OzFclass

higginsdj wrote:Yesterday I rotated my body clockwise to put the butt further right on the shoulder (previously on the collar bone) and now the target recoils 2 targets to the right instead of 2 targets to the left (did have a couple of shots recoil straight up and down so I must be getting close).

Sounds like it, David.

david,
look at the packmayr d750b
it is made from decelerator material and absorbs recoil well.
you will not need the thickest one, but it can't be too thick.
if you are hard holding with a sling, a pad becomes less critical, but we do not do that. also shooting coats offer padding but who wants to wear one on a hot day.
don't worry where the rifle ends up after recoil. it is good if it ends up in roughly the same place but not critical.
much dry firing aiming at a mark will help you with follow through which is very important for consistency.
also dry firing in a dark situation will allow total focus on the trigger which is another way to get in touch with the gun.
keep safe,
bruce.

david,
just another thought.
rifle behaviour off a rest is not about hold, and hold should me minimal to achieve this. the bags do the holding.
even to the extent of resting your trigger hand on a bag if necessary.
this is where the term "tracking" comes in.
properly setting the rifle up in the bags allows it to "track" backwards the same way each time it recoils.
the widest forend (3") that is legal minimizes torque, but if you don't influence the gun much, it will torque the same each time.
1/3 of the weight of the gun in the rear bag and 2/3 in the front bag is worth striving for. this can be achieved with lead in the stock as well as barrel profiles.
the gun must be settled in the bags prior to the first shot, by first banging the butt into the rear bag, then tracking it backward and forward under pressure a few times, then dryfire a few times for a final settling. lubing the bags allows the gun to slip consistently.
most of the books about shooting are written by hard holders, because they are most of the shooters.
possibly one of the best books about shooting off bags is written by tony boyer. you will possibly find it by googling.
if you use a bipod instead of a front bag, just traeat it like a front bag. it won't track as well as a front bag, but don't worry where the rifle ends up after recoil, as long as you do worry about minimizing your influence on the rifle.
if you follow through consistently and well, the bullet is out of the barrel before the gun virtually moves. barrel harmonics and suchlike from firing pin fall onwards have the greatest effect on where the bullet potentially goes before wind and light effects kick in.
keep safe,
bruce.

Thanks Bruce,

I'll have a hunt around for those recoil pads, once I work out what size I need.

I pick up my rifles tomorrow (PTA's were due Good Friday) so will start dry firing and working out things like natural aim etc. Even though I have been using one of my rifles for the last 3 weeks, its' been the same as using a club rifle and I haven't had any time to get comfortable with it.

I did make all my scope adjustments in the right direction this weekend and managed to kept everything well inside the 5 ring at 500m but just managing 88% of the days top score but that could just be reading the Canberra wind but probably more technique at the moment....

Cheers

David