Front Bag Choice???

[Cort]

It seems most bench shooters use a sand bag on the top of their front rest. However, .22 LR bench shooters often use delrin buttons on the top of their front rest. What is the difference for a center fire rifle? It seems like the delrin buttons would be more consistent than a sand bag.

Cort

 

[Killshot]

What is the difference for a center fire rifle?

Recoil and barrel torque, I'd guess.

 

[in2deep]

I shoot my 6BR off a delrin top and it works great but the rifle is very heavy and a lighter 6BR that I shoot seems to hop a bit but it still holds little groups at 3 and 500 yards so the hop must happen after the bullet is gone. Maybe the rifle just seems more lively since it's less restrained and I shoot it free recoil and let it rip. I am experimenting with those little round peel-and-stick felt pads made to go under chair legs and furniture and they show good promise too and offer a bit of cushion compared to delrin so far and use them on the bottom and keep the delrin on the sides and that may be the best combination. But be careful at first you would be surprised how far even a little 10 pound rimfire rig can recoil when only supported on delrin.... I watched a guys rifle almost fall off the bench-yikes!

I think the rules mandate using sandbags for many disciplines to give equal "disadvantage" and not the other way around and I believe if they were legal in more disciplines than most folks would be using them but now mostly the rimfire guys use them and for that purpose the delrin front and rear rests allow a near-perfect return to battery allowing rapid shooting in the right condition and it's a definite advantage using one over sandbags for most shooters. You can even see where allowed sandbags are getting lower in height and some are only 1/2" tall to negate the detriments of sand.

Also if you never tried one a mechanical rear rest with a delrin yoyo is even better than a delrin top for repeating point of aim and eliminating vertical from sandbags but having both is unreal to shoot with if your rifle is happy in them!