Proper shooting position/set-up... Help needed

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higginsdj
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Proper shooting position/set-up... Help needed

Post by higginsdj »

I'm a novice rifle shooter (but a reasonably experienced pistol shooter). I am shooting a 308 F/Class on Bipod (Right Handed). I have also shot the clubs 223 FClass on Bipod.

Every shot results in the rifle (308 or 223) recoiling up and to the left such that the rifle is pointing at the target directly to the left of mine.

Left hand/arm is under my chest and griping the rear bag. Right hand is cupped under the stock pulling it back into my body (ie I am not actually gripping the stock). Trigger finger is well placed and pulls directly backward.

My head position is somewhat 'random'. I twist and turn and adjust it to see clearly through the telescope so I obviously need to make adjustments to the scope position to suit a natural head position, BUT, I need to work on my prone position first because I think I am too prone (rifle butt recoil is hitting my collar bone more than my chest so I need to raise things up a bit).

I think I am achieving a reasonable result for my level of experience (55.0 and 56.2 at 300m, 53.2 at 600m and 49.1 at 900m in my 4 'goes at bat' to date) - if not, what should I be getting? Although this is fun, I am somewhat competitive :)

Cheers

David
Southcape
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Post by Southcape »

David, can you tell me how you lay behind the rifle.

Are you straight behind it
On an angle out to the left
knee up or straight legs?
Linda
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Post by AlanF »

bruce moulds
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Post by bruce moulds »

david,new guys like you are a breath of fresh air - welcome.
there are different theories regarding ideal position, and proponents of them all do well.
after trying several, i have evolved a version of david tubb's position.
he has books for sale if you google his name. these books also include issues like trigger control and wind management.
firstly i like to let the rests do the work, and not fire until the rests present as perfect a sight picture as my poor old eyes can see.
intent is to have as little contact with the rifle as possible, but enough to manage it. any contact must be consistent.
my torso is intended to be parralell with the barrel, left ankle of the left foot on the ground, left ankle of the right foot on the ground, left knee fairly straight, and right knee drawn up a bit to approx a 90 degree angle.
i prefer my rifle a little higher than most and here's why.
this shooting position is meant to elevate the heart/lungs above the ground a little, thus reducing the effect of heartbeat on a rifle being touched, even though minimally.
this has the added bonus of putting the recoil pad more in line with the shoulder than a lower position.
the left hand holding the rear bag, and the right hand on the pistol grip virtually forces the elbows to be where they have to be.
i should have added that i am right handed.
better shooters than me do it differently, and you will through trial and error find something that suits you in the end.
lots of dry firing will help you here.
good luck, and most of all,
have fun.
keep safe,
bruce.
"SUCH IS LIFE" Edward Kelly 11 nov 1880
http://youtu.be/YRaRCCZjdTM
higginsdj
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Post by higginsdj »

Southcape wrote:David, can you tell me how you lay behind the rifle.

Are you straight behind it
On an angle out to the left
knee up or straight legs?


Slightly off to the left (perhaps abount 15 degrees), both legs outstretched and wide appart

Cheers

David
higginsdj
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Post by higginsdj »

bruce moulds wrote:firstly i like to let the rests do the work, and not fire until the rests present as perfect a sight picture as my poor old eyes can see.
intent is to have as little contact with the rifle as possible, but enough to manage it. any contact must be consistent.


Hmm, I have a near death grip (not actual grip but pulling hard back into my body) on the rifle and I do know my head is pressed hard down on the stock as I keep having to remind myself to close my mouth lest the recoil hurt my jaw!

Cheers

David
Southcape
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Post by Southcape »

OK, you can start with only a couple of changes.

First change the rubber under the bipod. Second, you need to find a position that allows the rifle to remain on the target after firing. For each person, this is different. If the rifle is moving to the left, try moving your body a little to the left. If the rifle starts moving to the right, you have gone too far.

The position that works for me, is only slightly off to an angle, but the biggest difference came from feet position. I now shoot with both feet turned out like "duck feet", legs apart.

I am away from tomorrow for a couple of weeks. I'll check in on you when I get back.

Start with focusing on keeping the rifle on target. If possible start keeping plot sheets. Ask your scorer to plot for you, or plot yourself. Plot sheets are available on the SARA website.
From the results on plots sheets we can then look at rifle control, shoulder pressure and trigger control.
Linda
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Post by IanP »

Plot sheets I put together are available for free download here: http://fclassdu.com/origin/plot-sheets/

They are not available from the SARA website as a download but the SARA store does sell plot books.

Ian
higginsdj
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Post by higginsdj »

When you say move my body to the left do you mean rotate clockwise around the rifle or move the rifle butt further to the right?

I have 'ShotPlot' on my iPad that I use to keep a record of my shots but it's too bright on the shooting line to use it there so I have laminated some A4 size plot sheets and use a thin whiteboard marker to record my shots as they occur then just transfer it to Shotplot later.

My last 600m stage had 2 fliers (one off to the right in the 4, one low and right in the 4) but the general group indiated low and right (5 and 6's). The first stage had 3 fliers way off to the left (3's) at the correct height. My 300m shots with the 223 showed good height for all shots but spread horizontally 5 left to 5 right) At 900m with the 308 my fliers were high and low (2 up in the 4 and 1 low in the 4). Note that I am only calling anything out of the 5 as a flier since I assume that that is the limit of my current ability.

I am assuming that because I used a different rifle in each case that consistancy cannot be guaged as yet!

Cheers

David
bruce moulds
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Post by bruce moulds »

david,
don't rule out fliers left and right being windreading, and vert being ammo or barrel condition, wear or fouling.
if your gun is properly rested, and you are not trying to steer it, it is amazing how forgiving a properly tuned gun/load is to minor variations in hold.
you need to find an accuracy node with your ammo, or make one with a tuner, and you also need a velocity standard deviation for 20 shots less than 10 fps.
keep safe,
bruce.
"SUCH IS LIFE" Edward Kelly 11 nov 1880
http://youtu.be/YRaRCCZjdTM
higginsdj
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Post by higginsdj »

Barrel tuning, thats someting else I will have to learn......
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