shooting form

[earlcurtis67]

wondering if I should be altering the way I set up on the gun between my hunting rifle and a heavy barreled "bench" gun. For instance, should i hold the forend of the hunting rifle instead of squeezing the rear bag, what about grip posistion/pressure.
The hunting rifle is a weatherby vanguard S-2 in 25-06, floated, epoxy and pillar bedded. Have been trying to work up a load with berger 115 VLDs using bergers seating depth method. the first round was not very promising. today at the range I started at the furthest distance and that group had two touching and the third about an inch up and to the right. while shooting the first round no rounds ever touched and they averaged about an 1" 1 1/2"
I have shot a few .5 moa groups with this rifle using two different loads ( 85gn nos. BTs & 117gn hor. interlocks) but could not get them to be consistant. I will not rule out the possibility that my reloading could be the issue, but for now I would like to focus on my shooting form.
The bench gun is a new to me savage model 10 tacticle shooting black hills 69 gn hpbt, Two 5 shot groups today were a little under .5 moa. I was trying to set up on both guns the same, but can't help thinking I should be doing somthing differen't. I'm shooting both guns off of the same rear bag and adjustable front rest, making sure i load the rest and not impinge recoil. The S-2 has more recoil than the Savage but doesn't feel like it's lifting up off of the rest. Both triggers are about the same weight, around 3 lbs.
This thing has gotten longer than I expected but I wanted to give as much info as I could. If anyone can give advice, or can suggest a good read or article I would be greatfull.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Do you use that rest and bag while hunting? I personally hunt with a bipod so all of my practice rounds with hunting rifles are shot from a bipod. That way when im taking a long shot at an animal in the field, nothing about the way I am shooting that rifle is different. Just the way I do it anyhow.

 

[Lapua40X]

Set the rifle up for the type of shooting you intend to use it for. IMO, there are few set up similarities between a bench gun and a hunting rifle.

 

[earlcurtis67]

Hadn't planed on using a bipod so I could keep the weight down, although, I guess I could carry it in my pack. For load development, how would you suggest I set up/rest a hunting rifle/

 

[22BRGUY]

I thought this vid taught some really good basic principles of rifle shooting that apply to several disciplines, even thought this is from just bipods.
Best Wishes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weBuYmnpg38

 

[earlcurtis67]

nice video GUY, thanks.

 

[CaptainMal]

Your hunting gun is shooting "minute of deer". I would switch techniques to more of a practice with it. That would entail your forward hand under the frowned if you shoot over something like a tree, home-made rest or offhand.

Benchrest technique is good for testing and tuning. Once done it's nice to check like that but not a substitute for hunting practice techniques.

Now you got me thinking how hideous a 3 lb. trigger must be for benchrest. I struggle if it's not below 3 oz. You are doing well with those triggers.

 

[M14AMU]

More and more on a few Outdoor shows I've been privy to I see junk being toted afield such as three-legged 'vises' and a few so-called lead sleds for folks to shoot from! Now...they've got the darn things attached to trees such that they will swivel and the entire time I'm viewing these things I'm thinking when in the heck did marksmanship knowledge and ability become so bad amongst Americans that they need this junk??

 

[Syncrowave]

Set the rifle up for the type of shooting you intend to use it for. IMO, there are few set up similarities between a bench gun and a hunting rifle.

+1

Learn to use a sling like the High Power guys do, and it'll help you hunting. (You're not allowed to use the sling when shooting offhand, but I practice it anyway for hunting. I've heard people swear up and down that it doesn't help for offhand, but for me, it does. Try it for yourself. YMMV.)

I don't use a rest much for hunting, unless it's the hood of my car on groundhogs, or if I grab a sapling to steady me on a long shot at a deer. Sometimes you can get a clear shot sitting, though.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

The key to shooting animals offhand is to shoot fast. If an animal is within my comfortable offhand range and there are no better rests readily available, I will take the shot. I'm willing to take offhand shots under 200 yards, but only if I must. Some folks may be comfortable with less range than that, some more. But 200 yards and under is where I'm comfortable. Being that my eyes are still in good shape, I do not pull up and hold waiting for the animal to present a shot, rather I watch it with my naked eyes and when I see it turn where I want it, I pull up and shoot in motion while raising the crosshairs from the brisket to the kill zone. Its the same way I shoot a bow. I don't think any of my numerous offhand shots while hunting took more than 5 seconds from the time I raised the rifle to the time the bullet left the barrel. Fatigue is your enemy when shooting offhand, so I do it quick. After so many years of doing it that way, it just became second nature and I don't even really think about it when im taking the shot. Never have used a sling to aid in offhand shooting because I'm not trying to hold steady, I'm shooting in motion.

I also like to shoot offhand a here and there while hunting gophers just to keep myself honed. Of course with a gopher my comfort range is about 50 yards. On a good day and with a little luck I can hit one now and again at 100 yards. Anyhow, if you want to shoot offhand or think you may have to, it's a great form to practice.