Shooting Pinned vs Free Recoil

[R.Morehouse]

I am curious about opinions on these 2 different types of rifle handling for competition bench rest. I have worked with both over the years and had varying degrees of success. I do most of my shooting by myself. I find I am enjoying having more physical input pinning the gun these days and working hard on consistency......It's not easy, but it's coming along.
So, what is working for you............?

Regards
Rick

 

[Shooter13]

Good question Rick, with the 6 and 22PPC totally free recoil, on the 30BR and 6BR I don't totally pin but do put some pressure on them, the 30BR in particular NEEDS this! (and so does your shoulder!). Tried free recoil on the 30BR when I first got it and ended up with "scope eye!", Interested to see what others have to say.

 

[ebb]

I've never scoped myself but came close with the 338, so now I only free recoil the smaller rifles. Ive said it before, free recoil only works best when I am practiced up on it, if I have not been shooting regularly I get better results pegged. but the second or third range session in a short time and I can get the hang of it and shoot better than pegged. At least for me it is definitely something I need to practice to stay good at.

 

[LHSmith]

IMHO, free recoil negates any issues with muscle memory which is needed to shoot pinned really well. With free recoil you must, however, be judicious with your bag and rest set-up and extremely consistent with your contact with the gun however minimal as it is. I have learned to shoot 30 BR free recoil in a Hunter Class gun (10 lb), but it took awhile to master it.

 

[BartsBullets]

I know of a few top Short range guys that pin the rifle including; Gene Buckys, Mike Ratigan and Mike Conry. It definitely works. But like you said, “getting the consistency down” and being confident that you’re doing the same thing every time is a nagging question.

I’m like you I go in and out of pinning the gun. Can’t say that I’ve drawn any definite conclusions.

Bart

 

[ricco1949]

When I was shooting LRBR I shot my 65# HG, 7MM BooBoo (that's a trip to the past)free recoil, and 17# LG (6.5MM SAUM .100 short) pinned.

The LG would shoot free recoil but it performed better pinned. I think that was because I could control the recoil better pinned and it was therefore faster pinned.

Rick M.

 

[DeerHunter82]

I pin based on recoil I suppose. Light on 6BR, 6XC, etc. A little heavier on 30BR. Real heavy on 30-338 haha. I’ve tried free recoil on the lighter ones. Has not produced good results for me for whatever reason.

 

[LCazador]

I know one Hall of Fame shooter that has shot his 6PPCs pinned his entire life. I shoot my 30BR with slight
pressure and my 6ppc free recoil.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I am curious about opinions on these 2 different types of rifle handling for competition bench rest. I have worked with both over the years and had varying degrees of success. I do most of my shooting by myself. I find I am enjoying having more physical input pinning the gun these days and working hard on consistency......It's not easy, but it's coming along.
So, what is working for you............?

Regards
Rick

Free recoil has work nicely for me, but I just never really got comfortable with it. I struggled with getting consistency with pinning, but found a solution with my grip that has produced the consistency I was after.

 

[tmwinds]

In my years of mediocre shooting I’ve found that penned or free recoil doesn’t make a difference as long as you do it exactly the same each time you pull the trigger. If your hold varies so will the groups.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Free recoil for me. More consistent.

 

[Chaotik]

In my experience shooting pinned does require more bench discipline, especially when shooting off of wooden benches that move readily. I have shot both ways during Long Range Benchrest competition, and I remain undecided. Some of it depends on the rifle as well. I completely agree that if you are shooting free recoil it requires careful attention to the front and rear bag setup and making sure that the rifle is tracking well.

If I am shooting my .284 I better be pinned......

 

[J.D.Erwin]

I am curious about opinions on these 2 different types of rifle handling for competition bench rest. I have worked with both over the years and had varying degrees of success. I do most of my shooting by myself. I find I am enjoying having more physical input pinning the gun these days and working hard on consistency......It's not easy, but it's coming along.
So, what is working for you............?

Regards
Rick

I shoot free recoil on 6PPC BR and very light pinned on 30 br

 

[M-61]

Never had any success with free recoil.
It just never felt ‘ right’ to me. I want a cheek weld and I want the butt in my shoulder.
Is this a ‘death’ grip? No way.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I think both ways can work just fine but as others have said, ya have to be consistent. That sounds harder than it is, to me. Actually, I think we can be remarkably consistent at this kind of thing by nature and muscle memory. So, a case of practice makes perfect.

I tend to shoot with a moderate amount of shoulder pressure but that's usually all I touch. I have seen some nose heavy rifles be completely different animals just by laying my thumb on the wrist behind the tang too. Maybe it's harder for some than others but all that seems to just come easily or naturally to me. Still, I think doing it the same way every time is benefitted by practice and developing a feel for what works. I like some shoulder pressure mostly because I tend to get a little harder on the rifle when shooting fast and I believe that I'm better off starting with some amount of light pressure than totally off of the gun and then find myself on it pretty hard by the end of the card.

With a good handling and well balanced rifle, it'd be hard to ague against free recoil taking more of the shooter out of the picture by by the same token, some guns do way better with some consistent pressure and maybe even a little thumb pressure too.

I've seen people really struggle with free recoiling a nose heavy 30 BR or 30 Major. It's too common for people to learn to shoot free, then deciding to put a 30 cal HV bbl on a LV rifle...the have to re-learn so much of it in order to get the gun to shoot. One of several reasons I'm big on making a gun handle well in the bags. They end up with an ill handling rifle that flat does not work with their shooting style, otherwise.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

On this subject I'll share one of the best tips I've ever received regarding shooting form. That's to simply film yourself shooting. I tell people this often and they all say what a good idea it is but it seems only a few follow through with actually doing it! It's so easy. Just do it. Trust me on this. It really shows you what you're doing both right or wrong.

 

[JFrank]

LRBR..
I’m glad this topic came up, because I’ve gone back and forth and still struggle trying to get consistent but I make light contact with my shoulder, relax slightly , ensure a good sight picture and send a round.

Hope for the best.

 

[Bill Norris]

LRBR..
I’m glad this topic came up, because I’ve gone back and forth and still struggle trying to get consistent but I make light contact with my shoulder, relax slightly , ensure a good sight picture and send a round.

Hope for the best.

Exactly what I do with all my rifles.

 

[mikecockcroft]

I have found my light kickers shoot fine free recoil but my 300WSM which weighs 23 pound needs to be held tight to shoot worth a crap. Just my experience.

 

[kris bassett]

I shoot my 6br kind in-between. I didn't really like free recoil but when I really hunker down I can see my heartbeat in the scope. I try to hold it just hard enough I feel in control but not so hard I can see my heartbeat.