Controlling Muzzle Jump Question

[O.T. Powell]

Hi, I am new to shooting. I have a Howa m1500 30-06
With a 22" barrel and 1:10 twist. Ziess 3-9x40, Timney 1.5 lbs
Trigger, Marine Tex bedding job, and Factory hogue stock. I have 151 rounds through my barrel and I am becoming q better shooter everytime I go to the range. I been reading and readin trying to learn as much as I can to be as accurate as possible.. I would like to upgrade to a McMillan tac stock and add a hart barrel but I think that it's not really worth the money considering how accurate my gun already is. Well I was shooting at the range using my bipod and using my sling to pull the gun tight into my shoulder and to control muzzle jump. Well I got my best group I have ever gotten. 3 shots all touching and the 4th shot is about .25" away from the clover. Then
a guy at the range suggested not to use the sling. To relax and just let the muzzle jump. When I did that, my groups opened right up. What I've been reading Is that is you are shooting a bullet with a muzzle velocity of over 2000 fps then muzzle jump has no effect on the bullet. The cartridge that I am using has a muzzle velocity of 2850. So I'm kinda confused. My groups were awesome when I used my sling and pulled it tight to my shoulder. When I relax and let the muzzle jump, my groups opened right up. Only thing that I can think of, is maybe I felt more secure and not as afraid of recoil when I used the sling. Maybe when I don't use the sling I anticipate the recoil more and flinch. I am not sure and confused as to weather or not to try to control muzzle jump. I don't really care about quick target acquisition of my second shot. I want to learn consistancy and to be as accurate as possible.. I only have 100 yard range available to me right now. As soon as I find my hunters safety cert. I am going to join the gun club and learn to be accurate at 500 yards. So if anyone can gimme any tips as how to be the best proficient long range shooter it would be greatly appreciated. This is my first rifle and I quickly became addicted to rifles and long range shooting. I will soon post some pictures of my gun and groups that I'm shooting

 

[txhoghunter]

You might have actually flinched when you stopped using the sling just because it is something you weren't used to doing. However, I second the idea to not use your sling. Instead (guessing you are right handed), try to slide your left hand under the butt of the gun and rest your hand across your bicep.

 

[henschman]

Likely what happened was that with the sling pulling the rifle into your shoulder pocket, your NPOA didn't change between shots... whereas with the bipod only, and nothing keeping the rifle in your pocket, your NPOA was jumping all over the place because your barrel was bouncing up and coming back down in a slightly different place after every shot.

NPOA is natural point of aim, which is the direction the rifle wants to point when you are in a relaxed, muscle-neutral position. Good marksmanship is all about finding your NPOA and placing it on the target, so your rifle is aimed at the target without having to muscle it any.

When his rifle isn't on target, an amateur will use his muscles to pull his sights onto target rather than adjust his position so the rifle aims there without any muscle input. Any extra muscle input on your rifle will cause decreased accuracy, since muscles do not provide stable or consistent support. It doesn't take much muscle input at all to cause a major decrease in accuracy. Muscling will cause especially inconsistent groups when you are muscling in different amounts and directions for each shot, which is what happens when your NPOA is jumping around and you're not re-acquiring it and adjusting your position to put it back on target after every shot. So even if you didn't have your NPOA on target with the sling, at least you were muscling the same amount and direction on each shot, since the barrel was probably coming back down in the same place. That probably accounts for a lot of the difference in accuracy.

BTW, most people use either a sling or a bipod, but not both at the same time. They both have the same purpose... to minimize muscle input on your rifle, for increased stability and consistency. Yes, one of the problems with a bipod is that it does not actually pull the rifle into your shoulder pocket, like a sling. A sling is advantageous for rapid fire for this reason. Also, a sling can be used for support from any position, whereas a bipod can only be used when you have a relatively level surface close to your upper body level to rest it on. The advantage of a bipod is that it provides completely artificial support for the forend, with no input from muscles, nerves, pulse, or anything like that, which you have if you are using a sling wrapped around your support arm. It is a little bit of a trade-off.

Another poster already mentioned the method most folks use with a bipod to help keep the rifle in their pocket... since your non-trigger hand is not needed to support the rifle, use it to apply some steady rearward pressure on the bottom of the stock, keeping it in your shoulder. Yes, this adds muscle input, but it keeps you from losing your NPOA as badly after each shot.

Good marksmanship is all about fundamentals. The people who do the best job teaching the fundamentals are Project Appleseed -- www.appleseedinfo.org. They put on marksmanship clinics all over the country, and are an all-volunteer organization, so the costs are low ($70 for a weekend). It is the best value in marksmanship training you will find anywhere. They teach all sling-supported positions, which are great to know, but the fundamentals apply to a bipod supported position, or any other position. I definitely recommend you go to an Appleseed if you want to learn proper fundamentals before you pick up a bunch of bad habits, like I did when I first taught myself how to shoot!

 

[Art Eatman]

What all of the above is suggesting is summed up in the word "consistency". Having everything the same for all shots.

Position, tension, pressures, whatever: Same for each and every shot.

As a for-instance when I'm shooting from my benchrest: I tend to hold fairly loosely. I make sure the front sandbag is always at the same location on the forearm.

I snuggle around the stock the same way each time. Consistent pressure of the buttpad against my shoulder, whether loose or tight.

A useful thing is to have the rear sandbag setup such that I use my left hand to squeeze the bag for final sight alignment. I want the sight picture to be near-perfect with minimum input from me. Then, just a wee bit of a squeeze and I'm ready to do all that breathing stuff and shoot.

 

[txhoghunter]

A useful thing is to have the rear sandbag setup such that I use my left hand to squeeze the bag for final sight alignment

This is a great technique to use, and I use it when I have a sock and rice with me. It is tried and proven, even on the battlefield by the great snipers of our military. And heck, if it works for the finest marksmen in our military, there is definitely something to be said about it.

 

[O.T. Powell]

Thanx for all the great advice guys. I didn't know about the NPOA and positing your body around the gun. I will do that next time and post my results! Thanks again!

 

[Ruger GP100 fan]

Thank you much for your post,henschman. I've been shooting off of a BR stand and bag of sand under the stock,and sandbags under the rear,but I have been muscling it up til now thinking a steadier gun is best. But what you wrote suddenly makes sense to me and I can't wait to get to the range with it.