Rifle Tracking in Bags: returning to battery

[Hydenseek]

I think there are lots of factors that make this happen but I am far from figuring it out. There's many variables : bag fill, bolt lift, keeping bolt slick, how gun impacts shoulder on recoil, bag friction, recoil, etc.

Any tips?

 

[Shynloco]

I think there are lots of factors that make this happen but I am far from figuring it out. There's many variables : bag fill, bolt lift, keeping bolt slick, how gun impacts shoulder on recoil, bag friction, recoil, etc.

Any tips?

To me, those things you listed all happen but AFTER you've developed a solid base. And by that I mean the front rest (or whatever you use) must have sound footing and be very stable as you build up from there and THEN all those factors you mentioned will come into play and get you "back on battery." And I understand what you mean when you say, "...figure it out." After playing with various lesser expensive rests, I finally broke down for a custom built rest that got me to where the cheap rests never did. And that's what more expensive rest do for the cause-stability. And I fought that fight for several years before I "figured it out" (having used all sorts of combinations of bags, friction reducers, and and now even Super Slick material on the bags themselves) and now am very mindful (almost to the point of being anal about setting up) each and every time I set my rifle onto the rest and into the bags and check for proper "tracking". Seems easy enough (some might say), yet why doesn't the rifle "come back on battery?" Simply because its not set up properly and you have to pay careful attention, even using high quality equipment. Just my .02 worth.

Alex

 

[Hydenseek]

Here's a pic of my setup, should have included it in my initial post.

 

[JamesnTN]

Here's a pic of my setup, should have included it in my initial post.

Try turning the rear bag around and see if this helps any.

 

[LHSmith]

Short range BR rules dictate the butt must be angled on the bottom ( toe angle) so as to not allow a true return to battery. If you are experiencing diagonal misalignment after the shot and return, make sure the front bag is level, meticulously align the front rest with the rear bag ears with a string or straight piece of dowel, check the fore-end is square to the front rest, make sure the stock is riding the ears and not the bottom of the "V". If none of these techniques work, your action may not have been bedded in proper alignment with the stock rails, or your stock has a crook in it. (Typically not a problem with Robertson's stocks.)
In the pic, the rear bag is shown too far rearward. If a mini-gator, it is proper as the ears slope in the same direction as the toe of the stock.

 

[Lapua40X]

... check the fore-end is square to the front rest,...

I found that, during periods when I used a series of sand bags as a front rest, I didn't always make certain the rifle rested in a valley on the bag that was uniform in shape. Sometimes one side or the other would be just a bit higher or lower than the other. That may not seem like something that would have a lot of impact on accuracy but I believe that it had some affect on recoil management. Just my 2 cents .....

 

[LHSmith]

Upon further review of your set-up, you're problem may be shooting bench related.......if the bench legs were sitting on solid concrete it might be reliable with exercising care with body contact.....but sitting on bare ground, I wouldn't trust the results. Have someone put slight downward and lateral pressure on the bench top while your looking at the target to verify this.