Need help!

[45R]

When shooting on the Bench using the 20X magnification how does one deal with their heartbeat. What is the proper way to shoot. With each beat.. beat the crosshairs go up and down......

Is it all in the timing or is there a technique that I can use when I have the cross hairs zoomed at 20Xs

Any advice would be great!

TIA


45R

 

[RandyB]

try using sandbags. place under the barrel, and one near the butt of the rifle. I also use a "wrapped" arm, taking my right hand(i'm a lefty) under the gun and using it to pull my left arm into the stock. Also I found I need to cut out coffee/sodas for the day, if I'm gonna shoot my best.

 

[hps1]

You think it's bad off the bench............

give prone position shooting a try using a sling. Smallbore competition shooters do all sorts of things such as using slings w/wide cuffs, padded shooting jackets, etc. to try to dampen pulse but probably most effective is to try to time the trigger break in between heartbeats.

Sounds as if you may be pulling rifle in pretty tight to be able to notice pulse from sandbags. Unless you are shooting a magnum with very heavy recoil, you might try letting the rifle rest on the bags and gently pull into your shoulder with your right (trigger) hand and see if this reduces the visible pulse induced movement.

Couple of other things you can do is cut caffein intake, especially on range days, also the better condition you are in, the slower the heart rate, giving more time in which to break trigger. Wish there was a short, easy answer, but..........

Didn't know it was a problem 'til ya put the 20X on but that really shows you what caused that last "flier", doesn't it. It will also show you the mirage and it's "benefits" when shooting HP long range w/scope @ 20X, or, for that matter smallbore @ 100 yds.

Regards,
hps

 

[hps1]

try using sandbags. place under the barrel

I'm sure Randy meant under the forend. Resting the rifle barrel on sandbags will cause eratic barrel vibrations and adversly affect accuracy.

Regards,
hps

 

[RandyB]

quote:
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try using sandbags. place under the barrel
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I'm sure Randy meant under the forend. Resting the rifle barrel on sandbags will cause eratic barrel vibrations and adversly affect accuracy.

Regards,
hps


__________________
Yep. Sorry 'bout that. This Tues. feels like a Monday and I need more coffee. :banghead: Thanks for the correction!

 

[9mmepiphany]

part of the trick is relaxing to the point where your heartrate slows down and you can shoot betwen beats......i'm only partly kidding.

you do end up learning to shoot in rythm with your body

 

[JohnBT]

Try propping the gun up on the bags and shooting it without touching anything but the trigger - or maybe try squeezing the trigger with your thumb on the back of the triggerguard.

No hands, no cheek, no shoulder - it's called free recoil. After you try it you'll know why bench rest stocks are flat on the bottom and the rear bags have ears on them.

For shooting off plain sandbags, try slowing your pulse rate with slow even breaths and calm thoughts and then shoot between beats.

John

 

[Steve Smith]

Stop shooting off a bench.




(sorry, ducking now!)

 

[hps1]

Steve:

You're a troublemaker.

Randy:
I knew that's what you meant. Your description of left hand positioning was much better than my feeble attempt. Only thing worse than a Monday is a Tuesday after a 3 day weekend.

Regards,
hps

 

[AJ Dual]

The advice to calm down is good. Lower your heart rate.

No caffine or stimulants before shooting. Some decongestant allergy/cold pills can cause your heart to race as well. No sugary snacks either, but do eat something filling so you aren't shaky with hunger.

Also try a target shooting jacket, very thick with tight straps and it helps isolate the rifle from body tremors. The guys realllllllly into highpower and DCM matches wear them.

Brownells or somebody ought to have them.

 

[Steve Smith]

Coat might not help...Benchrest guys don't wear them. Of course, they barely touch their rifles too.


Bogie?

 

[bogie]

Yup. Most BR shooters rest the rifle (3" wide flat foreend) on the front rest and the rear bag, and then gently touch the 1.5 ounce trigger. And yeah, with practice, a 2 ounce trigger seems heavy. The 10.5 pound rifle (including scope) then rocks back the half-inch or so into your shoulder. Yeah, it's recoil. So? You aim by either dialing the front rest, or squeezing the rear bag.