New to Palma

[glo]

Thanks German Salazer.
I'm new to Palma so this thread is for those to learn from a new-be.

My set-up is a stock Remington 700, .308 with a 26” barrel. I shoot 155 grain Sierra Palma bullets. The stock is an old 40XB. I put on a Tubb 4-way butt and made my own adjustable check piece.

What I have found since shooting my second match from the prone position is this. The butt should be adjusted a minimum of 1 inch short of your natural pull; measured from the index finger to the inset of your forearm. This assumes you are waring a shooting jacket.

I had to cut another 5/8th of an inch off the butt. German is right. Your distance from butt to trigger and from trigger to hand stop should be about even. My set up is 11 inch from butt to trigger and 10 inches from trigger to hand stop. I'm 5 foot 7 inches tall.

I have had a hell of a time on the range. With this new set I have been able to hold a simulated 15 rounds of shooting for 17 minuets without removing the butt of the rifle from my shoulder. I felt very comfortable.

My last two competitions have been so bad that I recorded no score. I feel it will take two weeks of snapping in at home to real get control of this 14 pound monster of a rifle. I have spent several hours a day snapping in. I will continue for the next 10 or so days. I'll up date you on my progress. There is a 1000 yard competition next month 2 x 20 rounds. ;D

 

[glo]

Update: Day 3
Well I've been snapping in every day. I spend about 10 or 15 minuets in position doing breathing cycles and dry firing. Then rest for an hour or so and back down. I did 5 reps last night.

Here is what I have learned. I think I could cut another ¼ to ½ inch off the stock. This would even me out to about 10 ½ inched from hand stop to trigger and trigger to butt plate. However, there is not enough stock left.

My arm is getting stronger and looser. It takes real effort to relax my bicep. It wants to hold up the fore-end of the stock. When the bicep relaxes then the wrist straightens out and my hand takes on a more flat and relaxed position. Now all the tension is through the sling.

When I started last night, I found if I remove my trigger hand from the grip my natural point of aim moved up and to the left; about the 7 ring at 10 o'clock. By the end of my sessions, if I remove my trigger hand from the grip my natural point of aim stayed center up on the 10 ring.

 

[GermanS1]

It sounds like you're on the right track! With the stock length, try to set LOP so that your cheekbone is as far forward as possible while still being supported by the comb. Once that's accomplished, every other dimension flows from that setting.

 

[glo]

Again you are absolutely right. As of last night my check has naturally moved right to the front of the comb.

 

[1000yardstare]

glo.............your post reminds me of my adventures in .22 Match rifle shooting 45 years ago when I was a University student trying to make the Canadian National Smallbore Team for the Olympics/Worlds/PanAms.

Went through all the gyrations of building up experience and equipment and screwing up matches. Started with a Russian Strela .22 Match rifle that required a fork lift to get it on the firing line. Russian shooters must be born lifting weights. Fluted the barrel to cut the weight. But it taught me stock length for prone/kneeling/standing positions. Also built up my arm for 20 shots plus unlimited sighters per target.

Hit my stride with a .22 Anschutz Standard rifle. Fitted a Fajen prone thumbhole stock and Anschutz set trigger. Made the National Team and went to Bogatta, Columbia in the early 1970`s for the PanAm Games.

Switched to Palma Fullbore eventually. Paying my dues in Smallbore made it much easier to start off with good equipment and conditioning in Palma. Have switched to F Class in my retirement years. There are still no shortcuts. Have to take it on the chin now and then to progress. But if you are enjoying yourself you will eventually start winning some competitions.