Where to place the front rest stop?

[tvtv]

I use a Sinclair GenII front rest. Is there any rule of thumb in setting the forend stop distance? thanks

 

[JerrySharrett]

First off, the front rest/bag is the final determinant of gun balance. It differs from shooter to shooter and gun to gun as to what is the best balance for best tracking and recoil recovery.

If you have the where-with-all, put a bathroom scales under the front rest and one under the rear bag. Then move the gun and rear bag back and forth till you get at least 1/3 of the weight on the back bag. Why 1/3? There again it is a personal preference, in this case, mine.

Setting up the gun on two scales gives you a better feel as to how much in-the-bags balance you can have effect upon.

 

[henrya]

Mine is in a box somewhere.
You don't have to use one.

 

[abintx]

tvtv ...

I use a Sinclair GenII front rest. Is there any rule of thumb in setting the forend stop distance? thanks

Mike Ratigan, in his book Extreme Rifle Accuracy, Chapter 6: Rest & Bag Setup, page 55, under Front Stop Misconceptions, says:

"The stop needs to be set so that the front of the forearm extends about an inch in front of the front bag.

Set the front stop far enough forward so that when the rifle recoils, the front edge of the stock stays forward of the front bag."

 

[goodgrouper]

Mike Ratigan, in his book Extreme Rifle Accuracy, Chapter 6: Rest & Bag Setup, page 55, under Front Stop Misconceptions, says:

"The stop needs to be set so that the front of the forearm extends about an inch in front of the front bag.

Set the front stop far enough forward so that when the rifle recoils, the front edge of the stock stays forward of the front bag."

Good advice. This also gives the rifle more lateral stability because the two contact points (front and rear bag) are further apart.

 

[abintx]

Francis ...

You really mean Mike Ratigan. Art

 

[tvtv]

learned another thing from you guys.....thnaks.

 

[Wayne Shaw]

If you gotta shoot fast, you need the stop. If you have to watch where your rifle slides back to each time, you can't shoot fast.

If you pick your way through the match time, then it's up to you whether you use it or not.

I've never seen where it hurts.

 

[Wilbur]

As I do the bag squeeze method of target acquisition, I forgot that there are those who knob twiddle and there are those who move a joy stick. I should have prefaced my opinion on the uselessness of the front rest stop with the caveat that the stop is of little value to a bag sqeezer.

Actually, a bag squeezer is at a disadvantage trying to use a front stop.

The notion that a rifle will agg better with a consistent beginning is pure speculation.