free recoil or hard hold.
- Thread starter Mtstalker
- Start date
dragman
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One of the guys I shoot with up Ridgway who came from short range free recoils his 300WSM in a 17lbs gun. He has never had any issues with it. I have tried it just not for me.
I went out and tried both again and definitely a good solid hold put my groups where they normally are. Since there hunting rifles i will continue to shoot them with a solid hold. After trying twice and geting a pretty good headache both times i think im done with a loose hold. Thanks guys.
rkittine
Gold $$ Contributor
I have been holding my 6BR and 6.5x47L when shooting as I sometimes make small wind changes before pulling the trigger. I am about to venture into Short Range, Benchrest, where I have been told, with the 6PPC free recoil is probably more common. I will just have to see as I get some experience.
Bob
Bob
Bob u just have to try different ways of holding it or not. I shoot free recoil and mostly shoot 30BR's & my 30x46. I tried once to do the Humble Henry Rivers way of shooting where he pins it hard against his shoulder at a match here in Maine and for the 1st 3 matches, I didn't do so well. I think I dropped 2 points. I went back to free recoil for the last 2 and stayed clean. Later on in the year, the last match that I went to in Georgia, I saw Henry and told him that I tried your shooting style and it didn't work for me and he replied, "well it hasn't been working for me either". We just laughed. I'm lucky that I have never been recoil sensitive. I have owned and shot some pretty heavy recoiling rifles and as long as I don't shoot them from the bench, I'm not bothered by them. Shooting these bench rifles to me free recoil is like shooting a 22.
Real men don't feel recoil! Right?
Each man feels recoil in his own way. Right?
Real men? Of course you all do.
If u say so Eddie. You da man! Make yourself useful today. Call Hillary and wish her a Happy Birthday. Did you see the new bench rifle that Dean had Sid build for her as a birthday gift? Real sweet!
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In 2001, Jim Borden built a 6PPC LV for me based on a Stolle Panda. Jim enclosed instructions on how to clean and shoot the rifle for optimal performance. Jim encouraged me to shoot with a light thumb pressure on the action tang area. He said most people shot better than with free recoil because of how he balanced his rifles. Well, I tried his way but for me Free Recoil worked better on the PPC. On other rifles, I shoot with a medium grip on the McMillan A-5 tactical stocks. Here is one of the targets from testing that day. I even harvested a fly at the end of my test. Had to hold over just a bit to bag him. 
Aint funny Magee!
243win 107smk, 5-shots at 328 yards.
Hard Hold. (VERY HARD HOLD)
This was my last group of the day. I tried a extreme hard hold. Left hand holding the forend very tightly and trigger hand holding the pistol grip and pushing very hard into the shoulder.
Rifle is a Savage 11 action
243win Shilen Pre-fit
Mdt HS3 chassis
Bushnell XRS glass
Cheap front rest and even cheaper "rear bag"
Hard Hold. (VERY HARD HOLD)
This was my last group of the day. I tried a extreme hard hold. Left hand holding the forend very tightly and trigger hand holding the pistol grip and pushing very hard into the shoulder.
