"Dry Fire" Practice for Recoil Management

[DocRDS]

Welp me rifle is still bouncing like a rubber ball so obviously I need new equipment /sarcasm

Anyway, while I can practice things like trigger press, bolt manipulation during dry fire--is there any specific exercises to try to help your recoil management skills? I've done my search and I think my big thing is to relax (RELAX--THATS WHY I'M SHOOTING I'M TRYING TO RELAX) but are there any drills to practice during the week?

 

[Emerson0311]

From what positions? I find it difficult to get squared up vertically and horizontally behind a rifle on the bench. It’s probably about loading the rifle into my shoulder against the bipod or whatever it’s resting on. I’m much better at keeping the recoil straight back resting on a bag in front of the mag at whatever height. When the rifle goes L,R, Up, Down and doesn’t return close to my target it’s because I’ve not squared my position properly from my feet on up. Maybe not much help I guess.

 

[DocRDS]

No worries--I am shooting at a bench with a "center" cutout, so I am able to get square behind the rifle but it is tough to load as that bipod is waay out on the edge. I was trying to do a ladder test yesterday and it was FUBAR (one of those days--unrelated to this). However, I know when I am shooting my "lighter recoil" rifles (308 and 6.5 Creed) I still get rifle "jump" (I am an MOA shooter even with that)--yesterday was 300 Win Mag so is was very much magnified (and it was not MOA! yikes!). Because it was a FUBAR session, I was trying to just "shoot well" and sometimes I could end up with my cross hair within 2 mils after recoil.

Other times I was off the target completely. Rather than "Waste" ammo, my thought was practice practice practice, so the question becomes how to practice recoil management without recoil. My initial theory as to my problem is I am tense. I have a death grip--am a big fella so naturally reflect a lot of recoil into the rifle--I am betting I have to RELAX that shoulder (and possibly get the stock up higher)

 

[Emerson0311]

I find free recoil only works when my position is perfect and is only best when I’m on a wobbly rest with a heavy rifle shooting light loads. Think 17# 22LR. Even with that rifle, a position that restricts the rifle movement gives me a better group. Maybe I’m doing it wrong, but the bigger the boom, the more I need to build my position like jujitsu, leave no room for that rifle to go much of anywhere. I’ve watched national class bench rest shooters do free recoil and they are impressive, but it hasn’t worked for me.

 

[Steel head]

I find free recoil only works when my position is perfect and is only best when I’m on a wobbly rest with a heavy rifle shooting light loads. Think 17# 22LR. Even with that rifle, a position that restricts the rifle movement gives me a better group. Maybe I’m doing it wrong, but the bigger the boom, the more I need to build my position like jujitsu, leave no room for that rifle to go much of anywhere. I’ve watched national class bench rest shooters do free recoil and they are impressive, but it hasn’t worked for me.

Free recoil needs a front and rear rest and even the rifle designed for it.
Not something I’d mess with with standard equipment.

You may want to look at the online course here.
Franks videos helped me a lot years ago when I was getting interested in long range.

There’s some good information on YT but a lot is teasers as there doing instruction for $$$

When you get it right you can do it one handed even.

 

[one shot ST]

A video of my dry fire, I’m good with it, shooting position, standing, rifle on a tripod with bag on the balance point

 

[DocRDS]

A video of my dry fire, I’m good with it, shooting position, standing, rifle on a tripod with bag on the balance point

So what are you doing to practice managing recoil. (Not trying to troll--I'd like to know and need help)

 

[one shot ST]

So what are you doing to practice managing recoil. (Not trying to troll--I'd like to know and need help)

Several repetitions, about 500 a day, and using a mantis X I can check the path of my movements

 

[Hickswr]

If I square up behind the rifle the crosshairs jump left at recoil. If I slide my body off to the left side enough, the rifle only rises during recoil. I’ve tried and tried to shoot “square” to the target but if just doesn’t work for me, especially with a bipod from modified prone.

 

[JustSendit]

I think the best way you practice reducing recoil during dry fire is building the optimal position. There’s so many good guides out there on positional shooting - find a reputable source and follow that. I would even record your practice and that can really tell you a lot. Being square, having the non firing hand in the right position and training with the right magnification for your application are some good practices to do dry for recoil management.

For that heavier recoiling setup, you need that practice on the appropriate magnification. When I go 308, on positional stages I find my dial sits at ~10-15, that’s max, it sucks because targets are getting smaller and smaller but if I’m magged in I won’t catch splash. Even with what I think are good fundamentals, a 19lbs gun, and 3 port brake. 175smks still gonna do some kicking.

My one piece of advice on positional shooting, don’t “load” into anything (rifle or barricade). The buttstock ought to rest on your clavicle, with light pressure. The more you shoulder the rifle the more recoil you will observe.

With your heavier recoiling rifles getting square is absolutely beneficial. The 6mms “can” get away with poor positioning but it’s still the right answer to be square and you will notice the best PRS guys are always getting that optimal position. In my opinion Allison Zane is one of the best fundamental positional shooters I’ve seen. Lots of good ones but she really has it down.

This may not apply to you but just something I’ve observed: A couple of reasons shooters do not get square behind the rifle: 1 the length of pull is too long. It’s good for prone shooting but once you’re moving around that LOP typically needs to be taken in depending on your dimensions. 2 shooters are trying to reach their non firing hand too far forward with their non shooting hand. This blades their position. Sometimes moving the non firing hand touch point back allows the shooters body to become square.