Hunting rifle at the bench

[Gary in MD]

Just wondering what everybody's technique is for shooting their hunting rifle at the bench. I'm talking about a sporter weight big game rifle with at least the recoil of a 270 or 30-06 and on up to the magnums. I notice that I get "spoiled" with the way a heavy barreled target/varmint rifle rides the bags and then seem to have a harder time getting a lighter rifle to shoot as well as I know it can ( judging from past performance of rifle and shooter).
Do you gents hold onto the fore end of the rifle to simulate a field condition or just hold the rear of the stock? I notice that when I am just holding mine like I would with a target gun that some of them really "jump up" off the front bag. I guess that I'm not spending as much trigger time behind the light hunting rifles as I should......sometimes just too busy, lol. Anyway, just wondering how other guys are doing it. Thanks in advance,
Gary

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I think it depends on the gun. I have a 223 sporter that I couldnt get to group untill I let go of the fore end. I have a 300 wm that I would probably come a foot off the bag if I didnt hold it. Heck, it comes 2-3'' off the bag even with me holding it. I'd say your gonna have to hold something in the 30/06 class.

 

[BigDMT]

I personally don't ever shoot a hunting rifle from a bench or a rifle rest except during load development. Because that simulates nothing in the field with the type of hunting I do. For someone who shoots from a tree stand or blind, a bench and rest are probably an ideal training platform.

When sighting in or practicing for long range with my hunting rifles, I always shoot from the prone position with a 9-13" bipod because that is how I always try to shoot in the field. If I can't shoot prone, I will try a shot on an animal off hand because I am horrible from a kneeling or sitting position.

 

[John from MN]

I always do my sight ins and load work from an Atlas bipod on the ground because it's my preferred method for long shots on animals. That having been said, in the past I've found the large bags like the Caldwell Tackdriver do a good job of helping control light, hard kicking rifles off a bench. The bag has large ears that really cradle the forend and you can still use a rear bag if you wish.

 

[fdshuster]

Hunter rifles = Harris bi-pod. Benchrest rifles = Sinclair front machine rest. I've tried using the Sinclair front rest for hunting rifles, and for me, it does not work. I get much better groups with the Bi-Pod.

I also have to hold 'em tight.

 

[357Mag]

Gary -

Howdy !

IMHO - Those add-on plates that one can screw on @ for end swivel stud, are a good way to widen the for end.... for use w/ a "front bag ",
" Bull's bag ", sand bag; et al. These help moderate any tendency for the gun to " torque " upon firing, or otherwise wander from the desired orientation.

For my Marlin M-336 XLR .35Rem, I cast a " barrel clamp / bi-pod mount " block in-place. Seems to have made a huge impact on
achievable group size ( refer pics ).


With regards,
357Mag

 

[357Mag]

Gary -

Ooops !

Meant to also include these pics, too.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[Gary in MD]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't expect a sporter to shoot as well as a target rifle but always try to get them to reach a good level of hunting accuracy.
Good shooting,
Gary

 

[5spd]

Most of my hunting is done prone so that's how I shoot my hunting rigs at the range, bipod, stock tucked into shoulder left hand on bipod leg or tucked under shooting hand.

 

[CaptainMal]

I just squeeze the rear bag and let 'em rip.

Most all of my long hunting shots are from a padded rail in a tower with my hand under the rifle and right elbow on a rail with gun in my shoulder. Never noticed any point-of-impact change.

 

[LHSmith]

My preferred method is to use individual sandbags under the fore-end and butt stock (away from the pistol grip). When available use of a front mechanical rest with integral sand bag makes fine sighting adjustments easier.
On a hunting rifle, I hold the fore-end which is the method suggested by Tony Boyer in his book "The Book of Rifle Accuracy."
One must remember the fact that the bullet is still in the barrel as the rifle begins recoil, and your method of hold while firing to sight-in, perform load development, or use to shoot occasional targets WILL affect POI as well as accuracy.
For this reason I would NOT use a Bulls Bag (or any of it's variants that clamp the stock) or a Led Sled type of rest that restrains the natural recoil movement of a shouldered fired rifle.
The devices attached to the fore-end to minimize torque( i.e. Harts Accuracy Asset, or Sinclairs BR Adapter) are good for shrinking groups, but I would verify the POI is the same before taking into the field if you plan to shoot without the device.

 

[Gary in MD]

LHSmith,
I agree with everything that you said. The rifle will recoil differently with different ways that it is being supported and points of impact will almost surely change. Finding a way to shrink groups at the bench is great for finding out how tight my rifle will group but I need to be able to keep my POI the same.
More trigger time at the bench needed for me....
Gary