I was wondering how many of you guys shooting unbraked 7mm or bigger rifles use free recoil or hard hold when shooting from the bench? I was talking to a guy and his thought was that no matter what kind of rifle whether a 8lb hunting rifle in 300win or a custom long range rifle that weighs 15lbs, that free recoil will give you the best groups. I thought that with larger caliber rifles you wanted a little "grip" on the forend to prevent it from bouncing out of the rest causing flyers. He was saying that no matter how hard it bounces around the bullet has left the barrel long before the Rifle starts to recoil. So i figured i would give my 7.5lb 338 win mag a shot with the free recoil method, i shot 6 3 shot groups with a load that pushes a 225gr Hornady at 2900 fps. I set up my rest and rear bag perfectly in line and on target. No matter how square i was to the rests and target the rifle would bounce around wildly, always up and way to the left to the point that when when the rifle quit moving i was looking about 8-10 feet to the left of my target and it give me a beating as well. These groups were in the 2"+ range, not looking good. now i had the same setup but gripped the forend with medium pressure and really snugged the stock into my shoulder. Felt recoil was alot less and groups dropped back to the 1" zone where they normally shoot. So am i doing something wrong with this free recoil method or does it simply not work with large calibers in sporter style rifles? I did also try it with my 300 Win and got mixed results. Any input would be great.
recoil methods for unbraked magnums.
- Thread starter Mtstalker
- Start date
Alex Wheeler
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Free recoil is the most critical style of shooting. To get a benchrest rifle to shoot free recoil requires proper stock design, balance, and bag setup, even then sometimes they still shoot a little better with some hold. Its very unlikely your hunting rifles will shoot their best free recoil. You will need to experiment with your hold, but a consistent hold and follow through is going to give you better results and a much better use of time than trying to make a magnum hunting rifle shoot free recoil.
bobinpa
Gold $$ Contributor
I completely disagree with whoever was giving you this advice..... I don't shoot free recoil but I was always told that it was for rifles that had good "table manners". For example a 6.5-47L that weighs 22lbs or a 6br that weighs 17lbs. Those guns are heavy enough to stay in the bags and track well without the help of the shooter's grip..... and the gun definitely moves before the bullet leaves the barrel.
If big guns cant recoil, damage may be done to a wood stock. Hold onto them and ride them backwards, using bags. So i have been told??
The .505 Gibbs i seen , was fired standing, off a portable shooting bench. Picture a standing height bench with bags.
I declined the offer to fire a shot.
The .505 Gibbs i seen , was fired standing, off a portable shooting bench. Picture a standing height bench with bags.
I declined the offer to fire a shot.
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
To the original poster: What you have learned is that the fellow that told you that free recoil is always best did not know what he was talking about.
Shooting free recoil requires a favorable rifle weight to case size and bullet weight relation, very specific stock features that are never found on rifles that are designed to be carried in the field, proper balance for that shooting style, a rest/bag setup that is suitable, and a trigger pull weight such that the rifle will not be disturbed by the pulling of the trigger. No hunting rifle meets these conditions, including varmint rifles that are equipped with triggers that are set to field safe pull weights.
I think that many shooters are under the mistaken impression that competition benchrest is always done shooting free recoil. That is not the case.
On the subject of holding rifles, some ways of doing this are better than others. The best way to find out what works best is to experiment. Often what holds shooters back is that they think that they know how to shoot because they have been doing it for a long time. They make too many assumptions, and do too little testing.
Listen to the advice of the poster that mentioned using a bag full of lead shot between your shoulder and the butt when shooting from the bench. That makes a big difference.
Another thing that one needs to pay attention to, particularly when shooting rifles that have considerable recoil from the bench is trigger pull. You should keep adding pressure to the trigger until the rifle discharges, letting the exact moment that it fires be a "surprise". You should also pay strict attention to follow through after the shot. Take care not to react to the recoil or shift your position in any way until the shot is well away. A little more is better than too little. Dry fire practice before and after shooting, and when you are not at the range can be very beneficial.
