Front rest position

[M-61]

Is there a specific place to lay the fore end on the front rest? In other words should the end of the stock protrude a certain distance beyond where it rests? Would this change with barrel dimensions? (thick barrel but short...thick barrel but long)...or is it all by done by comfort level?

 

[Immike]

Most shooting rests for competition have a stop on the front side so the rifle is pushed back to its original starting point. Usually you are only using the last 6" of the stock or less.

 

[BoydAllen]

In my experience there can be a considerable difference in group size depending on where you place the front bag on the stock, and that with slimmer stocks, the best placement is usually farther back than a typical forend stop would allow. I think that the best advice is to experiment. If your stock is not very stiff, your best results may come with the bag so near the action that your setup has an unusual appearance. Go with what works the best.

 

[NateHaler]

Is there a specific place to lay the fore end on the front rest?

As Boyd says, "it depends". You'll only know by experimenting. Such experimentation, if adequately chronicled, would make an interesting article for this website!

 

[broncman]

I wished I knew the science behind placement. Is it balance, is it a pivot point type location for movement. Would be intersting if one could map all the force vectors during recoil.

I do have access and permission to use a high speed video and plan on shooting some video of recoil etc as soon as I get some nice weather to video in. Hopefully weekend after next, if anyone is near Western NC with a benchrest rifle, drop me anote. I will be shooting video of my FT/R rig.

I know it is not quite BR, or front rest, but I moved my Duplin closer to me about 2"s instead of the very end. It did make a difference.

 

[Immike]

I agree with these gentleman, when it comes to hunting style stocks you may want to move forward to the area your hand would be if you were holding the rifle. A light rifle tends to bounce out of the rest if set up like a bench gun and throw high shots. I have marked the stock with tape in the past once a tame spot is found.

 

[nosualc]

from a while back:

http://www.accurateshooter.com/shooting-skills/optimize-your-rifle-position-on-rests/

-nosualc

 

[4xforfun]

What works for me is to have the front and rear rests as far away from each other as possable. I have the rear bag back either to the edge of the recoil pad or as far back that would alow me to touch the stock WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BAG. Like most, I run my rear bag backwards.

The front rest is as far forward as I can get it, but not so far forward that I am having to worry about the gun comming off of the rest during recoil.

I think of it like shooting a pistol, or an open sighted rifle.....I want the "sight radius" (the distance between the front and rear bags) to be as long as possable. I think that it tracks truer that way.

Just my .02,
Tod