06-09-2012, 12:43 AM
BjornF16 Wrote:I don't have a good mount on my Satern Spartan Grendel for bipod, so I've been using a "bench rest" set up (poor man style).
My shots have a tendency to jump right. After the shot, my scope has jumped right (mainly) so I'm pretty sure it is something I'm doing or the setup I have. I've attached photos of the bench setup. Bags are leather.
Today I was taking 5 shot groups before reloading the 4 round hunting mag. I didn't reposition other than fine tuning aimpoint within the 5 shot groups. A couple of 5 shot groups were tight, and it felt "right" (gun recoiling back, no left or right jump of the scope). But repositioning after this grouping would result in the jumps to the right again. I was shooting both factory and handloads. The handloads have tighter SD and ES than the factory rounds.
I'm considering getting a decent front rest, but don't want to spend $500 for a high end benchrest mount (any suggestions?). Leaning towards leather/cordura combo bags (cordura for less resistance?).
I've also bought a book by Tony Boyer on Rifle Accuracy. While mainly geared towards benchrest bolt actions, I figured there has to be some techniques that would apply.
Here are some suggestions he makes if impacts are "jumping right":
1. "palming" with right hand when squeezing trigger
2. Leaning cheek onto stock while sighting and then letting off at shot (I think I may be doing this)
3. Leaning into rear bag during setup and then letting off at shot (not sure if I'm doing this or not...I am squeezing rear bag for elevation control and pulling stock into my shoulder during sighting.
Some indications for impacts jumping left:
1. Leaning cheek into stock at shot (I have a few of these I believe).
Not sure if my equipment is contributing to the errors above...any suggestions would be welcome.
My current game plan is to get a front rest and different rear bags and hit the range at 50 yds with .22 LR for practice, but the recoil would be missing...
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Bjorn:
Why would spending a bunch of money on a bench rest all of a sudden make your performance improve?
You saw how taking your shots sustained fire worked. It is because you knew you were to take another shot and thus had a more secure and solid position for your string.
And, for the good strings, your attention was focused on attaining a good sight picture for each successive shot. By having a solid, hard hold, you were more confident in your sight picture as the recoil didn't knock you out of position between shots.
Seems to me your process goal ought to be on attaining the same degree of control over your rifle after getting out of position. That one is easy to work out. Shoot five, stand up, walk around, sit down, and get back into position.
Your end state is attaining the same degree of control and confidence so if you have to adjust things in order to get the same degree of control and confidence, adjust things.
What is important about position is consistency of control and when you shoot sustained fire, you best exert quite a bit of control or the recoil will knock you out of your position. Tight, firm, confident hold where you know you are in control.
Dominate the rifle.
LR1955