Shooting free recoil requires a favorable rifle weight to case size and bullet weight relation, very specific stock features that are never found on rifles that are designed to be carried in the field, proper balance for that shooting style, a rest/bag setup that is suitable, and a trigger pull weight such that the rifle will not be disturbed by the pulling of the trigger. No hunting rifle meets these conditions, including varmint rifles that are equipped with triggers that are set to field safe pull weights.
I think that many shooters are under the mistaken impression that competition benchrest is always done shooting free recoil. That is not the case.
On the subject of holding rifles, some ways of doing this are better than others. The best way to find out what works best is to experiment. Often what holds shooters back is that they think that they know how to shoot because they have been doing it for a long time. They make too many assumptions, and do too little testing.
Listen to the advice of the poster that mentioned using a bag full of lead shot between your shoulder and the butt when shooting from the bench. That makes a big difference.
Another thing that one needs to pay attention to, particularly when shooting rifles that have considerable recoil from the bench is trigger pull. You should keep adding pressure to the trigger until the rifle discharges, letting the exact moment that it fires be a "surprise". You should also pay strict attention to follow through after the shot. Take care not to react to the recoil or shift your position in any way until the shot is well away. A little more is better than too little. Dry fire practice before and after shooting, and when you are not at the range can be very beneficial.
Thank you for the replies guys. I will continue to shoot like i always have with varying amounts of grip depending on which rifle i shoot. I thought it sounded a little fishy but i figured i would give it a shot. Have any of you used the Caldwell Rock rest? I have it and the universal rear rabbit ear bag on order.
Lol I would but where i live there are not many people into long range or benchrest style shooting. This sprouted in a conversation by a "reputable" long range shooter here in town, where he constantly told me my methods and style were wrong but hey i thought it would try, You cant get better if you dont try new things. I did try it with my 300 which with me holding medium pressure on the forend and butt shoots 5/8" groups when i tried free recoil it opened up to 1.5".
If he is a reputable long range hunter, he probably has a brake, a stock that is straight on bottom and will ride the bags and probably heavier then a common rifle. I have ones that go 17 pound all the way up to 100 pounds. They have heavier barrels, big brakes and heavy straight stocks. Matt
stop,,,,your profile says you are from Montana!!!!you are surrounded by many world class shooters,,it sounds like the fellow you talked to was "pulling your leg".....drive over to Missoula and see that bunch of shooters and what they are doing,,,there are some of the best in the world that compete there on a regular basis,,,every one of them will tell you that what they do with a 60 lb -300 mag "B"enchrest rifle is not necessarily what is best with a 10 lb 300 mag deer rifle,,,Roger
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
I have my Grandson sight my 416 and 458. Then I hunt with them.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
This is a very simple recoil reduction system:
25lb of bird shot placed on the bench behind the rifle, you get down on the rifle and fire as you normally would griping the rifle:
This 7 mag kicks like a 17 Remington.
As you place your arm on the shot bag, you add more weight. All you feel is a tad bit of muzzle climb but you must hold onto the rifle and pull it back into your shoulder the same each time to shoot bug holes.
the bag of shot will probably run you $50, but works better than you can imagine from my description. I have never tried this on a custom 6 BR or 6 PPC, but should.
25lb of bird shot placed on the bench behind the rifle, you get down on the rifle and fire as you normally would griping the rifle:
This 7 mag kicks like a 17 Remington.
As you place your arm on the shot bag, you add more weight. All you feel is a tad bit of muzzle climb but you must hold onto the rifle and pull it back into your shoulder the same each time to shoot bug holes.
the bag of shot will probably run you $50, but works better than you can imagine from my description. I have never tried this on a custom 6 BR or 6 PPC, but should.
Thanks for the replies. I might have to check that out Missoula is only 7 hrs away on a good day. I just got done setting up a new 300 win for longer ranges and so far im able to hold great groups with it. I do tend to string horizontal on my first or second group vertical isnt bad maybe 1/8th inch but i will string them 2" wide, after the second group i tend to do pretty good just have to get use to the new gun. I will just forget about the free recoil right now and shoot like i normally do.
Bad grandpa, bad.
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