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"Bench manners"?

Depends on your style of shooting but whatever it is it requires total repeatability. You want to learn bench manners? Get a quality Springer air rifle start shooting off the bench with that. Why do you think the push for wider stocks, muzzle brakes, heavier guns , 1 piece rest etc.....that's all related to bench manners of lack thereoff.
 
ShtrRdy said:
This is with respect to short range benchrest. What sort of actions have you noticed make a difference when trying to shoot small groups?
Click to expand...
Keep your head down. Don't spend time looking at the last shot...you can't bring it back. Work on form. Smooth is fast but know when to run vs pick and know when to start your record target. Video yourself shooting to see what you're doing right or wrong. Matches are won at the practice bench. Always practice just like a match. Shooting without flags is a waste of time and components.

These are some of the best examples of snippets offered to me that I found to be of value to my shooting. Hope someone will benefit from them, as I did
 
gunsandgunsmithing said:
Keep your head down. Don't spend time looking at the last shot...you can't bring it back. Work on form. Smooth is fast but know when to run vs pick and know when to start your record target. Video yourself shooting to see what you're doing right or wrong. Matches are won at the practice bench. Always practice just like a match. Shooting without flags is a waste of time and components.

These are some of the best examples of snippets offered to me that I found to be of value to my shooting. Hope someone will benefit from them, as I did
Click to expand...
Thank you for these tips! These are the sort of suggestions I'm looking for.

Will the way your body contacts the bench have an effect?
 
ShtrRdy said:
Thank you for these tips! These are the sort of suggestions I'm looking for.

Will the way your body contacts the bench have an effect?
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It can, especially on rickety benches. Just my opinion and I am not good at following my own advice in this regard but, I think it's probably best to practice staying off of the bench as much as possible with your chest/side. But I think it can work for some people either way.

Shot a Nationals in 2008 in a literal hurricane. Conditions were horrible and I lost focus on this detail. The bench I was on, the top moved easily. I lost a shot against the condition because I think I tensed up the muscle kinda chest/under my arm(whatever it's called) in anticipation of the shot which pushed the bench top to the side. Harley Baker was watching me through a spotting scope and I heard him say, "that wasn't wind". To which, I agree. So yeah, I think it's best to practice staying off of the bench so that it becomes muscle memory.
 
Keep as much of “you” out of the equation as possible.
As for the Discipline, I shoot Score and Group, although I do not have an opportunity to shoot Group that much.
Learn how to shoot Group from a good Group Shooter, and Score from a good Score Shooter.
There are differences in the way you approach either.
 
ShtrRdy said:
Will the way your body contacts the bench have an effect?
Click to expand...
If the bench is sturdy (rigid base/concrete top) body contact will have minimal impact. If the bench/platform is made from wood, it may. As posted above, consistency is the key. Once you’re far enough down the “rabbit hole”, you’ll discover how you contact and pull the trigger shoe can have an impact!
 
Bat Rastard said:
Please elaborate.

I use what I have. How do I know what I need?
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A lot is personal preference. Ya don't see a lot of them but I love my old SEB Bigfoot with angled ears. Aside from the personal aspect, getting one that fits your stock well and not too hard or too soft matters, as well as the bottom being made so that it doesn't rock on a flat bench. Ear material is another aspect. I prefer cordura or slick fabric over leather but that's probably a personal preference thing. Both work.
 
jackieschmidt said:
Keep as much of “you” out of the equation as possible.
Click to expand...
That statement right there should always be on page one. I shoot
mainly free recoil but some games don't allow you to......Gun has to
track and not fight the bags. And in that respect, rifle needs to be in
balance. I changed things up and started to throw a few low nines.
weight distribution was off and bags were getting sticky in the more
humid weather. Heavily dusted the bags with a mix of moly and
teflon powder. Low nines went away for my situation.
 
Fuj said:
That statement right there should always be on page one. I shoot
mainly free recoil but some games don't allow you to......Gun has to
track and not fight the bags. And in that respect, rifle needs to be in
balance. I changed things up and started to throw a few low nines.
weight distribution was off and bags were getting sticky in the more
humid weather. Heavily dusted the bags with a mix of moly and
teflon powder. Low nines went away for my situation.
Click to expand...
Isn't that moly a mess? Al Nyhus mentioned using hbn in another thread. I really like that idea a lot too and plan to give it a try. You are so right about gun balance. That is a huge deal imho.
 
Mike, I'm using it on cordura and just sprinkle it where needed, then
rub the rifle in. Try not to put it on when it's windy....LOL. It does not
make a mess if done right. Never tried it on actual leather, but I know
a few using the teflon powder from Benchrite.
 
Bat Rastard said:
Please elaborate.

I use what I have. How do I know what I need?
Click to expand...
I had a bag that fit too loose, and my rifles wouldn't track at all. I changed EVERYTHING trying to get them to shoot. Then I put my old rear bag on the bench and it was night and day. It's such a small difference that that I had people telling me I was full of it, but the targets don't lie. They didn't offer to buy it from me either.
 
Last edited:
Bat Rastard said:
Please elaborate.

I use what I have. How do I know what I need?
Click to expand...
Over rated.
Extreme Accuracy is about barrels, bullets, and tuning.
I have been to matches where the shooter next to me was having all sorts of issues, some “Guru” was helping him get his front rest and bag all perfect. He had the best of everything.
I wanted to tell him his Rifle was no where near in a competitive tune, but he didn’t want to hear that.

Look at this Cr-p. This is NOT what you should be using.

But…………. :cool:

IMG_0047.jpeg
 
jackieschmidt said:
Over rated.
Extreme Accuracy is about barrels, bullets, and tuning.
I have been to matches where the shooter next to me was having all sorts of issues, some “Guru” was helping him get his front rest and bag all perfect. He had the best of everything.
I wanted to tell him his Rifle was no where near in a competitive tune, but he didn’t want to hear that.

Look at this Cr-p. This is NOT what you should be using.

But…………. :cool:

View attachment 1668438
Click to expand...
Have you tried a joystick style front rest? I avoided them for years, but bought a SEB Mini last year and have been pleasantly surprised!
 
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