Long range bench rest shooting position along side or behind the bench

[Canuckienns]

I keep seeing in competitions that some of the better shooters are shooting from behind the bench. More every year.
Looking for comments and opinions.
Thanks

 

[Madchase]

As they get older they’re not as flexible. Just trying to give you a laugh. Sorry for wasting your time!

 

[ricco1949]

Back in 2003 I was a rookie 1000 yd BR shooter at Pella Iowa.

Phil Yott, the most prolific 1000 Yd shooter at the time, told me to set up directly behind the gun and push the gun back to battery straight forward with my shoulder.

I won the the next relay using his tip, with him shooting next to me. He chided me after about giving me the tip but I really think he was more pleased with my success than concerned about his loss.

I've used that technique ever since.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Try both. One way will work better for you. I am more comfortable next to the bench others are behind the bench. No right or wrong. You may find the rifle tracks better one way or the other based on how your built.

 

[Turkeytider]

A lot of instruction being given is to line up directly with the target, directly behind the gun, as opposed to sitting at an angle to the gun and target. The construction of many shooting benches makes this difficult. My club, thankfully, has benches at which one sits in the middle, with extensions on either side for your arms and elbows. This facilitates sitting directly behind the rifle.

 

[Tesoro]

The trick to shooting precise is to be consistent in your form. period. You can do it both ways as proven by many. But for me, being an all around hobby shooter, there is no more comfortable way to shoot than being behind and square to the rifle. Basically what I am doing is shooting prone without having to lay on the dirt. I can often see my trail or hits and not lose my sight picture and setup after recoil. Neck strain is a thing of the past. I built my portable shooting bench to shoot this way.

 

[Fuj]

I never could get comfortable from behind. A lot has to do with the
position of the arm and hand in relation to trigger reach, and bolt
manipulation. It's what I'm used to.

 

[madmixerman]

I prefer behind the bench.

 

[SKWERLZ]

I prefer behind the bench and getting squared to the rifle.

 

[6BRA]

Behind for me.

 

[Tesoro]

Behind for me.

Please re-phrase that !

 

[6BRA]

Please re-phrase that !

I shoot from behind the gun. LOL

 

[SKWERLZ]

Behind for me.

Another fellow Adonitoligist?

 

[6BRA]

Another fellow Adonitoligist?

I'm going to need a dictionary for that. LOL. Surely, there is an easier way to say it.

 

[Tesoro]

I'm going to need a dictionary for that. LOL. Surely, there is an easier way to say it.

likes big fat stinky momma butts

 

[Canuckienns]

I tried to shoot my behind the bench a few years ago, and I gave it up. That being said I watched top shooters come down to Manatee and do very well from behind. Just one shooter at first and now several and also several Florida shooters. So starting shortly, I am going to tough it out this summer and learn to shoot from behind the bench.

 

[6BRA]

likes big fat stinky momma butts

I cant be to picky anymore. LOL

 

[SKWERLZ]

I cant be to picky anymore. LOL

And definitely not stinky!

 

[quest450]

I tried to shoot my behind the bench a few years ago, and I gave it up. That being said I watched top shooters come down to Manatee and do very well from behind. Just one shooter at first and now several and also several Florida shooters. So starting shortly, I am going to tough it out this summer and learn to shoot from behind the bench.

Dave, when you sit behind the rifle it is pretty far back on the bench and the muzzle usually doesn't clear the front edge of the bench, if you're shooting with a muzzle brake it blasts your neighbors on both sides, it happened to me a few times during competition while I was about to squeeze the trigger so now I just wait until "you" are done !
It works with the 10 minute per target time rule but it did not under the old IBS 2 minute sighter period rule.

 

[Steve Donlon]

What helped me was making sure I had the same pressure pushing the buttstock straight back into my shoulder each time. What ever position it takes to do that and stay on target. I noticed how much this effects me and how much I was doing it wrong when shooting my AR rifles. If I held the exact same amount of pressure, my brass landed in the same spot. If not. the brass was all over the place. It was a good learning experience.