accuracy

[jacob rankin]

my friends,, i don't have a benchrest gun,and i want to be as accurate as i can,,,and i have a 22-250 winchester 1885,and how do i hold the gun for the best accuracy?.do i use my trigger finger and just use the other hand to hold back rest bag...i have a fine front rest and it's heavy enough,,and the back bag is a butterfly,well,one with the two holders for the butt.. please just give me the best position for shooting accurately..thanks,,,a lot..:

 

[MatthewKeller]

Well, i believe that "free recoil" is GENERALLY considered the easiest way to consistently shoot, but if you wanna be able to do that, you will need to have a flat fore end on your gun. If you wanna shoot from the bench, the best thing I can advise is the purchase of an "accuracy asset" from Sinclair, in order to capitalize on the advantages of a flat forend. As I'm not able to shoot a round fore-ended gun free recoil. It may not be any problem for others, but I prefer not too. Then elsewise, just make sure that the bottom of the buttstock goes to the bottom of the ears in your bag, and from there, just kind of experiment with your holds!! Switching between completely free recoil, holding the rifle, and the many variances in between. If I'm shooting a light recoiling gun, I prefer to have my shoulder grazing the rifle, with only my trigger finger applying pressure (assuming the trigger is light enough). That's just me. HAVE FUN!!!!

Matthew S Keller

 

[zipper]

He is Very correct

But to keep it simple for your case, be comfortable and consistant every shot.
You need to repeat every shot the EXACT same way.

 

[abintx]

Jacob:

Watch this 6 minute video. I can't remember where this gentleman is from but I think it's Iceland. He set a world record quite a few years back with ten shots at 200 yards. He shoots free recoil. Watch how he barely touches the rifle when shooting. Basically only the trigger. He keeps his head up and watches the conditions down range. Notice how smoothly his rifle rides the bags. It taught me a lot. Here is the link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9194636798795391569

 

[russell m]

As Zipper said Keep it consistant.
The first thing I worked on was my trigger. Get rid of the creap & lightened up the pull. Have a gunsmith work with your trigger. Keep the eye relief,cheek placement,shoulder placement the same. One of the most improtant things I found was keeping the cant of the gun the same or if you want to say keep the gun level horizontally for each shot. I used my left hand to squeaze the rear bag to get on target. Basically pay attention to every part of your body & do it the same every time. Pay attention to if you are anticipating the recoil & not squeazing the trigger. I know this is basic stuff but it is important.
If you get the bug for making little holes. You can always upgrade.
russell m

 

[Boyd Allen]

I believe that the toe angle of your rifle's stock would preclude your getting best results shooting free recoil, even if you had a flat forend. A friend who shoots schutzen from the bench, with a similar stock, tells me that if he does not shoulder his rifle solidly, that he has vertical problems, probably due to small differences in rifle slide before the bullet leaves the barrel being exaggerated by the geometry of the stock. Another, friend with a similar stock, who was having vertical problems, improved his groups by using that tip. Bench shooting style is largely a derivative of stock design and rifle balance. Free recoil has requirements in these areas as well as front and rear bags that most non-benchrest rifles and rests fail to meet. By trying many different approaches to such things as front bag position and hardness of both bags, as well as how the rifle is held will tell you what works best for your rig. I see too many shooters who bring preconceived ideas to the bench only to be plagued by frustration and inconsistent results. Ask your rifle what it likes and if you listen it will tell you. How does it go? The definition of insanity is doing the same experiment over and over and expecting different results? Try something different. It may not work, but then how will you fine out?

 

[Wingnut]

In my opinion Boyd hit it just right. You will not be able to 'free recoil' that rifle without a BR configured stock. I believe you're talking about a single-shot high wall? I find in the couple single-shots I've shot that they soot better when rested on the front rest just off of balance point so it doesn't fall foward. Then I rest my fingers on the forend and bag the best I can to apply practicle pressure that doesn't wear me out, light pressure I guess. Yep, you ought to shoulder it, so try varrying amounts of pressure and keep it the same every shot. Make sure the buttstock is bedded securely in the tang,it needs to be rock solid. Sounds like a fun project, good luck...............Wingnut

 

[Stonewall]

I have a Ruger #1b in 7 mm Rem. I shoot this off sandbags but I hold the fore end with my hand and rest my hand on the front bag. I use the back bag with the sling swivel on the butt stock removed (to avoid any contact with the rear bag and "flyers").

If I do every thing exactly the same each time this rifle is very accurate but if I change my hold-shoulder pressure even slightly it will show on the target. The single shot rifles do teach you to shoot consistantly.

Glenn