Front rest placement

[conan32120]

Quick question for you serious shooters, where do you place your rifle on the front rest? I've experienced a lot of vertical stringing when I place it near the tip of the stock and I can't get a good steady hold when I place it back by the magazine. So I'm curious where yall like your support

 

[tominboise]

I put my hunting rifles where the front swivel stud is in front of the rest. The most stable platform would have the two supports (front rest and rear bag) as far apart as possible.
If your rifle barrel isn't free floated, that might be contributing to your vertical stringing. You might try putting a hand under the foreend, between the rifle and bag, and shooting a group or two to see what happens.

 

[patmccoy]

Make sure the fore-end is in the same place for every shot, and cannot touch the sling swivel during recoil.

 

[Nature Boy]

The front rest needs to work in coordination with your rear bag in order to achieve the stability needed to minimize the variation induced by your shooting mechanics. As a matter of fact, the rear bag could be contributing as much to your vertical stringing as your front rest.

I focus on setting up the front rest square and in line with the rear bag, and both square to the target. I’ll get behind the rifle and slide it fore and aft while looking through the scope to make sure it doesn’t come off target. My front rest has a little Delrin post as a reference to ensure I can return to battery after the shot and stay in the same position from shot to shot. This helps with managing recoil, which also has an impact on consistency of down range results

Repeatability is the goal. Once you get your set up dialed in you’ll start to see the difference down range.

 

[Chief TC]

Most of my rifles shoot best resting the stock on the bag between the floor plate and the fore-end. Usually too close to either end is not as balanced. If you have vertical stringing, make sure your action screws are tightened to your rifle's liking. My M1917 is very particular about this but it is probably because it needs proper upwards pressure near the muzzle.

 

[PWC]

Good question, but don't think competative shooting is the only "serious" shooting.

 

[jmorris]

I find it helps to video what is going on when you shoot, to figure out what a particular setup likes.

One shot zero

www.youtube.com

 

[nettlle]

All my rifles work best with the front rest as far forward on the stock as I can get it. The exception would be my M1A. It likes the rest as far to the rear as I can get it. Right up against the magazine.

 

[Nature Boy]

Good question, but don't think competative shooting is the only "serious" shooting.

I agree. Even when you’re competing against other people you’re really shooting against yourself