Front rest stock placement

[nmkid]

Well, on my new build I finally get to use a mechanical front rest other than bags. My stock has aluminum bedding and the barrel is fully floated. My question is...How much does it matter where the stock rests on the front rest?

 

[powderbrake]

I suggest that it doesn't make much difference. The thing to do is always place it at the SAME point. Try it at various points, select the best. then always place it at that point.

 

[LHSmith]

This is something that varies from gun to gun. Hopefully you have a rest that has virtually no slop laterally so it will not "rock" regardless of where it is placed. Once you find the optimum placement, you want to use that same position. every time. FWIW I remove the swivel studs so they won't affect the stocks contact with the bags.

 

[22BRGUY]

In my experience when a rifle sits a bit more front heavy it seems to group better. I know on some lightweight barreled rifles this can be more difficult. I have both heavy varmint and light varmint contours in the same caliber, and also the light varmint is a couple inches shorter. The rifle with the heavy varmint contour/longer barrel that is more front heavy will ag better overall in my experience.. I realize there are several other factors that come into play also but as I said this is just my experience and feeling. Also the heavy varmint contour will return to battery better than the light varmint. I also used a front rest with a fixed front stop to determine this so both rifles extended pretty much the same distance in front of the front bag.
Good question and good luck on your shooting.

 

[Endyo]

Have you seen this article? I've wondered this question myself.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/front-rest/

 

[butchlambert]

I like mine to the front of the stock as far as possible. A wider radius will mean your rifles will move less when you put an unwanted touch on your stock.

 

[22BRGUY]

Have you seen this article? I've wondered this question myself.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/front-rest/

Great article...Thanks

 

[Hntndad]

My varmint rifles are a bit barrel heavy. I like them as far forward as possible. Under recoil, forward heavy likes to jump up out of the rear bag. Hunting rifles with #3 contour and such are opposite. I tend to push them further forward and balance closer to the action. Avoid hard front bags and keep the position consistent.

 

[ND shooter]

First check to see if your barrel is still free floated when on a front rest. And after a shot. AND after warm or hot( NOT hot hot!!!!) Seen barrels that were floated and when set in rest were touching or were after a few shots. Sometimes not enough material is taken out. Should be checked. First thing I always do.

 

[ND shooter]

Sorry! Check full length of barrel channel I might add. Should have been in my previous post also

 

[nmkid]

Have you seen this article? I've wondered this question myself.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/front-rest/

Thanks, excellent article. Had never really given much thought to the rear bag. Have shot and reloaded for many more years then I care too remember but, just lately have really turned my attention to my bench skills, (or lack thereof. LOL.) Now if I can get my bolt back from being fluted I can actually go do some shooting.

 

[4xforfun]

I like mine to the front of the stock as far as possible. A wider radius will mean your rifles will move less when you put an unwanted touch on your stock.

THIS!!!! Also...think of your front and rear bags/rests as open sights....the longer the sight radius, the more accurate the shot placement.

My rear bag is ALWAYS as far back as possable, and my front rest is only back far enough where my gun will not fall off the front rest during recoil.

Good luck,
Tod

 

[BoydAllen]

The OP has told us nothing about his rifle's stock design, weight, or caliber. Some of the advice seems to be for a specific type of rifle. IMO the best answer is to test. I have seen a lot of people at various ranges shooting their rifles in ways that I know will not produce the best results, but they have some preconceived idea of how it should be done, and they continue on that path, trying to fix all their problems by adjusting their loads. Rifles may require very different shooting styles and front bag placement for best accuracy. The best way to find out which is the best for your rifle is to experiment.

 

[joshb]

Thanks, excellent article. Had never really given much thought to the rear bag. Have shot and reloaded for many more years then I care too remember but, just lately have really turned my attention to my bench skills, (or lack thereof. LOL.) Now if I can get my bolt back from being fluted I can actually go do some shooting.

Sad to say, I'm working on my bench skills too and sometimes my guns shoot best when placed in somebody else's rest.