Re: Rifle Jump on Recoil
<span style="color: #FF0000">Are you setting the rifle up so it's natural point of aim is on the target, or are you adjusting the POA to your position?</span> If you don't build your position <span style="font-style: italic">around the NPA</span>, your rifle will have a tendency to want to move to where it's NPA actually is after the shot breaks.
<span style="color: #FF0000">Are you straight back behind the rifle?</span> If not, the recoil energy is not being fully absorbed by your body.
<span style="color: #FF0000">Is the butt tucked into your shoulder pocket well?</span> If not, the butt could be shifting around on your deltoid during the recoil pulse. Enveloping the butt in your shoulder pocket will really help maintain the NPA by giving your rifle something solid to recoil against and keeping the butt from sliding around under the force of the recoil.
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Are you relaxed on the rifle?</span> If you're tensed up on the rifle, it is likely that you could be redirecting some of the recoil energy rather than absorbing it.
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Are you following through after the shot breaks?</span> If you are not staying planted (read- cheek weld, grip, trigger pull all the way to the back of it's range of travel) then, again, you could be redirecting some the recoil or giving the gun room to deviate from POA.
<span style="color: #FF0000">How tight do you have your swivel cinched down?</span> I've seen guys shoot with loose and tight swivels. I don't think it's that big of a deal when you have your fundamentals down and build a solid position when you get behind the rifle. However, if you don't have a solid position, the rifle could be twisting due to wiggle room you are allotting it. The Chief out at the range I shoot at suggested that you want the swivel cinched down tight enough that you have to use a small amount of force to get the gun to pivot side to side and not so loose that the gun will rock back and forth with ease. I wrapped a patch around the knob and got a grip on it with my pliers and tightened it down just enough that it still pivot but will hold it's position when you find your desired spot.
Hope something helps ya. I know my .243 Rem 700 with a sporter barrel likes to move around a little when shot from a granite bench top, but when shooting prone in the grass, it's a non issue. I've seen LL's video on bipods not hopping many times and I concede that most of the time, it's problems in my execution that is causing the gun to move, but I think the barrel weight has to play a part in whether or not the gun hops on different surfaces. That being said, I wouldn't think that would be an issue for you shooting a 26" 700P.
Good luck.
