What are considerations of a rifle's balance?

[Frgood]

It has been a while since I've brought up thoughts on shooting as I seem to easily get sucked up into the political quipping.

This is not a troubleshooting question. I'm trying to understand my rifles better as I a a beginner at long range shooting.
This is what I have, a stock Tikka T3 A1 - 6.5 Crd. with a Bushnell Bushnell XRS II 4.5-30x50 Riflescope. I also have taken a Bergara B14 and mounted onto an MPA chassis with a Zeiss V4 scope (earlier threads on that topic exist with a great result).

What I have noticed is that both setups weigh the same at 11.5 lbs. However, the Tikka seems to have a more solid feel and I reach out to 980 yds. without any issue. I have developed strong confidence in the rifle and use it to practice, and learn, wind reading and similar skills.
In contrast, the B14 setup finds things a little more finicky. Perhaps, touchy, is a better word. It is less forgiving and I am required to really focus on my fundamentals if I am to be consistent.

A couple things I have noticed, (1) the MPA chassis is still not adjusted quite right. After several outings, I continue to get the rifle settled into my shoulder pocket comfortably. I'm just not laying into it comfortably. Also the stock feels heavier than the Tikka. This means that any body movement seems to translate to my sight picture.

The Tikka feels heaviest at the chamber. I settle into it and my sight picture really settles down and locks-in once my cheek is fully resting.

I have heard a few who have added weight to the front of their rifles, but am unsure as to the reason. When shooting prone with a bipod does the weight fore, mid, or aft have any significant impact on ease of use?

Just trying to understand the dynamics, if there are any.

 

[1moaoff]

Rifle balance is really for positional shooting.

A rifle that is heavier towards the muzzle will typically have less muzzle rise all other things being equal.

Where weight is located to me on a bench gun is less important. But if I chose it would be towards muzzle.

Stockor chassis fit is very personal and can make a huge difference. I adapted to aluminum chassis very quickly others cant make the change it just doesn't feel right.

 

[Dthomas3523]

For prone, doesn’t matter much.

Positionally, most people will want a balance point 3-4” from the magwel. People used to balance them right at the magwell.

But with the bags we use, that actually makes the rifle butt heavy because of the dynamics of the bag (just in front of magwell is forced to the back of the bag). 3-4” ahead is where the rifle actually sits on the center of the bag.

 

[Frgood]

So it sounds like something else might account for the differences in the usage two rifles. Perhaps more in the intended purpose.
I was thinking one would be used more for F-class, and the other I could practice to get into prs.
Sounds like the Tikka would be better served in an F-class match and the Bergera for prs.
Although, the Bushnell scope has ruined the Zeiss for me.

 

[b6graham]

the barrel on my PRS gun almost weighs as much as your whole rifle doees haha

but yeah 3-4" in front of the magwell means itll sit well on a bag. for prone its eh

 

[Frgood]

Ah, So I was able to do a quick look this morning. The MPA mounted Bergara is clearly a smidge lighter and the balance point is mid magwell.

More noticeable, though, was the feel with the Bipod mounting position. I think while I consider getting the Arca adapter for the Atlas BT 10, I should play with getting the stock better adjusted to my body. MY collarbone sometimes gets in the way (once broken and did not set quite right) so I think I may have to spend more time getting the pad adjusted better.

Some more work on getting a better fit when prone will help with confidence.

For those of you that shoot competitively, do you shoot off-hand at all? if so, does a sling come into play?

 

[accurate obsession]

So I'm thinking that since most barricade/positional work is without the bipod you will want the rifle to balance perfectly without it and be a little nose heavy with it on for the times you may need to leave it on.

 

[b6graham]

So I'm thinking that since most barricade/positional work is without the bipod you will want the rifle to balance perfectly without it and be a little nose heavy with it on for the times you may need to leave it on.

basically. adding a bipod means pulling the rifle back what 1" or so which is NBD