Proper bench technique for heavy recoiling rifles?

deertroy

deertroy

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What bench techniques do you use for load testing heavy recoiling hunting rifles. This could be any rifle from a light weight .308 or a standard weight .300 Win Mag.
Some folks suggest holding on the forearm with the non trigger hand while others do not hold onto the forend but have the off trigger hand holding the rear bag.
Any thoughts
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I hold the butt stock with my off hand and use it to tuck the gun firmly into my shoulder pocket. The bags are there to keep things level so I don't bother with the forend while benching guns.
 
Depends on the nature of the recoil.
Also, the possibility of getting nailed by the scope.

If it's a lightweight, sharp slap type kicker, a sissy bag takes the sting down a notch or two. Usually the off hand on rear bag works OK.

A truely heavy recoiler wants both backthrust and muzzle flip to be tamed, to preclude a lacerated eyebrow. The off hand firm on the forend, resting on the bag, makes control far more certain. Also, you may find Point Of Impact to be closer to where it will go when shot from field positions.
 
Read an article a few years back about a guy whose job it was to regulate Rigby double rifles.
His "bench" was high enough so that he stood at it, leaning into the rifle. Changed the angle that the stock contacted his shoulder so that it wasn't in touch with his collar bone, and allowed him to absorb more of the recoil with his legs.
 
A Caldwell lead sled will hold the rifle for you and also reduce felt recoil.It is an excellent way for recoil sensitive shooters to do load development and practice.

My grip is an adjustable front rest, regular comfortable grip with trigger hand, a rear bag and my free hand on the rear bag/butt stock for stability and fine adjustments.Butt plate firmly in shoulder and a comfortable seat.When everything feels good and you are comfortable, breath deeply, calmly and squeeze on exhale.After some practice the recoil become unnoticeable.
 
I have seen lots of people take advantage of the PAST recoil pad that simply straps onto your shoulder. Great for working up your loads. I have been told that these guys sight their guns in for hunting without the pad as it affects their eye relief. In you shoulder pocket as apposed to on your shoulder pocket with the pad. That is when you end up with a unibrow complements of your scope that is now closer than it was during load development. fyi
My opinion is that the most accurate way to shoot from the bench is with the week hand supporting the butt. If you are doing load development, this is the best way to go. Just remember, shooting a gun that does not beat you up, makes you shoot better.
HEAVY RECOIL = FLINCH = MISSED GAME = YOU GO HUNGRY!
SRSA311
 
When I bench my 7.5 lb 9.3x62 I have to hold the fore end as it has a nasty habit of jumping up and off the front rest, resulting in a couple of nice dings on the underside of the forestock (where only I see them and they drive me beserk). But as obstreperous a rifle as it is, its not the meanest in my safe. The 416 Rigby is where I start doing my work standing. Building a standing bench like they use for regulating doubles would be worthwhile if you shoot a lot of nasty rifles. You could also shoot over the top of a round bale if you happen to have one handy. Elsewise you can place a 25lb bag of lead shot between yourself and the buttstock to soak up some of the recoil.

You can't stop then from receiving (nor would you want to), but you can mitigation gate the effects of recoil with treachery and physics.
 
BigUglyMan said:
When I bench my 7.5 lb 9.3x62 I have to hold the fore end as it has a nasty habit of jumping up and off the front rest, resulting in a couple of nice dings on the underside of the forestock (where only I see them and they drive me beserk). But as obstreperous a rifle as it is, its not the meanest in my safe. The 416 Rigby is where I start doing my work standing. Building a standing bench like they use for regulating doubles would be worthwhile if you shoot a lot of nasty rifles. You could also shoot over the top of a round bale if you happen to have one handy. Elsewise you can place a 25lb bag of lead shot between yourself and the buttstock to soak up some of the recoil.

You can't stop then from receiving (nor would you want to), but you can mitigation gate the effects of recoil with treachery and physics.
Click to expand...

I use the PAST pad as well,and it really does work great. I haven't tried a lead sled, not sure I will. I'v done a little reading on them,and it seems they have accounted for quite a few broken stocks. I assume people are loading them up too much causing too much stress on the rifle stock. Reoil has to go somewhere,and a heavy kicker with a wood stock particularily needs some room to move.

The only gun I really hold onto is my .375 Ruger. I grab the forend firmly and rest my hand on the bag. I find it is just as stable as the cross-arm technique.
I read an interesting article here- www.ballisticstudies.com - that makes a pretty strong case for NOT using the cross-arm technique,stating it produces different POI than when shooting from field positions. Anyway, if I don't hold the Ruger firmly, it will definitely jump around too much.

I know that when shooting my lever actions from the bench, I either have to cradle the forend in my hand or have the bag right under the action,or POI will be erratic. I can see how letting the rifle just bounce off the bag could theoretically cause a different impact point than a gun controled and held normally while hunting.
Some very interesting write-ups on the ballisiticstudies.com sight, quite an interesting read.
 
Muzzle jump will be a big factor. As with my recent 338wm post, a hunting rifle is meant to be held with authority. It is not a death grip but firm and secure. I hold both the for end to manage some jump and for down pressure. I find a thumb hole stock allows for firm grip and to sinch into the shoulder. A 9 or 10 lb rifle (hunting weight) is about right for modest recoil management on a heavy hitter. Mine does not sport a fancy recoil pad or muzzle break....it is a hunting rifle.

Also, be sure your sling studs are well away from front and rear bags. You will get vertical stringing creeping in if you do have contact. I run my hunting rifles off sand bags. Another good tool is your friend the shoulder strap for additional support and control.

Be sure to allow your body to be acustomed to recoil and roll with it. Once you flinch, game over. Start another day. Good luck and good shooting.
 
Everything .375 and down gets shot the same way, one handed with the off-hand on the rear bag. .300 and down is one step away from free-recoiling. Above .375, its a judgement call. I can shoot my .416 and .458 that way, but getting brushed by the scope and wondering which shot is going to tag me just isn't worth it. I'll set the rear bag with my off-hand then grasp the fore-end lightly at the last second.

I like shooting the big guns, but don't like wearing them that much.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
A Caldwell lead sled will hold the rifle for you and also reduce felt recoil.It is an excellent way for recoil sensitive shooters to do load development and practice.

My grip is an adjustable front rest, regular comfortable grip with trigger hand, a rear bag and my free hand on the rear bag/butt stock for stability and fine adjustments.Butt plate firmly in shoulder and a comfortable seat.When everything feels good and you are comfortable, breath deeply, calmly and squeeze on exhale.After some practice the recoil become unnoticeable.
Click to expand...

The only way to go!No broken stocks around here.
 
A lead sled snapped the pistol grip off a buddy's Rem 700 in .375 H+H from the Custom Shop .I won't use one.Harold
 
I'd stand before I used a Lead Sled. I'm sure that they're OK, but why risk it? Besides , it would seem to me that stopping all that recoil abruptly might cause strange groups.
 
What ever you, do it exactly the same each time you fire a shot... consistency is required for good grouping.

I use a home made 'sled' and hang on to the rifle quite hard with my shoulder in it (a small bag over the end)... the sled is 18 pounds and reduces felt recoil very well.

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