For new shooters! Free recoil and standard hold-comments and opinions!

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Alabamabill

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As I mentioned in earlier posts, I am new to this sport and seem to have many questions that I suspect other new folks have as well! I have found this forum to be extremely helpful and a great resource for many of us just getting started.

I just received my rifle and am in the process of tuning and determining a good Ely lot number for the best groups I can get. The rifle was guided through the process by Dan Killough, bedding by Billy Russel, and gunsmithed by Richard Gorham. Following are two links to see the rifle and to view my first four tuning targets:

Individual pictures on SmugMug:

http://bill-haycock.smugmug.com/gallery/7047224_YF6Um/1/452299700_zmUPr

Slide Show:

http://bill-haycock.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=7047224&AlbumKey=YF6Um

Now to the question. I know many use solid, one piece rests/stands where the rifle has free recoil without any human contact during firing other then touching the trigger. I understand the reasoning of this stand as it provides a constant without the interaction of the human being! I have seen others using a two piece rest where they are holding the rifle stock or touching the rifle with a light hand and some even placing their shoulder against the butt plate. Both methods seem to work well!

I used a one piece (Pappas) rest on half of my group testing (see photos in link above) and a Caldwell front rest and bag rear rest for the second half of my testing – I actually seemed more comfortable and consistent using a two piece rest! I had my right hand grasping the stock behind the receiver and finger pulling the trigger in the conventional holding position.

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this – I am close to ordering a Pappas rest and would like to believe it will be the best method of resting the rifle. Any comments?
 
I've shot just about as good of groups off of Fudd front rest and rear sandbag vs using my Pappas one peice rest. I've also shot just as good of groups holding the gun tight vs shooting free recoil. My best score target was shot off of the Pappas(249-17x). It really is just a matter of personal preference. I think both setups will work equally well. But from looking at percentage basis for new, avg, good, or excellent to super shooters I would say that the one piece rest will lead to better groups and scores for the majority of shooters since more variables are reduced to a minimum. That's provided on guns with a 2oz trigger or less.
 
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Pardon my manners, I got mixed up and thought you actually had 2 different threads here. :D

Nice gun, and nice shooting. I think you have a winner there. Richard Gorham seems to build a nice shooting gun that shoots with the best of them.

Keep playing around with the tuner and add some weight until you get the gun shooting consistently like some of the better Eley groups you have there. The hardest thing you will have to do is learn to read the wind. Get you a good set of windflags and study them closely when you shoot. You will get better in time. Finding good ammo will also make a huge difference in your groups and scores.

Good luck.
 
Richard tuned that gun I believe. If he did and you are new, do not retune for at least a year. It will take you that long to learn to read the wind and realize what is happening to the bullet. If you are shooting a gun that is out of tune, it will take you twice as long because it will never make sence.
 
I'm not sure about this answer, but it might be easier to match group for group with one piece vs two piece rest. However shooting for score where the rifle moves from bull to bull I would think the one piece rest has an advantage. That said, I used a two piece rest back in the 90's thru 2000 and since then with two different one piece rest and two different rifles have not returned to that level. There are other variables though. I am no longer buying the top ammo of the day nor are my eyes as good as they once were. Rich
 
new to the sport.

I have used the fudd top piece and the pappas one piece. My score has improved 200 to 400 points with the one piece rest. In my opinion, it was harder for me to shoot the two piece free recoil because every time I would shoot and shove the gun back to the stop it would not go to the same spot all the time 65%. with having a one piece rest the gun has to return to the aiming point 99% of the time. I love my one piece rest
 
Thanks to all who replied and provided input - The one piece seems like the majority vote here - I did like the Pappas rest as the POA did always return to the previous point! Guess it just is going to take me some time to get used to setting off the trigger (pinch method) without actually touching the rifle! Just goes against many years of shooting.

Again, thanks to all
 
Alabamabill said:
Guess it just is going to take me some time to get used to setting off the trigger (pinch method) without actually touching the rifle! Just goes against many years of shooting.
Click to expand...


If you want total free recoil, don't use the pinch method. I did that for awhile and with you still holding the rifle it does not get total free recoil. Just use your finger tip on the trigger blade and pull your whole hand to you, don't flex your finger. With the benchrest triggers at 2oz or less it it will go off with very little pressure. This way there is nothing restricting the rifle from going all the way back and forward again if you are using a bungee system.

just my $.02
Bill
 
I never did like the bungee cord method as it seems to restrain the rifle too much and I've never really seen people have success with it. Actually, I've liked totally free recoil even waxing the rifle contact points so I can get more movement. However, I've recently been told by a very good shooter, who's opinion I respect, to slow the rifle down. There's no question that he gets great results doing just that. The method used is simple, put masking tape on the rifle where it contacts the rest. No doubt it does slow the rifle down in recoil. Still it is free recoil as far as the human part is considered.
 
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