Setting up my rest and bag

[MVW]

Gents:

I have a Savage Model #12 F/TR that I have been learning to shoot long range with. Much of my time has been spent learning to reload and I have shots a few F-Class fun shoots at 600, 800, 900, & 1000 yards. I shoot on the ground when I must, but it is hard on may back so I bought a Hart Rest (comp 1 top), Widden Track Plate, and a Protektor bag with heavy sand to play with. I am not so sure for all the hardware that I shoot better with this rig than I do prone or with my Sako hunting rifle sitting on a bag.

I have read a few articles by Speedy(?) on setting up the bag, but I wonder about setting up the balance point for the gun (weight forward, back or balanced?)

What does he mean when he says a soft front bag? The rear bag is pretty hard, though I put a towel over it so it slides easily. I have powdered the front bag and it runs very smooth, but I still worry that something is getting bounced around at times. I can let some of the sand out, but with the track plate, I am not sure it will actually make it too much softer given all the bearing surface.

If someone could also point me to any good threads on setting up a rest and bag, I'd be interested in reading more about other folks experience (or what is a good search criteria?)

Thanks, Mike

 

[BoydAllen]

One thing that you need to find out is where on the forend you rifle likes to be supported. Often, the location of a sling stud, or the length of a forend stop ends up determining how far back on the forend the front bag is. Many times getting this location right, by actual testing by shooting is an important key to getting the most out of your rifle. Also, there has bee something written about using a flexible shaft cable to be able to control a windage top from near the end of the rear rest leg. If you have some weight to play with, you can experiment with adding more to the buttstock and shooting test groups. Also, when shooters get better rests, and a forend flat, sometimes they stop holding the rifle any more than they absolutely have to. This can be a mistake. You need to find out how much of a hold your rifle likes....again, by testing. Good luck. Report back on your progress.

 

[MVW]

Thanks Boyd. In my case I have a rail on the underside so I have lots of flexibility in the location of the gun in he rest and can go from barrel heavy to stock heavy. I am definitely not shooting this free recoil and try to get solidly behind the gun the same way each time, but as I am finding nothing is easy about this sport. I got the copper out of the barrel and put the gun at its balance point so it initially recoils straight back as much as possible.

Shot my best groups ever yesterday and more consistent groups than normal, but as always results vary. Next week will be a whole new adventure.

Mike