How important is rifle balance point?

[Jakeonthekob]

I was just thinking about rifles and the question came up. So how does rifle balance point affect shooting and recoil? For example, if there are three very similar rifles, one with a balance point out past the mag well, another right at the mag well, and another closer to the trigger how would that affect recoil and fulcrum effects?

Just some thoughts. TIA

 

[hereinaz]

Depends on where the rifle is making contact with front and rear support I think. Energy always leaks out, so a lighter spot would in my kind have the least inertia and so be quicker to move. A well balanced gun won't have any tendency to run one way or the other and be easier to manage recoil.

 

[Jakeonthekob]

Right good point. I was wondering if having rifles with big heavy barrels with more forward POB will have a tendency to rise less. I guess the support is very important to consider as well.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Personal preference.

Some like a center/neutral balance point where you can set the rifle down and walk away from it.

Others like a rear heavy balance so they balance it out with their off hand.

I rarely see anyone who likes a forward heavy rifle as it’s much harder balance out.

That’s why you are seeing weight systems on the chassis become popular. Was already possible with no taper barrels. But not many people want the weight way out front.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Also, rifles recoil straight back. So weight is weight for the most part.

If anyone is having issues with rifle “hop” it’s their fundamentals and not where weight is or isn’t on the rifle.

 

[Jakeonthekob]

That's true. Thanks for the input Dthomas!

 

[Diver160651]

I love a super heavy front balance so that when you put a bag under the rear it almost flips over... The operative word is "you" if you're shooting agains me..

 

[tree man]

I love a super heavy front balance so that when you put a bag under the rear it almost flips over... The operative word is "you" if you're shooting agains me..

?

 

[hlee]

I guess I’d say I’d like a rifle to balance at the point where I’d be using a single point support. Shooting from a gate/fence/prs barricade/tank trap/etc, I’m most likely to use a single bag right in front of the mag well. That’s where I want the rifle to balance.

 

[XLR308]

I try and have a balance point just in front of the mag well or neutral balance.
It seems to be the best compromise for me especially when shooting in odd positions there is the least amount of wrestling with the rifle to steady it.
It's also were your support hand is when shooting with a sling or off hand.

 

[Jakeonthekob]

Ok interesting guys. Thanks for the input!

 

[natdscott]

Is this discussion to be limited to prone only?

Eta: nevermind. I do reading.

 

[Jakeonthekob]

No, I am interested to hear any input. I mostly shoot prone or off a bench, but other positional shooting experience can only benefit others.

 

[lte82]

I run mine at neutral to slightly rear heavy, but made an arca attached scuba weight to experiment with moving the balance point. What I've found is that if you free recoil, front heavy definitely reduces muzzle flip. If you shoulder it, it's not as important and neutral to slightly rear heavy will work fine.

 

[TorF]

For off hand/unsupported shooting it is best to have the balance point as far forward as possible.

 

[natdscott]

For off hand/unsupported shooting it is best to have the balance point as far forward as possible.

I disagree, as do the majority of successful offhand specialists.

A rifle whose muzzle is that heavy SEEMS like a good idea. Indeed, all that inertia out front can slow the vibrations of a really hard holder (like...indoors).

The trouble is twofold.

First, most of us don't shoot in an ideal offhand condition every day. Bad wind and firing position issues can both require the shooter to literally DRIVE the muzzle to the middle of target, and the shooter breaks the shot at that brief moment with a good sight picture (not great...just good).

When you are trying to drive the rifle, an overly heavy muzzle (or just a 17 lb rifle in general) is extremely hard to control. That very inertia I was just talking about is now moving against you, and requires a lot more effort to slow it down and reverse direction.

The other problem is in grip and position. UNLESS you have a butthook, too much weight toward thd muzzle requires a lot of grip and downward pull on the pistol grip to keep the muzzle up. This leads to poor position consistency, and the gripping reduces finger sensitivity, while INCREASING tendon friction in your hand...more tension = larger sympathetic motion when you yank that bang switch.

Short version: keep the muzzle weight down if you mean to shoot offhand without a hooked plate. If you want to have a truck axle out front, then weight the rear.

...or just get okay with mostly hating offhand.

 

[TorF]

Well, it depends on what level of off hand shooting we are talking about. This 11ibs Walther rimfire in the picture is the actual winning rifle in the 1988 Olympic moving target event:

This picture is from Scandinavian Field Target. All stages are shot off hand:

 

[Rust]

Depends. I shoot F/TR style which means a bipod. I run a long heavy barrel and that puts the weight a bit forward and run the bipod (the rifles have rails) nearly all the way forward which puts more weight back on the rear bag. On the other hand for a field rifle a balance point at or just in front of the magazine is my preference.

 

[Jakeonthekob]

Cool, thanks for the input guys! It's good to hear from people with more experience than myself.