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F-T/R guys - Load dev from a bipod or rest?

MikeMcCasland

Team Texas F-T/R
Title pretty much says it all. If you're shooting F-T/R do you perform load development off a rest to aid in consistency, or are y'all shooting everything as you would in competition?
 
I switched to shooting everything prone. Just back from doing some tuner twisting and I shot it prone also. Just like competition. I know those who test from a rest and it works fine for them. Whatever works best for you is what I'd recommend.

I'll edit and add, for me, shooting prone helps manage recoil. It also gives me time on the rifle holding up my noggin. Strengthens the neck for competition
 
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Not an FTR shooter but I shoot off bipods laying prone a lot. I do load development off a bipod on a bench or prone. Seems to work well.
 
Like many above, I do my load work like I shoot...in my case it’s prone. I’m of the belief that management of the recoil impulse is different when shooting from a bench vs prone and I want my loads to be consistent with my normal shooting position.
 
This is exactly how I do it and feel. It works for me.

I personally shoot better groups from the bench and can really fine tune the load. My thoughts have always been I wanna get the best load possible from the gun, not see how good I can shoot off a bipod in prone position even though that's how I shoot in a match. Maybe I'm wrong and missing out on something by not developing the load shooting prone on the bipod?
 
Jade, I do pretty much the same thing. I want to remove as much 'me' from the load development process as I can. Once I have the load working to my satisfaction I move to prone and concentrate on form.

And for what it's worth, I've seen you shoot; I don't think you're giving up anything ;)
 
I can never get comfortable on a bench, and don't own a rest. So I shoot prone/bipod. One of these days I'll pick up a Seb-Mini and maybe use it prone. I only have benches available at 100 and 200.
 
I don't shot F Class but I do a lot of precision varmint and predator shooting and have learned a few things about load development and sight in that work very well, at least for me.

I've always conducted load development in the most stable position meaning off the bench with front and rear supports. The idea is to wring out an accurate load combo for that rifle and eliminate as much human error as possible to determine the full accuracy potential of a load.

Once I have determine an acceptably accurate load I do all my sight in work the way that I hunt meaning off my shooting cross sticks because the rifle will shoot differently off the sticks versus the bench. I also practice a lot off the sticks to refine the sight in. In this manner I have a much better sight in for the field and achieve better field results.

Just offering this since the principle may apply to F Class shooting.
 
I do mine prone off bipod. I can't shoot well off a bench. Just not comfy at all. But your gun handling must be good to do it well no matter what.
 
From a Bench. Like Down South i want to get as much mechanical consistency as possible.

1) Front rest removes side to side movement (rifle can only travel in one direction) back
2) Front rest bump stop. enables me to return the rifle to the same point each time. It also means the butt section is in the same location in the rear bag.
3) Front rest allows control of the compression to the front bag acting on the sides of the rifle by mechanical means, i can increase or decrease the amount of tension and have more consistent release when the shot is fired.
4) Returning the rifle back to battery will return the cross hairs to my point of aim on the target. Big win here, i don't influence the cross hairs by shouldering or cheeking the rifle which almost completely eliminates human interference. trigger pressure is all that is required.
5) Benches are usually made of concrete and perfectly level which translates into a level rifle, and scope cant.


All the best.
Trevor
 
Thanks for the feedback guys....sounds like I need to find a local range that will even allow prone shooting, or get used to driving longer distances. ;)
 

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