Usually I practice proper BR form. I pull the butt of the stock in not too tight, but not too loose. Just snug into my shoulder. However, lately I have been allowing it to recoil back more than usual (granted it's only a rimfire), and have found that it is actually a little more accurate. Do you guys practice this at all too? How much do you guys allow, and have you found any increase in accuracy too? I'm using a Harris bipod and rear bag if that helps any.
Allowing Recoil
- Thread starter SmallBoreSnipers
- Start date
Re: Allowing Recoil
tried it a few times, seems like it's more or less putting less torque on the rig, or at the very least help alieviating any follow through issues as it's mostly "free standing"
then i stopped, cause when i swap back to centerfire, i don't want to have a busted nose or brow, by getting too comfortable shooting that way.
tried it a few times, seems like it's more or less putting less torque on the rig, or at the very least help alieviating any follow through issues as it's mostly "free standing"
then i stopped, cause when i swap back to centerfire, i don't want to have a busted nose or brow, by getting too comfortable shooting that way.
Re: Allowing Recoil
Yes, but only with my BR equipment. Not touching the gun doing the first portion of recoils allows the bullet to exist before the human interface affects the gun (thus the bullet). Your gun must ride the bags well for this to work the fullest.
As Top Predator said, you must do it correctly or it could be become uncomfortable.
If you want the extreme, try it. But its not for everyone or every situation.
Yes, but only with my BR equipment. Not touching the gun doing the first portion of recoils allows the bullet to exist before the human interface affects the gun (thus the bullet). Your gun must ride the bags well for this to work the fullest.
As Top Predator said, you must do it correctly or it could be become uncomfortable.
If you want the extreme, try it. But its not for everyone or every situation.
Re: Allowing Recoil
I guess I'll play with it a little more and see how it goes. I am considering getting a tripod front rest (you probably see my other post about it), but it want to see if I can get as good accuracy myself first.
I guess I'll play with it a little more and see how it goes. I am considering getting a tripod front rest (you probably see my other post about it), but it want to see if I can get as good accuracy myself first.
Re: Allowing Recoil
As I am reading more about this, I found that this is called "free recoil" style. Which is pretty much exactly what I was doing. Just wondering how many others shoot free recoil and how they like it.
As I am reading more about this, I found that this is called "free recoil" style. Which is pretty much exactly what I was doing. Just wondering how many others shoot free recoil and how they like it.
Re: Allowing Recoil
My .308 hates free recoil... my 10/22 loves it. I stopped allowing the 10/22 to jump on its own exactly due to the reason TP mentioned. It isn't a "trainer" if you don't shoot it the same!
The 40X I just got acts just like the .308... loving that gun!
My .308 hates free recoil... my 10/22 loves it. I stopped allowing the 10/22 to jump on its own exactly due to the reason TP mentioned. It isn't a "trainer" if you don't shoot it the same!
The 40X I just got acts just like the .308... loving that gun!
Re: Allowing Recoil
This is the best 5 round group I have ever shot at 100 yards by far. They're usually right around an inch or just under. I held the foream of the rifle gently with my fingers to keep it from jumping or moving from side to side. Instead of pulling back into my shoulder, I remember I was actually leaning into the butt unstil my skin just touched it lightly. I fired and allowed the rifle to fully recoil. The forearm just sliding a tiny bit back through my fingers. At the time I just did what was working best. But when I read about it now, I was shooting text book free recoil.
This is the best 5 round group I have ever shot at 100 yards by far. They're usually right around an inch or just under. I held the foream of the rifle gently with my fingers to keep it from jumping or moving from side to side. Instead of pulling back into my shoulder, I remember I was actually leaning into the butt unstil my skin just touched it lightly. I fired and allowed the rifle to fully recoil. The forearm just sliding a tiny bit back through my fingers. At the time I just did what was working best. But when I read about it now, I was shooting text book free recoil.
Re: Allowing Recoil
Wow, I never even gave this a moments thought. I rarely shoot my 10/22 BR due to the high capacity mag, but times where I have used the factory mag, I have done the "free recoil" style. I guess the reason why it works is because you are a lot more relaxed and are able to fine tune your aim a lot easier than if you were to have it pressed against your shoulder. Also shot my Daisy Legacy the same way and got the same results.
