Better groups without a benchrest ?

[kyron4]

I was shooting my Rossi single shot in .44 mag. and wasn't real impressed with my groups off a sand bag rest off the bench. Took some shots off my shooting sticks and from a one knee down stance and had much tighter groups. Could it be I'm holding the forend where as off the bench I'm not ? Or is this all in my head ? -Thanks

 

[helotaxi]

The Rossi singles, like the NEF Handis, are not easy to get to group off the bench. There are a ton of different techniques for improving them in that regard. I wouldn't worry too much about it, personally. First shot from a cold bore to point of aim would be my sole concern with a single shot.

 

[kyron4]

I thought it might be that, as I never had that problem with any other rifle.

 

[ArtP]

I know you said "tighter groups", but I'm wondering if your measure of accuracy is distance from point of aim, or the spread of the group regardless of where it impacts the target?

I can't imagine your hand/arm is more steady than a sandbag.

I can see how you might get a POA shift off a sandbag as recoil off the firmer sandbag would cause the muzzle of the rifle to start to move, or bounce, off the sandbag before the bullet completely exits the barrel vs. your hand absorbing some of that movement.

 

[rcmodel]

Could it be I'm holding the forend where as off the bench I'm not ?

Yes.

Light guns with relatively slow bullets like that need downward pressure to get best accuracy.

An example is a 30-30 or .44 Mag lever-action carbine.
Without holding them down on the bench & just letting them jump, they will group quite a bit higher & not as well.

Try holding it down off the bench and you will get even better groups then you did offhand.

rc

 

[kyron4]

POA was about the same and size was a real big difference got around 2 1/2" 3 shot group at 75 yds. off bench and 1 1/2" off shooting sticks. 3 groups fired each way. Good either way just thought it was odd.

 

[ArtP]

If you're only using a couple groups as a sample size, you might want to try more, then average your results.

 

[Ramone]

how steady is the bench?

Seriously- I know a few ranges where the benches are just sad.

Also, in general, the first rule of marksmanship is LOVE THE DIRT. Lower is better.

And despite the fact that *everyone knows* that the rifle doesn't recoil until the bullet is out of the barrel, it's not *really* true- even the hammer falling jostles the rifle a bit- hold it firmly.

 

[wingman]

The break open action rifles are at times a mystery,with my NEF it requires the sandbag to be against the front of trigger guard if not groups are pretty much like a shotgun pattern.