If one doesn't have a really tight hold of the gun against their shoulder, does it effect accuracy? I'm not talking totally sloppy, but I'm just wondering if it matters much, or if the bullet is out the pipe before recoil and shoulder position has much impact.
Shouldering the Rifle.
- Thread starter greg11
- Start date
It hard to give you a solid answer.
What kind of rifle are you shooting? Does it have a flat forend? What kind of rest are you using?
Some benchrest shooters shoot recoil free. Where the only thing on the rifle you touch is the trigger. This requires a special set up with a special stock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRLCh0Re_LA&feature=related
You can also do it with lighter rifles. You just have to keep your shoulder about 1/4" to 3/8" behind the butt.
Hope this helps.
What kind of rifle are you shooting? Does it have a flat forend? What kind of rest are you using?
Some benchrest shooters shoot recoil free. Where the only thing on the rifle you touch is the trigger. This requires a special set up with a special stock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRLCh0Re_LA&feature=related
You can also do it with lighter rifles. You just have to keep your shoulder about 1/4" to 3/8" behind the butt.
Hope this helps.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The key to good shooting is shot to shot uniformity. Any change you make in your position from one shot to the next will be seen on the target. Even the shot to shot consistency of the rifle sliding on the bag has an affect on the final group size. The proper balance is to achieve the same uniform hold from shot to shot. Consider how small the actual movement in sight adjustment is to move the bullet 1" at 100 yards; should your influence move the rifle half that much, your group has unnecessarily opened up an half inch. The amount of pressure you use to seat the butt in your shoulder should be sufficient to stabilize the rifle without tremor appearing in your sights, but it is important to use the same amount of pressure from shot to shot. If a rest supports the weight, less input from the shooter is required to stabilize the rifle, but the amount of recoil generated through the firing of the cartridge, combined with the weight of the rifle, will determine how solidly your shoulder must be behind the butt to achieve uniform results. IMHO, once bullet weight exceeds 100 grs, the value of free recoil becomes questionable, but I probably hold my rifle too tightly, an unfortunate byproduct of shooting powerful hunting rifles.
I have a book on target shooting and there is an entire chapter devoted to recoil, was actually a very interesting read, even the slightest change in a shooting position can affect how a rifle will recoil, which in turn affects point of impact, not accuracy, just point of impact, which in turn translates into group accuracy, as the two previous posts stated consistency is key.
I'm shooting a stock Stevens 200 in .223
The ammunition I'm using is the black box 55gr American Eagle .223AE Tactical (which I have a feeling is crap cause it's cheap). Winds today were maybe 10 gusting 15 mph.
I'm mainly asking because I'm trying to narrow down on the inconsistencies in my shooting, in order to develop a good understanding of the rifle's capabilities.
I think my best results seem to come from those shots where I am touching (man handling) the rifle the least. I was wearing a thin Northface coat and a teeshirt today and at 100 yards on 15x, I could actually discern my heart beat as the vibration transmitted through the coat into the butt stock. Watching through the reticle, I'd say the reticle was bouncing around about 1/2 inch on the target.
Also, when I put my cheek on the stock, i seem to have a hard time keeping the reticle on my point of aim at 100 yards.
I'm seriously debating getting a vise or something to eliminate any error on my part. But I can only imagine that the projectile has left the muzzle before much recoil induced inaccuracy crops up. On the otherhand, I can totally see how I'd be incorrect on this.
I'm pretty consistently minute of rabbit. At times, I'm minute of rabbit's head. Then my rifle hangs a shot 5" from my point of aim and I begin questioning myself and my setup. I don't know what's going on. Is it me, the rifle, the ammo, the wind which I don't know how to dope for (but I don't think the wind would account for a 5" flyer)? I'm confused.
All in all, I'm addicted. I love precision shooting. I'm just getting started, and I know the Stevens isn't a tack driver. I'm just trying to eliminate me from the equation by learning what I can do to get out of my rifles way.
The ammunition I'm using is the black box 55gr American Eagle .223AE Tactical (which I have a feeling is crap cause it's cheap). Winds today were maybe 10 gusting 15 mph.
I'm mainly asking because I'm trying to narrow down on the inconsistencies in my shooting, in order to develop a good understanding of the rifle's capabilities.
I think my best results seem to come from those shots where I am touching (man handling) the rifle the least. I was wearing a thin Northface coat and a teeshirt today and at 100 yards on 15x, I could actually discern my heart beat as the vibration transmitted through the coat into the butt stock. Watching through the reticle, I'd say the reticle was bouncing around about 1/2 inch on the target.
Also, when I put my cheek on the stock, i seem to have a hard time keeping the reticle on my point of aim at 100 yards.
I'm seriously debating getting a vise or something to eliminate any error on my part. But I can only imagine that the projectile has left the muzzle before much recoil induced inaccuracy crops up. On the otherhand, I can totally see how I'd be incorrect on this.
I'm pretty consistently minute of rabbit. At times, I'm minute of rabbit's head. Then my rifle hangs a shot 5" from my point of aim and I begin questioning myself and my setup. I don't know what's going on. Is it me, the rifle, the ammo, the wind which I don't know how to dope for (but I don't think the wind would account for a 5" flyer)? I'm confused.
