05-31-2012, 12:18 PM
stokesrj Wrote:Ballance and relaxed muscles are key to optimum accuracy. The reason match rifles outperform service rifles is simply because the rifle can be adjusted to the shooters natural point of aim with no muscle tension. Ideally you start with no sights adjusting the stock fit so that you can hit a 6" circle at 200 yards without sights, then insert the sights between your eye and the target. I've done this and it is very effective.
Bob
Bob:
What match rifle are you using that balances off hand? Every one I have owned or fired has always been front heavy and hardest to balance off hand compared to seated or prone. This includes numerous barrels on a T2K, four or five different M-70 bolt rifles, and three AR match rifles. All have been very front heavy compared to a service rifle. In fact, I would bet most who shoot match rifle would rather shoot a service rifle off hand just because of the difficulty in balance.
As for shooting repeated 10's at 200 without sights......... That one I will only believe if I personally witness it.
However, if others are thinking about the concept of adjusting the rifle to fit you before putting on the sights, it is sound. The reason is because if you plop the sights on the rifle first, you will focus your position around the location of the sights and not based on how your body wants to hold the rifle. Of course this is done with a match rifle where the stock adjusts for length of pull, cant and cast. And, on some match rifles you can also adjust cant the forend in order to better fit your non firing hand.
So, we remove the sights and adjust the rifle to fit us. Then we put on the sights based on our natural head position.
That said, here is another thing that most find blasphemous. For rapid fires -- seated and prone -- my stock adjustments are based on efficiency and ease of bolt manipulation first. I can always adjust the rear sight for sight relief but if your bolt manipulation is off, just a fraction of an inch because of a poor position, you have increased your problems with rapid fires. This was particularly true when we were shooting the 06 and .308 due to their recoil. With the AR gas gun match rifles, I adjust it based on comfort of the firing hand in terms of its ability to confidently pull the pistol grip back into my shoulder. The trigger finger takes care of itself and it doesn't matter what part of the finger pulls the trigger.
Also note, if you are new at using a match rifle, it will take you a couple of years of work before your rifle adjustments will hold, day in and day out. And remember that what Stokes and I are talking about are based on High Power where your firing lines are flat and there is very little angle up or down to the targets. Once you cross a certain point by having to shoot at a target higher or lower than you, these adjustmsnts no longer work and you have to adjust all over again. Goes back to the purpose of a shooting position which is to align the sights with the eyes and point the barrel at the target.
LR1955