Testing Accuracy of Handloads

[WrongHanded]

In another thread a member mentioned that they thought shooting from a rest to check load accuracy was obvious. It's been obvious to me that a stable position is highly beneficial, but I'm a little embarrassed to say that I don't know how to correctly shoot a handgun from a rest. I've tried bracing my support hand on the range bench and kneeling, but this has produced erratic groups that are usually larger than my standing groups. Clearly I have been doing something very wrong. So I just gave up trying to use the bench and have been testing my loads SA standing. (I'm not sure if the term "off-hand" applies for handguns, but clarification on that would be appreciated.)

So how should I be testing my handgun loads for accuracy?

 

[.308 Norma]

I've tried bracing my support hand on the range bench and kneeling, but this has produced erratic groups that are usually larger than my standing groups.

Yeah, that's not going to work because your handgun has already started to recoil before the bullet leaves the barrel. Besides that, if you're shooting a really hard kicking handgun and either of your hands is between the bottom of your handgun's stock and the shooting bench, it's going to hurt. I've pinched the flesh on the side of my support hand more times than I want to remember that way.
To answer your question though, I'm sure there are a lot of ways to check the accuracy of your handgun loads, but the way I do it is to sit on a stool and rest my forearms on a sandbag. The sandbag is placed on top of a sawhorse I haul down to the gravel pit (I seldom shoot at a actual shooting range).
Sometimes, if I forget the stool and sawhorse, I'll place the sandbag on the hood of my truck, stand, and again - rest my forearms on the sandbag.
If I've forgotten the sandbag too, I'll sit with my back against the one of my truck's wheels (or sometimes a tree if there's one available) and once again - rest my forearms between my raised knees.
Anyway, as you can see, the pattern here is I rest my forearms. I'm not saying my method is the only method, I'm not even saying it's the best method, but it works for me.

 

[WrongHanded]

Yeah, that's not going to work because your handgun has already started to recoil before the bullet leaves the barrel. Besides that, if you're shooting a really hard kicking handgun and either of your hands is between the bottom of your handgun's stock and the shooting bench, it's going to hurt. I've pinched the flesh on the side of my support hand more times than I want to remember that way.
To answer your question though, I'm sure there are a lot of ways to check the accuracy of your handgun loads, but the way I do it is to sit on a stool and rest my forearms on a sandbag. The sandbag is placed on top of a sawhorse I haul down to the gravel pit (I seldom shoot at a actual shooting range).
Sometimes, if I forget the stool and sawhorse, I'll place the sandbag on the hood of my truck, stand, and again - rest my forearms on the sandbag.
If I've forgotten the sandbag too, I'll sit with my back against the one of my truck's wheels (or sometimes a tree if there's one available) and once again - rest my forearms between my raised knees.
Anyway, as you can see, the pattern here is I rest my forearms. I'm not saying my method is the only method, I'm not even saying it's the best method, but it works for me.

Ah! Thank you! I have a couple sandbags and the range (indoor range) does have chairs available and benches in the lanes. So I will try this and see how it goes.

I've been content to just shoot my handloads whilst working up to max pressure these past couple months, and generally practice. But now I'm get towards those maximums and have a scale to work safely with, I'm at a point where I want to move forward on the accuracy search. This is very helpful!

 

[Sunray]

"...how to correctly shoot a handgun from a rest..." There's really no right or wrong way. It depends on what handgun you have mostly. Always found that resting the barrel on a sand bag works as well as anything. The bench matters too.
"...the term "off-hand" applies for handguns..." Yep. Standing on your hind legs unsupported. Just like with a rifle.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I always enjoy reading these type of threads just to see what other people do...especially when I've come to believe that everybody did it the same way. The way I learned to test was taught to me by a world class handgun shooter and top tier gunsmith who used it to check his work...interestingly many folks used to refer to him as the Human Machine Rest when he was shooting off-hand.

First to have to decide if you are trying to determine accuracy or precision...the techniques a slightly different. A classic precision test, smallest group, is to mount the gun in a Ransom Rest bolted to a shooting bench and use it to see how small a group your load could produce...there is even a correct technique for this. Lacking a Ransom Rest, here is a generally accepted technique:

1. Sitting behind a solid bench
2. Rest you wrists, assuming you are shooting using a two-handed grip, on a sandbag
3. Rest the frame of the handgun, usually the dust cover, on a higher stack of sandbags
4. The butt of the gun should not be in contact with the bench or sandbag
5. Align the sights and slowly press the trigger straight to the rear
6. Do not vary the speed of the press..don't stage the trigger
7. Keep increasing pressure until the shot breaks
8. Take a break between shots for some deep breaths
9. Do Not look at the group between shots...fire a minimum of 3 shots and a maximum of 5 shots into the group

 

[hdwhit]

WrongHanded wrote:
...shooting from a rest...

If you really want to eliminate the shooter as a factor in the accuracy of the ammunition, you need something like this.

http://ransomrest.com/

Anything less and your load's "accuracy" is entirely dependent on how closely you can consistently follow 9mmepiphany's nine rules.

 

[bullseye308]

I know my guns shoot better than me, so when I test for accuracy I shoot like I normally do, standing holding it with both hands. Mainly I shoot for my best accuracy every shot and also for the minuscule chance I may have to defend myself. If that happens knowing what it will do off a bench won't do me any good, I only need to know what it is capable of in my hands.

For me this is how I do it, and it is more "realistic" to me for what I practice. I don't shoot competition, and mainly shoot out on some flat land with no tables. Maybe I'll try shooting off a rest and see if I do any better.
BTW, my best group was 7 rounds in a hole .71" at 25'. Eye problems have kept me from shooting much farther.

 

[9mmepiphany]

If that happens knowing what it will do off a bench won't do me any good, I only need to know what it is capable of in my hands.

I understand the sentiment, but the OP is interested in comparing the difference between different loads.

A load that will allow more consistent placement between shots reduces the effect of operator error.

Taking my time to place shots, my goal is the place them within 1" at 25 yards. But for competition, I'm pretty happy keeping them inside 4" when shooting at speed

 

[jmorris]

What kind of handgun?

 

[WrongHanded]

What kind of handgun?

A GP100 with 6" barrel, and a Redhawk with 5.5" barrel.

 

[Captcurt]

"...how to correctly shoot a handgun from a rest..." There's really no right or wrong way. It depends on what handgun you have mostly. Always found that resting the barrel on a sand bag works as well as anything. The bench matters too.
"...the term "off-hand" applies for handguns..." Yep. Standing on your hind legs unsupported. Just like with a rifle.

I have a bag with a hole burned in it from shooting a revolver after resting the barrel on the bag. I forgot about the cylinder gap. I also demolished the camo netting in a new blind, but that is a another story.

 

[jmorris]

Reminds me of silhouette shooting with revolvers and protecting your pants.



I think you should try a few different methods and see what works best for you.

Some folks try and make the pistol contact as many solid objects as possible.



Some don't like the firearm to make contact with anything except them and support their body parts instead.



Some even mix the two.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Coldwell pictures are very amusing