Hold or Free Recoil with .22 Rimfire?

[skeeljc]

How do you guys shoot your .22 rimfire for score? Hard hold with cheek and shoulder pressure, cheek pressure only, Grip or no grip? Only interested in people who use a front rest and rear bag, no bipods.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

Free recoil no grip, but I’m not very good.

 

[1911nut]

I tried lots of techniques, the best for me is free recoil with light touch with right thumb on stock and trigger finger pulls the 1.5 oz trigger. Not touching the rifle anywhere else.

Seems the rest and bag setup is important, level and aligned so the dot goes back to the same point after recoil back into battery for each shot. I check the friction of the setup by sliding the rifle aft and fore to feel for consistency. Side tension on the front bag controls the sliding tension.

I don’t compete but have shot a ton of groups and scored targets.

 

[gkgeiger]

I definitely agree about the rest and bag. I shoot my factory CZ free recoil and I’m probably the only factory shooter at my club that does. We have about 15 factory shooters and about half of them use a bipod. Of course almost all of us shooting UL shoot free recoil.

 

[grauhanen]

The weight of the rifle itself is often a major factor in whether it will respond well to free recoil-style shooting. Rifles that are lighter in weight may not work as well as some heavier ones. Another factor to bear in mind is that sometimes the cast of a butt on a stock made specifically for right handed shooters (and for LH as well) may interfere with free recoil shooting.

 

[rimfireshooter]

I tried free recoil, but the CZ MTR does not ride the bags straight back due to the cast in the stock. Others seem to have no problem with it.

 

[butchlambert]

Touch the trigger only.

 

[Appalachian]

I’ve tried both ways. My 452 Sporter stocks mostly like just enough grip to hold the reticle still on the target through the trigger press. My MTR was doing okay with free recoil, only pinching the trigger, but I would get occasional wild flyers horizontally. Today I tried a moderate hold which seemed to help, but it was so windy I can’t be for sure.

 

[Toms]

I’ve tried both ways. My 452 Sporter stocks mostly like just enough grip to hold the reticle still on the target through the trigger press. My MTR was doing okay with free recoil, only pinching the trigger, but I would get occasional wild flyers horizontally. Today I tried a moderate hold which seemed to help, but it was so windy I can’t be for sure.

All rifles have there own rules for hold. Some like to not be touched where some you need to lean your shoulder into them. I have a 40x that the only thing touching is my trigger finger. When the rifle fires I feel the trigger recoil away from my finger. My lighter rifle I have to keep my shoulder firmly against butt plate or I get flyers with free recoil. Just need to try and be consistent with what works. Toms

 

[Appalachian]

All rifles have there own rules for hold. Some like to not be touched where some you need to lean your shoulder into them. I have a 40x that the only thing touching is my trigger finger. When the rifle fires I feel the trigger recoil away from my finger. My lighter rifle I have to keep my shoulder firmly against butt plate or I get flyers with free recoil. Just need to try and be consistent with what works. Toms

I just got these mounted today to shoot ARA factory class. I’m going to experiment with holds. I found a slick piece of flooring to put between it and the concrete bench. It should negate my lateral fliers caused by the cast in the stock (I think) that I’m getting while shooting free recoil using a rear bag. I may even transfer the bipod and monopod to my 452 American which is a better shooter anyway.

 

[igolfat8]

I shoot ARA and my MTR likes the front rest clamped as tight as I could get it. It would not shoot free recoil. The cast in the rear stock caused me a LOT of problems and I finally gave up on that rifle. Now I’m shooting a Savage using a bi-pod and Hole Shot rear rest. It likes free recoil but firm shoulder pressure, no cheek weld and only a pinch on the trigger. It’s weird how different rifles like different techniques.

 

[rimfireshooter]

I just got these mounted today to shoot ARA factory class. I’m going to experiment with holds. I found a slick piece of flooring to put between it and the concrete bench. It should negate my lateral fliers caused by the cast in the stock (I think) that I’m getting while shooting free recoil using a rear bag. I may even transfer the bipod and monopod to my 452 American which is a better shooter anyway.View attachment 1284388

What do you have going on in the rear there appalachia?

 

[Appalachian]

It’s a CTK Precision monopod.

P3 Ultimate Monopod

Attaches to the rear sling swivel stud in seconds. Allows for precise elevation adjustments.

www.ctkprecision.com

 

[skeeljc]

I just got these mounted today to shoot ARA factory class. I’m going to experiment with holds. I found a slick piece of flooring to put between it and the concrete bench. It should negate my lateral fliers caused by the cast in the stock (I think) that I’m getting while shooting free recoil using a rear bag. I may even transfer the bipod and monopod to my 452 American which is a better shooter anyway.View attachment 1284388

What bipod is that?

 

[Appalachian]

What bipod is that?

Sinclair Gen3

 

[skeeljc]

I have been shooting my CZ457 MTR free recoil but I think I will try a hard hold. Using a front rest and rear bag.

 

[Rsadams]

I have been shooting my CZ457 MTR free recoil but I think I will try a hard hold. Using a front rest and rear bag.

I shoot just for my satisfaction but that's exactly what I have been doing... Front and rear with a good hold....

 

[wkdickinson]

My Anschutz 1413 likes as light a hold as I can accomplish, which is - thumb on the pistol grip, finger low on the trigger, cheek barely touching the cheek piece (just to locate my head), butt about 1.5" away from my shoulder. The trigger on it breaks at about 1#. Every time I forget and "hold" the rifle, I have no idea where the bullet is going to go, within reason of course, but it seldom finds the X-ring or even the 10-ring.

 

[skeeljc]

My Anschutz 1413 likes as light a hold as I can accomplish, which is - thumb on the pistol grip, finger low on the trigger, cheek barely touching the cheek piece (just to locate my head), butt about 1.5" away from my shoulder. The trigger on it breaks at about 1#. Every time I forget and "hold" the rifle, I have no idea where the bullet is going to go, within reason of course, but it seldom finds the X-ring or even the 10-ring.

I found that placing my head on the stock was the biggest variable when shooting a light hold. If you have confidence in your bags you only have to glance at the crosshairs before breaking the shot. Higher rings help.

 

[butchlambert]

If you are shooting BR, a good stock, 1.5oz trigger, and a good rest set up and don't influence the rifle in any way with pressure.