Bench shooting best when shooting with one or two hands?

Big Bad

Big Bad

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I notice that most bench shooters I see at the club, those typically shooting off a folding bipod, will sit back and relax with their weak hand in their lap and doing all the shooting one handed, or rather armed. I OTOH make it a practice to bench shoot with my left hand at least simulating a grip on the fore piece of the rifle, that's because I have the theory based on training that you should simulate real world conditions as much as possible when range shooting, right down to wearing the same clothing if that's a factor. I'm thinking of situations where I will be shooting in other postures than on my butt, standing or off hand in particular.

What I'm asking for are opinions on whether or not bench shooting with two hands on the rifle is providing any benefit or is it just a way to introduce more random movements into my little bench shooting platform. What do you think?
 
It depends. Full blown BR rifles, shot free recoil with very little contact. Hunting rifles, all depends on how hard a recoiling rifle they are and how light. Not to many hunting rifles shoot well with one hand unless they are heavy from what I have found. Muzzle jump needs to be controlled. JMO
 
With 100/200 Metre Rimfire, it is restricted to a folding bipod with a rear sand bag at my club.
The left hand in my case is use to add feel to the bottom of the sandbag.
There is very little cheek weld and the trigger is activated by pinching the trigger between th right index finger and the thumb on the back of the trigger guard.
Even when hunting I will occasionally pinch my trigger.
 
horseman2 said:
With 100/200 Metre Rimfire, it is restricted to a folding bipod with a rear sand bag at my club.
The left hand in my case is use to add feel to the bottom of the sandbag.
There is very little cheek weld and the trigger is activated by pinching the trigger between th right index finger and the thumb on the back of the trigger guard.
Even when hunting I will occasionally pinch my trigger.
Click to expand...

Interesting technique. Do most people at your club do that or are you somewhat unique in the way you pull your trigger?
 
Suther said:
Interesting technique. Do most people at your club do that or are you somewhat unique in the way you pull your trigger?
Click to expand...

We only got one person that does it that way, in our F class group. Mostly got a mix of wrap thumb over the wrist, or off to the side.
 
It kinda depends on what type of rest is being used, and the style of rifle stock. I've never shot with a bipod so I can't voice an opinion on what I think works best for that setup. For bags or a rest like the Caldwell Rock and a rear bag, the slimmer hunting style stocks I find shoot best with a firm two-handed hold. A heavier, more benchrest styled stock, like a Boyd's Pro Varmint for example, you can go either way really.
 
cycbb486 said:
It depends. Full blown BR rifles, shot free recoil with very little contact. Hunting rifles, all depends on how hard a recoiling rifle they are and how light. Not to many hunting rifles shoot well with one hand unless they are heavy from what I have found. Muzzle jump needs to be controlled. JMO
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This. - dan
 
On a front bipod, or front rest, I use a rear squeeze bag. So one hand on the trigger and one adjusting the rear bag. I set the rifle up to require only a minimal rear squeeze.
I like to make contact with the rifle but not much, don’t like free recoil or firm pressure. On a bench anyway.
 
the less input into the rifle the easier it is to be consistent and reputative
but if you want to spot your own shots some fore end control is needed with most rigs, unless the weight is high enough to counter recoil movement
 
Suther said:
Interesting technique. Do most people at your club do that or are you somewhat unique in the way you pull your trigger?
Click to expand...

I shoot my rimfire that way. Except it's my left hand as I shoot left handed. Might not work well on a higher recoiling centerfire.
 
Big Bad said:
I notice that most bench shooters I see at the club, those typically shooting off a folding bipod, will sit back and relax with their weak hand in their lap and doing all the shooting one handed, or rather armed. I OTOH make it a practice to bench shoot with my left hand at least simulating a grip on the fore piece of the rifle, that's because I have the theory based on training that you should simulate real world conditions as much as possible when range shooting, right down to wearing the same clothing if that's a factor. I'm thinking of situations where I will be shooting in other postures than on my butt, standing or off hand in particular.

What I'm asking for are opinions on whether or not bench shooting with two hands on the rifle is providing any benefit or is it just a way to introduce more random movements into my little bench shooting platform. What do you think?
Click to expand...

the level of the shooter makes the most impact on the results.....from the competition shooter right down to the death grip recoil fearing no ear protection hunter ...seen it all... so all one can do is to show them and it may help a little.....i ask them to use there form ..get ready to fire ...lock on the target with x hairs or other sights ...tell me when totally ready..then i say NOW RELAX....make note of where your x hairs went ..... i explain that this is only THEIR input of OUTSIDE FORCES...so the problem.. THE LESS COTACT WITH THE GUN THE BETTER ....BUT ...not always practical....getting comfortable with the firearm only comes to those who make the effort to shoot it more.... understanding what you are doing is the first step ....you may have to go back to grandad and the time he gave you his 12 ga and you were 12 yrs old.......you have to retrain your brain ....it will take time don
 
Benching a BR rifle with proper support and shooting a hunting rifle, even 22LR, require different techniques. Any centerfire hunting rifle I shoot from the bench gets the forend held down. I’ve tried many ways, this is the most consistent. I shoulder drive my 17# Rimfire from the bench too. I use a bipod and rear bag with my support hand squeezing the bag. I ensure my shoulder side up side and up and down is directly behind the rifle so any recoil moves straight back. I watch the reticle to see if it moves in any discernible direction and adjust my position from my feet upward to correct that. Even shooting positional groups off a step ladder my 10+ shot groups@100 are regularly well under 1 1/2”. I don’t have a local to me national level BR shooter to copy. I did in Comox. (Centerfire) He used very little physical interaction with his custom rifle and $3K front rest to shoot 1 hole 5 shot groups at 100. Very impressive, but a bit more focused that sighting in a hunting rifle.
 
Suther said:
Interesting technique. Do most people at your club do that or are you somewhat unique in the way you pull your trigger?
Click to expand...

One day during a match that was not going particularly well, the adjacent shooter was pinching his trigger.
That is the day I started.
My granddaughter will occasionally try pinching but then goes back to a traditional hand wrapped around the grip.
 
horseman2 said:
One day during a match that was not going particularly well, the adjacent shooter was pinching his trigger.
That is the day I started.
My granddaughter will occasionally try pinching but then goes back to a traditional hand wrapped around the grip.
Click to expand...

It’s interesting. I started with my thumb around the grip, but now I try to find a place to rest my thumb on the trigger finger side of the grip. I just upgraded to a fatter rubber grip (MDT Elite)on my match rifle after shooting someone else’s. I would go with a dedicated thumb shelf if budget where not a thing.
 
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