Where do you aim on BR Group Target?

[Kevin1990]

Sorry if this has been asked, or if it's incredibly stupid. I searched but not even sure how to word it for a search.


Right now I'm just shooting for fun and I shoot at 1 inch dots with 1/4 bullseye and use a 35 power scope with a center dot and I don't feel it's very precise because I can't be sure I'm actually dead center in the bull.

Questions:

With benchrest group targets where exactly do you aim? I imagine you try and center the reticle in the square, but that seems like it wouldn't be that consistent or precise? Do you pick a corner and line the reticle up at a 90 degree angle?

Are there better targets for more consistent POA?

Thanks fellas!

 

[ELR LVR]

Do Like that in my picture here
it's actually a good question where to aim since
--- some guys would try to put the center of their cross hair right in the middle
but by doing so there is no real defined aiming point to line your crosshairs up to
you would be putting the center of the crosshair in open space and the lines whould not line up with anything.
---
Also, you can aim at the corners of the square if you want - for practicing
but not for group, since if you shoot into the black, you cannot see your holes
Secondly, in my picture is how you would want to align your crosshairs onto a circle
---
Notice, the X and Y planes of the crosshair just baaaaaarely hold off a hair, without the crosshair actually touching the line, you are lining the edge of the crosshair up with the edge of the circle
---and not using the center of the crosshairs
You want to put the smallest amount of white paper between your crosshairs and the black circle
since - if you put your black crosshairs, touching the black lines, you could be into the line 1/32", 1/16"???
and not know it
but if you want to shoot the teensiest groups you can, you want to hold off just the smallest amount your eye can perceive
that way you know you are aiming in the exact same spot every time
then, you adjust your dials to place POI where you want it which is usually not where your POA is because of course then again, if your POA = POI and you make a black hole,
it is hard to hold the black reticle in the center of a black hole with thousandths precision.
---
the center of the crosshair is for shooting your bullets into your buddies group, thats a good time

 

[ELR LVR]

When at home practicing, I like to use little triangles
which give me a defined point and same thing, notice I hold a smidge off with the crosshair
there is the smallest amount of white between the red and the blue
with the triangles I have 3 defined aiming points, and can actually shoot 3 different groups at the same triangle for testing and practice

 

[R.Morehouse]

Point of aim, 6:00 on the mothball. For me, it works best for hold off's. Point of impact, just above that.

Regards
Rick

 

[J.J. Coe]

6 o'clock on the mothball.

 

[ebb]

I am not sure how this works with rules but can you add a dot as you are posting your target? Ive always done as ELR 's picture shows and it works well but you have to align two things at once and when you get the side right the bottom is out and when the bottom gets right you have to recheck the side. It's doable, but to me the right sized dot is preferable. The diamonds on the sight in targets are better than the squares.

 

[J.J. Coe]

I am not sure how this works with rules but can you add a dot as you are posting your target?

No, not in a registered srbr match.
It takes time to be anal about your poa, as time passes the conditions change and you're holding off anyway. Where's your fine aim point then? ....you don't have one.

 

[Court178]

Point of aim, 6:00 on the mothball. For me, it works best for hold off's. Point of impact, just above that.

Regards
Rick

I second the 6:00 aim point. Another reason, is that I've had mirage bad enough that the circles will fade in and out on a target or will bounce around a little. I've found that the 6:00 aim point with the POA just above speeds up my shots to take advantage of the wind conditions. My son does the lining up of the 2 cross hairs on the side of the 10 ring. He is noticeably slower with follow up shots trying to get everything just perfect. I like to have my aim point such that's it's quick and easy so I can focus on the wind flags more.

 

[tikkaman308]

6 o'clock on the mothball

 

[ShtrRdy]

I've been aiming at 12:00 on the inner circle, (mothball). I thought I got that recommendation from reading Tony Boyers book. I'll try the 6:00 hold to see if that 'feels' better.

 

[Texas Solo]

Check out “All Things Benchrest with Friends” on YouTube. They discuss this in one of there videos.

"Their"

 

[Steve Donlon]

Depends on your reticle. If it does not fit perfect any where, the triangle make sense to me using a dot or a corner on the square. Then I can move the point of impact with my turrets if desired.

 

[Doug Casner]

I have just moved my old weaver 36 4 clicks up 8 clicks left shoot , move 16 right shoot, down 8 shoot, left 16 shoot , shoot the last 5 in the bull on the mothball 8 right 4 up. You can shoot an agg. on one target. Thats with a B.R. rifle that will agg a quarter in. Not that Im too lazy to walk down and change targets, I cant walk. Doug

 

[JEFFPPC]

I aim at the center and have my group form at 12:00 between the 10 and 9 ring. Works best for me. Leaves a nice clean aiming point for minor adjustment while trying to stay in a condition shooting maximum number of shots.