recoil methods for unbraked magnums.

[expiper]

I have my Grandson sight my 416 and 458. Then I hunt with them.

smart grandpa,,,,Roger

 

[K22]

I'm a hunter but I shoot a lot. Long ago I began holding the forearm supported on a solid rest when I shoot off a bench with all my sporter weight rifles. The reasons are:

1. It more closely reflects how I shoot in the field since I never shoot free recoil in the field.
2. It reduces felt recoil
3. I flinch less
4. I seemed to be able to better control the rifle from canting and have better follow through

The exception is my heavy varmint rifles, I do shoot them free recoil when I shoot off the bench. These heavies are very stable off sand bags.

However I do the vast majority of my shooting off shooting sticks since this is the way I hunt. The only time I shoot off the bench is to obtain an approximate scope sight in. I don't do much load development any more since I've pretty much developed the loads that work for me in all my rifles. I might have to do some fine tuning for a new rifle but I'm locked into three calibers now, 223, 243, 308, so most of the time only a slight load adjustment might be needed. After years I trying a lot of different calibers I simplified to these three calibers since they meet all my needs. Boring but uncomplicated, I like uncomplicated. I hate load development, I hate shooting off the bench, I love shooting off the sticks to similuate a hunting situation - I love hunting - the ultimate test of the rifle / load / and shooter.

 

[butchlambert]

I'm a hunter but I shoot a lot. Long ago I began holding the forearm supported on a solid rest when I shoot off a bench with all my sporter weight rifles. The reasons are:

1. It more closely reflects how I shoot in the field since I never shoot free recoil in the field.
2. It reduces felt recoil
3. I flinch less
4. I seemed to be able to better control the rifle from canting and have better follow through

The exception is my heavy varmint rifles, I do shoot them free recoil when I shoot off the bench. These heavies are very stable off sand bags.

However I do the vast majority of my shooting off shooting sticks since this is the way I hunt. The only time I shoot off the bench is to obtain an approximate scope sight in. I don't do much load development any more since I've pretty much developed the loads that work for me in all my rifles. I might have to do some fine tuning for a new rifle but I'm locked into three calibers now, 223, 243, 308, so most of the time only a slight load adjustment might be needed. After years I trying a lot of different calibers I simplified to these three calibers since they meet all my needs. Boring but uncomplicated, I like uncomplicated. I hate load development, I hate shooting off the bench, I love shooting off the sticks to similuate a hunting situation - I love hunting - the ultimate test of the rifle / load / and shooter.

Load work was fun in the olden day, but no longer. Josh is the typical "tough guy". Shooting one of my 458 Lotts.

Of course his pistolo is a 454 Casull.

K22, my favorite hunting rifle right now is my 9.3X62. Accurate, big bullets, and comfortable for an old man at the bench. It is not fussy with loads. If my hunting rifles shoot 1 MOA with a hot, cold, clean, or dirty barrel to the same point of aim leaves only me to mess up a kill.

 

[HTSmith]

Dang they play football in Bermuda shorts these days! I'm getting old.

 

[butchlambert]

Dang they play football in Bermuda shorts these days! I'm getting old.

Kickers normally don't get hit. I believe they are changing the rules to mandate kneepads. Josh thought those pants were a wee bit to his advantage.

 

[Catfur]

My method for dealing with my unbraked 300 RUM from the bench (7#ish) is to suck it up and deal with it (and ~.6" groups are good enough, no need to aim for that .25" 5 shot group).

I shoot it off the bench it goes flying out of the rest, the rest and rear bag go flying, I go flying. I put it all back together again and shoot once more...

 

[Homerange]

This is worth a read:
http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Hold+that+Forend.html

 

[hogpatrol]

I have my Grandson sight my 416 and 458. Then I hunt with them.

You must be hunting DG with those two boomers.

 

[Gary in MD]

This is worth a read:
http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Hold+that+Forend.html

You are right, that was worth reading.
Thanks

 

[jdh47]

Good article. It enhanced my list of excuses.

Joe

 

[ebb]

If I shoot a lot and practice free recoil I can shoot better groups. If I haven't been shooting much the rifle pegged to the stop and light hold is better. My best 2 groups ever one was light hold and pegged and one was free recoil. This is with a 6ppc. The 338 never shoots as good free recoil. Maybe this is me but I doubt it.

 

[JRS]

Yes i will be. Just went and shot it today using my normal hold. Shot 5/8" group. First group of the day.

Once you have on paper a group that you are satisfied with, practice with your rifle as if you are in a hunting situation. You might not have the luxury, nor the time to rest your rifle on a backpack, bipod, tree branch, etc; etc, in a hunting situation.

 

[Will Henry]

I honestly see no point in shooting a hunting rifle in a manner which is much different from how it will be used in the field. I shoot mine off my elbows on the bench. I don't shoot many .5 moa groups but I don't care. I have yet to see a 1/2 moa elk. Since I shoot sillohuette, I shoot hunting rifles out to 500m and if I can hit the rams, I figure I'll be ok in the field where I never shoot that far at game. WH

 

[Mtstalker]

during the summer months when we go for drives in the forest we will take our rifles and shoot at rocks and such off bipods kinda like a field run.

 

[alintx]

Put a good thick life jacket on and hold onto the rifle.. it won't hurt you so bad!

 

[Steve Ladino]

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.

7mm mag hard, 300 Whtby. mag harder

 

[savagedasher]

You have two choices Don't shoot them
Or add more weight . My 300 wby recoil is ok but it weighs 11 3/4 #. Great for hunting .
Larry

 

[Mtstalker]

I feel the recoil isnt bad at all but to try shooting them "free recoil" was a bit much for me and i have been shooting sporter style magnums since i was 13. I will leave the free recoil to the bench guys with proper equipment lol.

 

[Immike]

Cabelas has some really nice shoulder pads that are worth looking at.

 

[savagedasher]

You could put a can on it. Good for recoil and great for your hearing . Along with others. Larry