Benchrest Shooting Technique-rear bag

[revenant]

Ok guys, since I am a novice- let's talk about basic rear bag shooting technique.

What do we want to do? Does the rifle slide back and forth on the bag, or do we immobilize it? Do we use the bag to steer? What bags do you like and don't like? What medium do you use to fill your bags?

Fire away!

 

[JoePellegrene]

Everyone has their personal preferences, and it depends what discipline your shooting, but basically.

If you have a front rest with a windage top, or a joystick then you want the rear bag to sit still. You make your adjustments with the front rest.

Some shooters are "bag squeezers" they make their adjustments by moving the rear bag not the front rest.

You'll need to decide which shooting style is right for you.

Regardless of the style of shooting. You want the stock to slide freely in the bag. Most guys use a silicone spray or baby powder on the ears, and stock tape is also common.

Look for a bag that fits your rifle stock. If you have several different types of stocks you may need different bags.

Buy an ear height, and width that's right for your stock. You don't want the stock bottoming out between the ears. Buy a width that will allow your stock to ride in the middle of the ears.

Leather has more memory, and holds it's shape better than Cordura, but Cordura ears let the stock slide better.

Look for a bag with a donut built into the bottom. This helps them sit flat on the bench, and not move. I also like to use a thin gripper pad under my rear bag.

Fill the bag with heavy sand if you want it to stay put. Bag squeezers use less sand, and play sand so they can squeeze it and move it with one hand.

The bag also needs to be the right hight for your front rest, and stock height, or you will find yourself blocking it up to get down low enough at some targets.

 

[FrankintheLaurelMts]

JOE KNOWS...he's a great benchrest shooter..action speak louder than words and he doesn't need anyone to speak for him..I agree with everything he stated and would only add..if it works for you, use it..it an individual thing for sure...

 

[Gman]

I have a question. Why don't you want the bottom of the buttstock riding on top of the bag between the ears? I was under the impression that if it rode in between the ears, but not all of the way down, to where the ears are stiched to the bag, that this can cause vertical stringing. Am I correct in assuming this? Please explain.

 

[BoydAllen]

Joe,
Great post

Gman,
I asked this very question of Lester Bruno, and he said that the bottom of the stock should not touch the bottom of the gap between the ears of your rear bag. I have shot both ways, and have not had a problem, but I no longer worry about whether my stock bottoms. I push it down and then back and forth to settle in in the bag. I do think that ear fill, particularly with Cordura ears, can be very touchy. I look for a tight fill with the stock in place, and slightly less tight with it out.

To the original poster,

Common mistakes,mostly by non-Benchrest shooters) involving rear bags and in that general area include:

Positioning the bag so that the rear sling stud touches the bag.,common)

Letting the toe of the stock,bottom tip of the recoil pad) touch the bench)

Positioning the bag so that the grip cap area is either touching the bag or runs into it on recoil.

Using hearing protection that touches the comb of the stock.
,common)

Not checking rifle position on the rest and rear bag after each shot, so that the rifle gets progressively out of position during a group.,common)

Not using baby powder on leather bags with the result that the rifle sticks and does not start to slide smoothly.,very common)