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07-21-2017, 05:32 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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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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07-21-2017, 09:42 PM
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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
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07-21-2017, 09:47 PM
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I never touch the forestock when shooting off a front rest.
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07-21-2017, 10:00 PM
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You can get away with that with smaller cartridges.
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“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”
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07-21-2017, 10:04 PM
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07-21-2017, 11:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuck
You can get away with that with smaller cartridges.
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Explain?
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07-22-2017, 07:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 260 Rem
Explain?
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You have to control the front end with harder recoiling rifles.
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“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”
-Billy Molls
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07-22-2017, 09:07 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2014
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To the OP, where did you get that rear rest?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 260 Rem
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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07-22-2017, 09:14 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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6MT - The Edgewood bag came from Sinclair International.
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07-22-2017, 09:41 AM
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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?
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07-22-2017, 09:56 AM
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That is a cool looking action. What brand is it and what cartridge are you shooting? Thx
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07-22-2017, 10:04 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 260 Rem
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?
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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?
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07-22-2017, 01:23 PM
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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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Last edited by 260 Rem; 07-22-2017 at 01:38 PM.
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07-22-2017, 01:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 260 Rem
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?
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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.
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“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”
-Billy Molls
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07-22-2017, 02:01 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
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My eight year old son 15 minutes ago. He likes to control the forend.
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“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”
-Billy Molls
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07-22-2017, 02:20 PM
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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.
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07-22-2017, 03:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuck
My eight year old son 15 minutes ago. He likes to control the forend.
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Is that a montucky chuck? What cal?
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07-23-2017, 10:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 260 Rem
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?
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This ^^^^^^
I have lots of sporter rifle in various calibers and I never use any pressure at all on the forend just the trigger......The guys on TV with their hands on the scopes are NOT doing it correctly...JM2C
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Trades I would interested in:
- Sightron rifle scopes, 4.5x14x42mm or 4x16x42mm
especially! with the HHR reticle. (no duplex pls.)
- older 6x fixed scopes with fine X or target dot.
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07-23-2017, 10:45 PM
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“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”
-Billy Molls
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07-24-2017, 02:09 AM
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I think the confusion is around what does "benching a gun" mean to you?
If you've ever watched a benchrest shooter or an ftr shooter you'd understand where 260 Rem is coming from.
If all you're exposed to is flogging rounds over a pack or truck hood you'll see where Chuck is coming from.
Two separate rest off a prepared bench from a controlled setting is where 260 Rem is coming from. It's great for wringing out that last little bit of accuracy to truely see if "load A" is better than "load B", but in no way is it anything you'll ever do out in the field, it's actually about as far from anything you'll ever do while out in the field(except some gopher fields I'd suspect).
I'm a cross arm shooter while on the bench except for a couple fairly heavy kicking lighter weight sporters I've owned. But in no way is it a definative must do. I've watched fellows like Bushrat and Rugersingle shoot some pretty amazing groups utilizing fore end gripping while on the bench, or even a hand over top of the scope holds as well.
It boils down to doing it the same way every time you do pull the trigger.
Thumb position on the grip must be consistent, pressure into your shoulder must be consistant, forearm of the stock starting the same on the front rest every time. No sling swivel interference on the front or rear rest every time, talcum powder on the front and rear rests to give a consistent slide during recoil, same grip with the same down pressure on the fore end or the scope every time.
And if all you do is shoot from the bench that takes a certain mind set and even for me a lot of trigger time to ease back into the "groove"
It's the same for every aspect of shooting, try getting back to your form shooting unsupported offhand, when it might have been 2 or 3 months without a lot of trigger time, you'll drive yourself bonkers trying to find your "groove" once again.... it frustrates to no end.
My best suggestion is spend more time shooting and less time typing, but alas something's are easier said than done.
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Last edited by Dick284; 07-24-2017 at 02:27 AM.
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07-24-2017, 08:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuck
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Good article. Thanks for posting.
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07-22-2017, 01:34 PM
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07-22-2017, 01:55 PM
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Thanks Chuck, as usual your insight is profound ...but the thread title is Benching Sporters.
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07-22-2017, 02:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 260 Rem
Thanks Chuck, as usual your insight is profound ...but the thread title is Benching Sporters.
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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.
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“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”
-Billy Molls
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07-22-2017, 02:11 PM
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Good shooting there!
I'd love to see some >338 calibre groups in the .4's.
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07-22-2017, 02:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Deer Hunter
Good shooting there!
I'd love to see some >338 calibre groups in the .4's.
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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.
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07-22-2017, 03:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 260 Rem
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260 Rem - great post and thank you. I like accurate hunting guns. Thanks again for sharing.
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07-22-2017, 04:13 PM
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Andy, I am trying to tease out "tips" for benching sporters, not just for myself, but also for others. Things that work.
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