Bench technique feedback

[afrench]

over the last few months i've been recording myself to work on improving bench technique and find bad habits.

i'm still fairly new but feel like i'm getting better at the bench, still working on a few things.

of the competitive BR guys on here, what do you see that you like and areas for improvement?

the setup for this vid:
local club match this last weekend.
wind was very light for this part of the world, probably 5-8 mph when i'm shooting.
i first fired 3 shots with a different load on the sighter then started my record group.
i was more of a picker during this particular group.
i pin the gun somewhat hard.

 

[jackie schmidt]

Looked fine too me. I guess the big question would be, "how was the group?".

My only thing to ask would be how much of your weight are you putting on the bench. At a lot of ranges, the darn things move, a lot. You have to be ever aware of it and keep as much of your body out of contact as possible.........jackie

 

[jessesig]

I am certainly no expert but the thing I noticed immediately was that you held the joystick very lihjtly or was not holding it at all when you sent the bullet downrange. Just my 2 cents and nothing more.

Good luck and keep at it. Improving oneself is never a wasted goal.

Jesse

 

[Harold M]

Wow. Great learning tool.

Is your cheek touching the stock on any shots?
What is the right thumb doing - does it touch the stock?

 

[mwezell]

Hold that stick, Aaron, and you might try getting off of the gun more. You look like you're shooting a 30. That can work, but try to take as much of you out of the equation as the gun tells you it likes. Overall, It looks pretty good. I need to work on my gun handling a lot, so take it FWIW. When I was shooting respectably well, I was shooting a lot and doing things like this video to help me. Time and components being at a premium right now, I've slacked and it shows. From what little I know, you certainly have more to be proud of than not in your gun handling. I wish I was doing as many things as well, right now.

 

[mks]

Aaron,
Good job reloading before sliding the rifle forward and checking the target. That can really help you be a runner when you need to. One suggestion: place your thumb down on your trigger finger. The tip of your thumb will rest in the second joint of your trigger finger, making a convenient hinge point for touching the trigger, and keep it off the stock. One question: are you watching the flags as you touch the trigger?

Keith

 

[mwezell]

Another little thing...I hope it helps. It looks like the rest has some springback in the stick. Have you tried Butch's tension screw kit for a Farley? You seem to be "fighting" the rest a little in the video. You may be able to adjust it out. There again, I may be seeing something that just isn't an issue, but it looks like it is, at least for the first few shots.

 

[afrench]

Looked fine too me. I guess the big question would be, "how was the group?".

My only thing to ask would be how much of your weight are you putting on the bench. At a lot of ranges, the darn things move, a lot. You have to be ever aware of it and keep as much of your body out of contact as possible.........jackie

that is the closest thing to a 'club' barrel that i have. the group was as good as i could expect it to be. i was using non-match bullets and powder trying to save my good stuff. with that being said, i did edge out Baggett at 100 yards in the tie-breaker!! then lost tune for most of 200.

i do lean on the bench pretty hard. i've only been to places with good, solid benches so far. i understand that i may need to rethink that if i ever go to New Braunfels.

I am certainly no expert but the thing I noticed immediately was that you held the joystick very lihjtly or was not holding it at all when you sent the bullet downrange. Just my 2 cents and nothing more.

Good luck and keep at it. Improving oneself is never a wasted goal.

Jesse

that's one thing i'm working on. trying to decide what works best for me. i do put a fair amount of resistance in the rest adjustment so i can fire without the handle moving or falling.

Wow. Great learning tool.

Is your cheek touching the stock on any shots?
What is the right thumb doing - does it touch the stock?

yes, my cheek touches. i don't have tall enough rings to get completely off the stock. the right thumb bobbing around is more of a reference thing that i do. it just barely skims the stock.

Hold that stick, Aaron, and you might try getting off of the gun more. You look like you're shooting a 30. That can work, but try to take as much of you out of the equation as the gun tells you it likes. Overall, It looks pretty good. I need to work on my gun handling a lot, so take it FWIW. When I was shooting respectably well, I was shooting a lot and doing things like this video to help me. Time and components being at a premium right now, I've slacked and it shows. From what little I know, you certainly have more to be proud of than not in your gun handling. I wish I was doing as many things as well, right now.

ha!, no just a little ol' 6mm. i just recently became comfortable pinning the gun. up until about a month ago i shot entirely free. still working on getting more comfortable and consistent with pinning. one thing i do know, i can't lightly touch the butt of the gun. i have to be completely off of it or really get into it. anything in between is a disaster.

thanks! i've had lots of help from several BR buddies that have gotten me to this point as far as gun handling goes.

Aaron,
Good job reloading before sliding the rifle forward and checking the target. That can really help you be a runner when you need to. One suggestion: place your thumb down on your trigger finger. The tip of your thumb will rest in the second joint of your trigger finger, making a convenient hinge point for touching the trigger, and keep it off the stock. One question: are you watching the flags as you touch the trigger?

Keith

i'll have to try that. yes, i'm trying to watch the flags all the time once i get down on the gun.

Another little thing...I hope it helps. It looks like the rest has some springback in the stick. Have you tried Butch's tension screw kit for a Farley? You seem to be "fighting" the rest a little in the video. You may be able to adjust it out. There again, I may be seeing something that just isn't an issue, but it looks like it is, at least for the first few shots.

this is one of Scott Hunter's rests. it generally is quite good but i haven't cleaned all of the 'Midland' out of it since the last time i was there... it gets stiff when dirty especially with the tension i like.