All in all, I'm addicted. I love precision shooting. I'm just getting started, and I know the Stevens isn't a tack driver. I'm just trying to eliminate me from the equation by learning what I can do to get out of my rifles way.
I've been shooting off a bi-pod with a rear bag and I've had some pretty good success. Buy a snap cap and set up like you would be shooting. Pull the trigger and see what happens while your looking down the scope. Maybe you have a flinch?
Have you cleaned your barrel since you have got your rifle? I have heard about some Savages/Stevens throwing shots due to a dirty barrel.
If you still have the stock trigger I would look into upgrading that first. It makes a world of a difference.
Double check that your scope mounts and bases are tight.
Have you cleaned your barrel since you have got your rifle? I have heard about some Savages/Stevens throwing shots due to a dirty barrel.
If you still have the stock trigger I would look into upgrading that first. It makes a world of a difference.
Double check that your scope mounts and bases are tight.
If you are second guessing yourself and you set up then you need more practice in all conditions.
You will get to a point with you shooting that you should KNOW when something isn't right with your system.
Once you have shot enough to know that you are doing everything right then its easy to figure out rifle and ammo problems.
That and get some match ammo...
You will get to a point with you shooting that you should KNOW when something isn't right with your system.
Once you have shot enough to know that you are doing everything right then its easy to figure out rifle and ammo problems.
That and get some match ammo...
Mounts are all tight and locktited.
Barrel is cleaned after every range outing. This is due to the fact that G96 cleaner smells like CRACK to me and it has me hopelessly addicted. I can't stop cleaning my guns!
I turned the trigger screw down a couple times and have it to about half of what it used to be.
I'm not flinching. I practice dry firing will all of my guns, a lot! I always am cognizant of my breath and squeezing the trigger while holding POA constant. Most times when the gun fires, I'm anticipating it, but the break is a surprise, since I'm slowly pressing and not pulling. I understand this is a decent technique.
No doubt I need more practice.
Barrel is cleaned after every range outing. This is due to the fact that G96 cleaner smells like CRACK to me and it has me hopelessly addicted. I can't stop cleaning my guns!
I turned the trigger screw down a couple times and have it to about half of what it used to be.
I'm not flinching. I practice dry firing will all of my guns, a lot! I always am cognizant of my breath and squeezing the trigger while holding POA constant. Most times when the gun fires, I'm anticipating it, but the break is a surprise, since I'm slowly pressing and not pulling. I understand this is a decent technique.
No doubt I need more practice.
If the rifle isn't tight, but not too tight, against your shoulder, accuracy won't matter. The recoil will smack you. Hard, in the case of a .308, for example. Even a .223 will smart.
"...crap cause it's cheap..." The price of the ammo means nothing. If you're not reloading, you need to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best.
You shooting of a solid rest?
"...crap cause it's cheap..." The price of the ammo means nothing. If you're not reloading, you need to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best.
You shooting of a solid rest?
No, I'm using a 6" bipod and I'm resting the rear of the butt stock against the edge of the table. The stock is angled, do this arrangement actually gives me a lot of variability and I can hold the gun pretty damn steady on target.
I have 1300 bullets in the mail right now (100 50gr vmax, 200 40gr vmax, and 1000 55gr hornady SP). I'm going o concentrate on case prep and make sure they are in excellent condition. I have about 100 once fired winchester brass which I hear are great for reloading. I have about 1000 mixed brass also. So, I can experiment a fair amount.
I know it's no feat, but at least I can put 5 bullets into one hole at 25 yards. haha.
I have 1300 bullets in the mail right now (100 50gr vmax, 200 40gr vmax, and 1000 55gr hornady SP). I'm going o concentrate on case prep and make sure they are in excellent condition. I have about 100 once fired winchester brass which I hear are great for reloading. I have about 1000 mixed brass also. So, I can experiment a fair amount.
I know it's no feat, but at least I can put 5 bullets into one hole at 25 yards. haha.
I've verified this theory to be true- I've been out and noted that some shots just felt different, and sure enough I've got a cluster of three printed nicely and then a tight flyer pair off to the upper right. I thought it was the ammo until I noticed how repeatable I could do the trick, hence I think I've established it to be me.
Using the bipod at this stage of the game throws another whole set of variables into it.
Consistent bipod shooting is not easily learned. Why not put it away and use a front and rear bag setup...under recoil the rifle will simply glide back on the bags, giving you much more consistency. Just make sure the stock and bags are co-linear, and that the stock swivels are not riding the bags under recoil.
Consistent bipod shooting is not easily learned. Why not put it away and use a front and rear bag setup...under recoil the rifle will simply glide back on the bags, giving you much more consistency. Just make sure the stock and bags are co-linear, and that the stock swivels are not riding the bags under recoil.
To be able to truly trust yourself and take your skills out of the equasion you need to get to the point where you know everytime you squeeze that trigger,a perfect shot will result.And that just takes practice.But it is a fun journey for sure!