Wow, I never even gave this a moments thought. I rarely shoot my 10/22 BR due to the high capacity mag, but times where I have used the factory mag, I have done the "free recoil" style. I guess the reason why it works is because you are a lot more relaxed and are able to fine tune your aim a lot easier than if you were to have it pressed against your shoulder. Also shot my Daisy Legacy the same way and got the same results.
Re: Allowing Recoil
Well the reason I asked about it is because I was looking into a heavy tripod front rest. The one thing they all advertise is that since you never hold the rifle exactly the same way every time, it gets rid of the human error.
The rest holds the forearm of the stock so that it doesn't jump or move from side to side, and you use a rear bag that you allow the rifle to recoil on.
The hold that I was using for those shots pictured, combined with allowing the rifle to recoil, was basically the same thing as the tripods do for you, which is why I got that sort of accuracy.
Like explorer said, allowing it to recoil lets the bullet escape from the barrel before any human error (your hold on the stock).
I have read that firing free recoil is best at 100 to 200 yards (as you can see I was at 100). Also it is best with smaller calibers. I read that centerfires will not react as well due to the amount of strength you have to use just to fire the rifle.
I tried it out at 50 yards tonight. Like I read, it was not as good as 100. It was pretty inconsistant. I did manage to squeeze one 5 round group that measured .31". My average at 50 is .35" - .45".
Well the reason I asked about it is because I was looking into a heavy tripod front rest. The one thing they all advertise is that since you never hold the rifle exactly the same way every time, it gets rid of the human error.
The rest holds the forearm of the stock so that it doesn't jump or move from side to side, and you use a rear bag that you allow the rifle to recoil on.
The hold that I was using for those shots pictured, combined with allowing the rifle to recoil, was basically the same thing as the tripods do for you, which is why I got that sort of accuracy.
Like explorer said, allowing it to recoil lets the bullet escape from the barrel before any human error (your hold on the stock).
I have read that firing free recoil is best at 100 to 200 yards (as you can see I was at 100). Also it is best with smaller calibers. I read that centerfires will not react as well due to the amount of strength you have to use just to fire the rifle.
I tried it out at 50 yards tonight. Like I read, it was not as good as 100. It was pretty inconsistant. I did manage to squeeze one 5 round group that measured .31". My average at 50 is .35" - .45".
Re: Allowing Recoil
I load the bipod & have worked very hard trying to develop just the right amount of pressure on the butt. It feels the same with the .22, .223 or the .308. Like SmallBore, I have been kickin' the front rest idea around for a few weeks, but not for the same reason. I want one to use as a more stable platform when sighting in or doing load development. The thought of free recoil had not entered my feeble little mind untill now.
Now I have two reasons to buy one of those rests. Damnit!
I think Midway or sombody has one on sale this month.
I load the bipod & have worked very hard trying to develop just the right amount of pressure on the butt. It feels the same with the .22, .223 or the .308. Like SmallBore, I have been kickin' the front rest idea around for a few weeks, but not for the same reason. I want one to use as a more stable platform when sighting in or doing load development. The thought of free recoil had not entered my feeble little mind untill now.
Now I have two reasons to buy one of those rests. Damnit!
I think Midway or sombody has one on sale this month.
Re: Allowing Recoil
Take a look at this link. This information should help you. http://6mmbr.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=1495762&highlight=free+recoil
Take a look at this link. This information should help you. http://6mmbr.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=1495762&highlight=free+recoil
Re: Allowing Recoil
The free recoil method does not work as well with a bipod. You are better off with a front rest coupled with a rear bag. In a rimfire, you can get away with it because the recoil is so light that you might not experience bipod "jump." In a centerfire, your bipod will most likely "jump" and inconsistently.
I go ahead and use a loaded bipod when shooting rimfire to try to replicate my centerfire shooting.
As to free recoil not being effective for centerfire, it is what almost all benchrest shooters do at the shorter ranges.
I can't find it anymore, but there was a youtube video of a guy shooting a 6BR free recoil style and it was amazing to watch how quickly he was able to get off 5 shots. The gun slides into his shoulder, he moves it back, slips another cartridge into the chamber and repeats... about 3 seconds between each shot.
