I have been doing a lot of reading about how bench shooters are able to get the consistently tiny groups out of their rifles,and then trying to use some of their techniques to help me out when I'm working with my own at the bench.The results have been eye opening and impressive.I have a fairly accurate 308 and was getting along ok with it most of the time.But,it did seem to have bad days and good days.After some thinking,I realized that the problem was me having bad days and good days.I think what really opened my eyes to this fact was when I was shooting a couple of 22's from the bench.I use a Caldwell Rock BR with a rear bench bag.As I watched through the scope,I began to see the crosshairs move first one way and then the other.It was really obvious on the rifle that had a bit of a stiff trigger.I was losing consistency because the rifle wasn't recoiling the same way every time.Because I wasn't holding it the same way every time.After some reading and learning I went out today with my 308 and put to work some of what I learned from the benchrest guys,and was impressed indeed.The first 5 shot group measured .325.Then a .406.Then it started getting dark,and I had to call it done,but that's quite an improvement over the .6's and .7's I was getting.Sometimes it got worse,usually because of one flier.We are very blessed to live in a time when there is so much good information out there.I guess when I quit learning how to shoot,it'll quit being so much fun.
The learning curve
- Thread starter WVRJ
- Start date
- Status
"After some reading and learning I went out today with my 308 and put to work some of what I learned from the benchrest guys,and was impressed indeed."
Care to share what helped you?
Care to share what helped you?
The biggest help was in how to position and snug the rest on the forend.I was locking the ears on the lobe bag way too tight and wasn't paying enough attention to how the rifle was settled into the rear bag.I also took note of the fact that they keep their cheek off the stock.All the above makes the rifle slide back more consistently under recoil.I keep my face off the stock but still keep some shoulder into it because a 308 does come back a bit harder than a 6PPC.Interestingly enough,there was no change of POI using this technique.They are also very much into working with the wind,something I seldom am able to do very good.It has helped me quite a bit,and it never hurts to get humbled once in a while.I can still hang in there pretty good prone with the bipod,but may be trying some things to make that better too.I have shot my 308 a lot,and it was only about a year ago that I settled on what I think is the best load.I shot too many shots that were in a way wasted because I kept making the same mistakes over and over.This rifle has taken me to a new level in my shooting since I bought it for me for Christmas in 2009.I have picked up different reloading techniques and shooting skills.That has bled over into how I load for and shoot all my other rifles.
- Status