Rifle is a Savage 11 action
243win Shilen Pre-fit
Mdt HS3 chassis
Bushnell XRS glass
Cheap front rest and even cheaper "rear bag"
I shoot hunting rifles. Most are 30-06 and up. I can't get good groups unless I hold firm with both hands; and firm in chest and cheek weld. My triggers are never less than 3lb. pull weight,
(30-30 more),so I suppose firm is required just for that alone. All my shooting is offhand other than zeroing,load testing and verifying drops at different ranges. I'd have no problem using the free recoil manner for I would not have to fight through the muscle fatigue on a long day at the range. Another reason I hold firm is I only use a front rest on the bench. I shoot less clovers, but have developed the muscle memory and consistency to determine performance. I am always inside an inch when the ammo and rifle are capable(bench shooting that is-lol). And I still shoot many clovers(or bugholes) anyway. That's good enough for me. All said, I do somewhat admire folks that shoot sub moa groups all day long with free recoil. It's something I'd like to do better and would need to work on. A lot of the comments posted were encouraging and reassuring;on both sides. I kind of thought I might be an old fart(with highly effective old school ways) but yet missing out on something. I think I'll get a heavy rifle with the light trigger set up and bipod and learn what some of these hotshots are up to. I might even get a rear rest and hold the butt with my support hand too. But shoosh,don't tell anybody,I've been proud flaunting my old geezer ways. I wouldn't want my buddies and youngins that admire my constitution to find I caved in to nuveau. lol
(30-30 more),so I suppose firm is required just for that alone. All my shooting is offhand other than zeroing,load testing and verifying drops at different ranges. I'd have no problem using the free recoil manner for I would not have to fight through the muscle fatigue on a long day at the range. Another reason I hold firm is I only use a front rest on the bench. I shoot less clovers, but have developed the muscle memory and consistency to determine performance. I am always inside an inch when the ammo and rifle are capable(bench shooting that is-lol). And I still shoot many clovers(or bugholes) anyway. That's good enough for me. All said, I do somewhat admire folks that shoot sub moa groups all day long with free recoil. It's something I'd like to do better and would need to work on. A lot of the comments posted were encouraging and reassuring;on both sides. I kind of thought I might be an old fart(with highly effective old school ways) but yet missing out on something. I think I'll get a heavy rifle with the light trigger set up and bipod and learn what some of these hotshots are up to. I might even get a rear rest and hold the butt with my support hand too. But shoosh,don't tell anybody,I've been proud flaunting my old geezer ways. I wouldn't want my buddies and youngins that admire my constitution to find I caved in to nuveau. lol
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I am a highly proficient shot using my methods, yet after all these years I still like to experiment. The issue I inevitably run into when experimenting, is that there are many less than stellar shots. I don't mind burning through the extra ammo, nor do I mind the less than stellar shots. What I do mind is the range master or guy shooting next to you that start giving you instructions and telling you do it this way,or try it this way,or I give lessons,or I know what I'm talking about,etc.,etc.,etc. Quite a few raise their voice too. The ones that go away after you tell them you are experimenting are less obnoxious than the ones you have to shoot a good group for to shut them up and go away. I'm glad I can quickly revert back to my proven techniques to accomplish such. It's even better when they put their head down in shame realizing they may have overstepped their bounds.
Even with my 6PPC free recoil is not something that you can do properly with out a good bit of practice. If I haven't shot much it takes several ranges sessions with free recoil to get where it works better than my other hold. My other hold is not a hard hold either, but with out practice it shoots best. Push with shoulder till gun is pegged against the stop on the front of the rest hold hand under fore end but don't touch it, cheek close to stock but no touch, thumb on trigger hand not across wrist of stock but pointing toward muzzle on side of stock.
R.Morehouse
Gold $$ Contributor
^^^^^^^^^^^^^....Yeah, me to....^^^^^^^....What HE said....^^^..
Regards
Rick
Regards
Rick
I didn't read any posts other than the OPs originally question. Not being a competition shooter, I have shot some 600/1000 yard matches only because I had to shoot the match to get the practice in with my new builds. I've always been a hard hold type shooter. I've always used repetitive holds and form simply because consistency is Paramount to accuracy. That said, I tried mimicking some shooters using the free recoil technique with my F Class bipod and carpeted foot pads and slick bags for riding smooth. My accuracy was half of what it was hard holding. Not sure if it was because my stock wasn't really a bag rider type or my form stunk. I watch them free recoil guys shoot and I'm envious of there excellent form how the rifle never leaves POI. Just slides back and simply moved forward for the next shot. My rifle jumped, moved and had to realign the gun, rest and rear bag after each shot. Basically I sucked. Didn't take me long to go back to the hard hold method and start making hits in the center consistently again. The name of the game is consistency. Do the same Everytime and you'll see consistent results on paper.
Stock type can determine what is going to prove more precise. I have a relatively flexible composite stock with a long 'wheelbase' and it strings vertically if I hold any pressure forward against the front rest stop. It shoots best, in my hands (or out of my hands...if you will) shooting free recoil. Several other F-open shooters that use that stock also shoot F.R.. My wood X-Ring stock likes a little pressure against the stop.
I have a Savage sharp shooters F Class stock on my 22-250 AI. Haven't really used it but guessing it will perform much better than my A5 McMillan does. My guns are practical for my use. Sling studs in front and rear both interfering with the bags. This F Class stock is designed for free recoil. I'll give it a go soon. See if it does what it's suppose to.
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