Varmint Al has a pretty good page introducing benchrest shooting. He actually puts talcum powder on the front and rear bags to helps the rifle to glide consistently. A lot of thought goes into keeping everything consistent from shot to shot. With true free recoil, you don't even have a cheek weld. The only part of the gun you touch during firing is the trigger. It is pretty wild... completely different from tactical and otherwise field-practical type shooting.
The free recoil method does not work as well with a bipod. You are better off with a front rest coupled with a rear bag. In a rimfire, you can get away with it because the recoil is so light that you might not experience bipod "jump." In a centerfire, your bipod will most likely "jump" and inconsistently.
I go ahead and use a loaded bipod when shooting rimfire to try to replicate my centerfire shooting.
As to free recoil not being effective for centerfire, it is what almost all benchrest shooters do at the shorter ranges.
I can't find it anymore, but there was a youtube video of a guy shooting a 6BR free recoil style and it was amazing to watch how quickly he was able to get off 5 shots. The gun slides into his shoulder, he moves it back, slips another cartridge into the chamber and repeats... about 3 seconds between each shot.
Varmint Al has a pretty good page introducing benchrest shooting. He actually puts talcum powder on the front and rear bags to helps the rifle to glide consistently. A lot of thought goes into keeping everything consistent from shot to shot. With true free recoil, you don't even have a cheek weld. The only part of the gun you touch during firing is the trigger. It is pretty wild... completely different from tactical and otherwise field-practical type shooting.
Re: Allowing Recoil
OK i shoot some free recoil and even F Class with my 7mm Rem SAUM and 175gr MatchKings with 67gr of Retumbo in it the rifle is 20 pounds including the 2 mercury recoil reducers in the but. This is how it shoots the tightest in 6mm Dasher and 7mm rem SAUM i have 2 bolts before anyone asks. I also have a 308 barrel for it and it shoots the tightest with light cheek pressure and my shoulder just touching the but. if you are shooting pure free recoil you have to have a trigger under 4oz and you do not touch any part of the rifle at all your cheek is away from the but and the only place you have any pressure is the front of the trigger with your trigger finger. to do this you must have a perfectly set up rifle and sand bags with a benchrest pedistall rest also setup perfectly. another way if you have a heavier trigger is to place your thumb behine the grip and your trigger finger on the trigger and squeze them together if you hold the rifle anywhere or touch your shoulder to it you are not free recoiling the rifle.
Hope this helps some rifles love free recoil others hate it but the biggest thing i have fouind is if you use heavy cheek pressure and a rear sand bag you will enduce jump into the rifle and it will lift the rifle from the front bag. and if you have your shoulder into the rifle like a brick wall the only way for the rifle to move is to lift the muzzle so you must have some movement in your shoulder under recoil to shoo the best groups. Positional shooting is totaly diferent but the main thing to shooting small groups is to do everything exactly the same every time you pull the trigger and remove the human error.
OK i shoot some free recoil and even F Class with my 7mm Rem SAUM and 175gr MatchKings with 67gr of Retumbo in it the rifle is 20 pounds including the 2 mercury recoil reducers in the but. This is how it shoots the tightest in 6mm Dasher and 7mm rem SAUM i have 2 bolts before anyone asks. I also have a 308 barrel for it and it shoots the tightest with light cheek pressure and my shoulder just touching the but. if you are shooting pure free recoil you have to have a trigger under 4oz and you do not touch any part of the rifle at all your cheek is away from the but and the only place you have any pressure is the front of the trigger with your trigger finger. to do this you must have a perfectly set up rifle and sand bags with a benchrest pedistall rest also setup perfectly. another way if you have a heavier trigger is to place your thumb behine the grip and your trigger finger on the trigger and squeze them together if you hold the rifle anywhere or touch your shoulder to it you are not free recoiling the rifle.
Hope this helps some rifles love free recoil others hate it but the biggest thing i have fouind is if you use heavy cheek pressure and a rear sand bag you will enduce jump into the rifle and it will lift the rifle from the front bag. and if you have your shoulder into the rifle like a brick wall the only way for the rifle to move is to lift the muzzle so you must have some movement in your shoulder under recoil to shoo the best groups. Positional shooting is totaly diferent but the main thing to shooting small groups is to do everything exactly the same every time you pull the trigger and remove the human error.
Re: Allowing Recoil
As for using a bipod you can free recoil it on the rimfire as the recoil is so small.
As for using a bipod you can free recoil it on the rimfire as the recoil is so small.
