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Learning to shoot F-T/R

Acyr said:
This is what I have learned over the last few years.
Don't try to muscle the gun, let it recoil the way it wants to.
Get a big heavy rear bag. Make sure your stock fits in it correctly. Use a dead bottom.
Match your bipod to your stock. i.e. no angle = Joypod, Flex bipod, elevation changes will need to be corrected by the bipod. Mariners wheel types are tedious and not practical here.
Angled buttstock use a Phoenix, Duplin etc. Whatever your weight will allow. Elevation changes will be handled mostly by the stock placement once the bipod elevation is set.
Do not bag squeeze.
Get as low in position as possible. Think flat.
Get as straight behind the gun as possible.
Once you're sights are on the target in the x ring let go of your rifle, are you still on the x?
No? figure out why and correct it. It needs to be every time. Muscling it into the x is bad.
Yes? Inhale, exhale, squeeze, bang, repeat.
Click to expand...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What he said!! Except for the bag squeeze thing....LOL
 
It's been almost two years since I started this thread. I took the advice given to heart and figured out a few things. I now shoot with a Joypod bipod and a hole in my shooting mat for my rear bag. I also figured out that by changing my body angle I have significantly reduced the rifle jumping and landing way off target. My scores have improved, but I have enough bad shots to keep me coming back. I need to learn more about everything, but I still have one major source of frustration that I haven't positively identified. I suspect that it is the way my rifle fits in the rear bag. My stock is wide and the opening for the ears narrow. I don't remember the exact dimensions. I have teflon tape on the stock where it touches the bag ears. My stock does not ride the stitches.
During setup I push the rifle stock down into the rear bag with a lot of my weight. I don't know that I can push down any harder without feeling like I am going to tear something up. My rear bag doesn't seem to move as I shoot. After the shot I look to make sure that the rifle didn't move sideways. If necessary, I correct that and move the rifle forward to its starting position. This usually puts the crosshairs very near the correct elevation. The symptom is that after six to eight shots the rifle moves beyond the vertical elevation range of the Joypod. I then break out of position push the rifle into the rear bag and often have to adjust the elevation of the legs on the Joypod a few clicks. Do you think this could be a rear bag issue?
 
I like the idea of a wheel to reduce the reach to the elevation adjustment
(home made bipod), a fine micrometer for elevation.
I could run the bipod, mounted on a pic rail, further out a couple inches and still hold position.

How close to weight limit are you?
 
No.343 said:
It's been almost two years since I started this thread. I took the advice given to heart and figured out a few things. I now shoot with a Joypod bipod and a hole in my shooting mat for my rear bag. I also figured out that by changing my body angle I have significantly reduced the rifle jumping and landing way off target. My scores have improved, but I have enough bad shots to keep me coming back. I need to learn more about everything, but I still have one major source of frustration that I haven't positively identified. I suspect that it is the way my rifle fits in the rear bag. My stock is wide and the opening for the ears narrow. I don't remember the exact dimensions. I have teflon tape on the stock where it touches the bag ears. My stock does not ride the stitches.
During setup I push the rifle stock down into the rear bag with a lot of my weight. I don't know that I can push down any harder without feeling like I am going to tear something up. My rear bag doesn't seem to move as I shoot. After the shot I look to make sure that the rifle didn't move sideways. If necessary, I correct that and move the rifle forward to its starting position. This usually puts the crosshairs very near the correct elevation. The symptom is that after six to eight shots the rifle moves beyond the vertical elevation range of the Joypod. I then break out of position push the rifle into the rear bag and often have to adjust the elevation of the legs on the Joypod a few clicks. Do you think this could be a rear bag issue?
Click to expand...
More than likely your rifle is too nose heavy. Move your bipod forward.
Make sure the rifle is not being pushed forward by your shoulder as you fire multiple shots.
The distance from your bipod to the rear bag should be as far apart as you can make it.
 
I'm just under 17lbs.
I can't move the bipod and rear bag any farther apart, but I will see if there is room in the butt stock to add some weight. I just opened a new bag of 8 shot a week ago.
 
Warren Dean said:
Andy makes a good point. I would add that you really need to get a bag that fits your stock profile. The main purpose of the rear bag, in my view, is to guide the rifle, not just "support" it...if that makes sense to you.
Click to expand...
This is the BIG question in my mind. My stock is flat and so is my bag.
I question whether I should get a bag with more spacing, so the stock rides on the stitches.
I wonder if I should remove some sand from the ears of my current bag.
I think that perhaps putting some sort of bag rider under my laminated stock might make it contact the stitches.
However, I hear some folks say that the stock should not ride the stitches. I am stuck in analysis paralysis right now.
 
No.343 said:
This is the BIG question in my mind. My stock is flat and so is my bag.
I question whether I should get a bag with more spacing, so the stock rides on the stitches.
I wonder if I should remove some sand from the ears of my current bag.
I think that perhaps putting some sort of bag rider under my laminated stock might make it contact the stitches.
However, I hear some folks say that the stock should not ride the stitches. I am stuck in analysis paralysis right now.
Click to expand...
Yes. replace your rear bag. Not much more distracting and irritating than having to chase the bag/bipod/rifle all over the place. Get an Edgewood bag. Great quality. I think Protektor makes a wide spaced bag as well. They are out there, you just need to research it.
 
Call Protektor with your stock dimensions, and they will make you a custom bag for not much more than off the shelf. The bag type, height, ears, etc are also to suit your needs; all these factors will be discussed. Make a bag that fits vs fighting what you have.
 
Yep...call Protektor...they are great to work with..A++++
You need a Rear Bag that fits your rifle stock and rides smooth.
 
No.343 said:
Thanks for the replies guys. I will be ordering a bag next week.
Click to expand...
If the bottom of your flat bottomed buttstock is 5/8" or 3/4" or 1" wide, then buy a rear bag that matches it (5/8" or 3/4' or 1" between the ears...whatever the measurement is on your stock) with the same spacing as the bottom width of your stock.
Match the spacing of the ears with the width of your buttstock
 
No.343 said:
During setup I push the rifle stock down into the rear bag with a lot of my weight. I don't know that I can push down any harder without feeling like I am going to tear something up. My rear bag doesn't seem to move as I shoot. After the shot I look to make sure that the rifle didn't move sideways. If necessary, I correct that and move the rifle forward to its starting position. This usually puts the crosshairs very near the correct elevation. The symptom is that after six to eight shots the rifle moves beyond the vertical elevation range of the Joypod. I then break out of position push the rifle into the rear bag and often have to adjust the elevation of the legs on the Joypod a few clicks. Do you think this could be a rear bag issue?
Click to expand...
Using a flat bottom stock and a joypod, if you need to adj the bipod, after several shots the bag is settling the butt raising your crosshairs (elevation).

Does your rifle ride on the stitches currently
How hard is the rear base and how hard are the ears. Only the base should be hard packed the ears should be softer (pliable)
- test put the rifle in the bag does it ride the stitching
- test put your rifle in the bag and than take it out do the ears move (close) if yes try removing some sand or changing the fill type.
My process I use my rifle to tamp the bag firm making sure the base settles so i don't get surprised during the string.
The ears are set up softer to absorb some of the recoil from the shot.
If all three surfaces are hard the rear bag base, ears and front bipod the rifle will jump erratically as the shoulder pressure from the shooters becomes critical. Softer ears allow for some shoulder error.

If your current bag is a good fit then adjusting the amt of fill in the ears will help. BUY a Donut for the rear bag.

If your current bag is not a good fit buy a new bag like others have said and BUY a Donut.

Purposes of a donut is to make the bag stable on uneven ground.

Cheers
Trevor
 
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