms the right hand tourqe,so it jumps up and straight back{more or less?}.
The fit of the front stock to the sand bags or front rest,also has some effect.also.
Unless you are shooting Bench rest matches,don't worry alot about shooting free recoil!
My guns weigh 11lbs.I shoot these free recoil.They are 22calipers.
I get so use to doing this,when i go to shoot my 308 sporter for hunting season,I get wacked by the stock! So far,the scope has missed my eye brow?

As I've stated,this is MHO.

jeff · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2004, 04:13:53 PM »

The Gunnut69 has laid it out very, very well.

I would offer two other points.

1. Consistency is key, you will really need to tune yourself to be consistent with the process you use. Small variations in how you hold, how much pressure on the grip, shoulder pressure, cheek weld(or not), eye position all affect where that darn bullet is gonna hit.

2. Be very, very careful with that thumb/trigger finger squeeze when using strongly recoiling rifles. You can experience some interesting levels of pain if you're not careful.

best of luck

roper · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2004, 08:48:48 AM »

I use free recoil on some of my BR and varmit rifles and my rest and bags are set up for it as well as a 2oz trigger or lighter. I've never tried it on my rifles I use for elk and deer just too much recoil. Free recoil means the stock has to slide back freely and evenly on it's own and then returned. If you go to a br match and look at some of the shooters you will see there arms/elbows off the benches on bags and some will come off there scopes before firing it's really an art to free recoil. On my hunting rifle I take the swivels off put alittle powder on the bags and I gripe the rifle like I was using it in the field and cross my left arm under and squeeze the rear bag (I can move rear bag to the side or move for up or down) both my elbows are off the bench and on elbow pad from sinclair. Once I have everything lined up ready to fire I let go of everything and see what sight picture I have if it's not where I was aiming I reset everything then come back up on the rifle. I don't mind if the elevation may be off but I don't want to force any windage. Hope this helps.