Was out doing some load development this morning, and was really concentrating on trying to have the same point of aim and cheek weld. I'm using a sightron 10-50x-60, shooting at 300 yards on the 50x magnification setting. So my question to you guys, other than just straight repetition to acquire great site picture are there any tricks or devices you use to help keep the same p.o.a. and cheek weld. The gun is a tikka tac in .300 win mag. And the cheek piece is adjusted to the proper height.
What tricks for p.o.a and cheek weld?
- Thread starter mooger31
- Start date
With larger calibers I have found most of the time a hard hold was helpful. the key to a hard hold is making sure the rear bag is rearward of your check. If the rear bag is under or worse yet forward of your cheek, the rifle will tend to jump - using the rear bag as a point of fulrum - the rifle behaves as though it is too light. Keeping the rear bag as far to the rear as possible eliminates this.
Furthermore bag compression is a factor. You cant just fluff up the rear bag to get it high enough and call it good. You need to fluff it up a little too high and then nestle the rifle butt down via cheek pressure into the rear bag to ensure there is good solid sand under the butt. This is assuming you are a rear bag squeezer as needed for a bipod.
If you are a tripod shooter this may not apply as you should already have heavy well packed sand in the rear bag - even so - the rifle needs to be well settled in the rear bag, then adjust the point of aim using adjustments on the tripod.
Furthermore bag compression is a factor. You cant just fluff up the rear bag to get it high enough and call it good. You need to fluff it up a little too high and then nestle the rifle butt down via cheek pressure into the rear bag to ensure there is good solid sand under the butt. This is assuming you are a rear bag squeezer as needed for a bipod.
If you are a tripod shooter this may not apply as you should already have heavy well packed sand in the rear bag - even so - the rifle needs to be well settled in the rear bag, then adjust the point of aim using adjustments on the tripod.
Lots of variables depending on what is comfortable for you in your shooting position.
Personally I try to send the shot on a half breath that I took knowing I was close to firing.
Hand position on the wrist, consistency is important, along with the tension you grip with.
It may take you awhile but start trying to call your shot immediately after letting it go, then think back to how you held, aimed etc.
Also I don't think you can get the best picture on 50X. Good glass is always more important than magnification.
Personally I try to send the shot on a half breath that I took knowing I was close to firing.
Hand position on the wrist, consistency is important, along with the tension you grip with.
It may take you awhile but start trying to call your shot immediately after letting it go, then think back to how you held, aimed etc.
Also I don't think you can get the best picture on 50X. Good glass is always more important than magnification.
Now when you say relax to break the shot at the end of exhalation, would it be an accurate paraphrase to use the phrase 'eliminate tension' as an overall goal?
I notice myself being very tense if I just go about it naturally. I have to wait until I'm not tense or I will miss the bullseye. I find I have to make a conscious effort to not be tense. Whereas normally, you would have to poke me to make sure I'm alive.
Buzzballer
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern Ontario
Sounds like trigger time with that rifle couldn't hurt. I'm working on being tense when shooting for groups as well. I think the key is just keep shooting and concertraiting on making sure your hold, breath and squeeze is relaxed and consistant. Just my 2 cents
Some good advice here so far. I would add that having your rifle set up properly for you is a must. Try getting into the prone position with your rifle(or at a bench if that is the way you want your rifle set up) and with your eyes closed, shoulder your rifle and settle in as if you are about to take a shot, then open your eyes. You should be lined up so that you have a perfect sight picture centered on the reticle. If you don't have a perfect sight picture, your rifle in not set up correctly for you. If you are too far forward, back, high, low, off to one side... make the proper adjustments to your scope, stock or whatever it takes.
