Benching Sporters
 

Always looking for ways to improve consistency with sporter rigs so want to share what seems to work best for me ... and hope others will share their "tips".
Was tinkering this morning with one of my deer rifles and here are my results. First, on the left, two shots from the cold/clean bore without attention to resetting the rifle in the bags. I then put tape on the stock to insure I could get a consistent reset in the rest/bag and did a 3 shot group on the far right. Finally, a 5 shot group in the centre.
As you can see, one of the shots in the center group went high which probably went wonky because of something I did when resetting.
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How much forend pressure did you use? Any?
Seems to be a factor for me. Some guns shoot better with some, some better without

I never touch the forestock when shooting off a front rest.

You can get away with that with smaller cartridges.

http://www.sinclairintl.com/GunTech/....htm?lid=16136

This is a good article from Sinclair.

Explain?

You have to control the front end with harder recoiling rifles.

Keeping lightweight rifles on target while I pull the trigger requires that I keep some pressure on the forend too.

Nathan Foster will tell you that keeping a hand on the forend (above or below) is good practice when benching sporter rifles.

I think most would say that.

To the OP, where did you get that rear rest?

6MT - The Edgewood bag came from Sinclair International.

Regarding forearm hold. Not touching the forearm eliminates the potential for varying hold pressures to result in inconsistency down-range. I have found that in order to keep groups to about 1/2 MOA, I need to stay off the forestock. For me, that degree of consistency is necessary for load development and Range practice. Many do not consider that level of Range consistency as a requisite for hunting applications. To each their own.
Any "tips" on what works?

That is a cool looking action. What brand is it and what cartridge are you shooting? Thx

You have any rifles that weigh under 7.5#s with a 3.0+# trigger?
Or any large game rifles? Rifles that push a 200+gr bullet at 2900+fps?

My sporters mostly start at about 7.5 lbs which is in the average range for most hunting rifles. I have had lighter weights so do have some experience shooting them as well. Done a bit of shooting with the heavier recoilers as well (not uncommon for someone to ask me to shoot their rig when they are lacking a bit of confidence). And yes, some of those have heavy triggers with mucho creep. So, to answer the question I think Deer Hunter is looking for...no, I do not touch the forestock when benching them.
Andy...the rifle in the pic is a BAT SA repeater wearing a #2 Kreiger (0.6" muz diam) barrel cut to 24" and chambered in 6 Dasher which pushes the 95 gr Berger Classic Hunter bullet to about 3000fps as it leaves the muzzle. Stock is a takeoff from an older LTR. Somewhat similar ballistics to the 243 Win. Plenty good for deer.
I shot one more 5 shot group with it this morning that came in a tickle under 0.4" @ 100m which is not unusual for this rig (as long as I keep my mitts off the forestock:). )

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Get off the bench. If you are truly concerned with sporting application the bench is almost useless. If you like seeing tiny groups fill your boots. If you like blood on your hands quit worrying about it.

Thanks Chuck, as usual your insight is profound ...but the thread title is Benching Sporters.

My eight year old son 15 minutes ago. He likes to control the forend.

https://i.imgur.com/66TP4mX.jpg

And I told you my thoughts on benching sporters. I've been doing it for a lot of years and have formed an opinion. It can be different than yours.

Good shooting there!

I'd love to see some >338 calibre groups in the .4's.

Me too, but don't think it is likely to happen often with a sporter...at least not on a consistent basis...just too much recoil.

Most of my Rifles fall into the light-ultralight category. These Rifles take a little more practice and technique to shoot accurately and repeatedly. When I shoot, I grip the forend of my stock with my thumb and index finger and pull it snugly down into the rest, I put the butt end firmly into my shoulder and squeeze the trigger about 3/4 of the way into an exhale.

I'm not sure if this is the best way, but I'm happy with the accuracy and consistency it's provided me with.

Is that a montucky chuck? What cal?

260 Rem - great post and thank you. I like accurate hunting guns. Thanks again for sharing.

Andy, I am trying to tease out "tips" for benching sporters, not just for myself, but also for others. Things that work.

It is. A 7-08.

Your son must eat his wheaties! Do you load some lighter ammo for him?

Do you play with barrel harmonics at all 260? I've read some interesting articles about why we typically get those triangular patterns and I've spoken to folks who swear by tuners.