Is that basically putting NO pressure on the rifle other than to keep it on target (no pulling into pocket, no loading bipod)?
Would this provide accuracy in some way?
Would this provide accuracy in some way?
What does it mean to "free recoil" a rifle?
- Thread starter pineoak
- Start date
I believe you are describing what is referred to as an "artillery hold". It is generally used with springer air rifles because the vibrations and double recoil pulses of a spring air rifle tend to have significant impact on the pellets. The idea behind the artillery hold is to allow the springer to react the same way every time with minimal external force thus creating a consistency in recoil and vibration. The reason it is used with spring piston air rifles is the piston has already moved and incorporated recoil before the pellet has even begun to move.
http://www.pyramydair.com/article/The_artillery_hold_June_2009/63 (link to article and video)
I will use an artillery hold with springer pellet rifles but not on centerfire rifles. I had a springer that drove me nuts in terms of accuracy until I researched and started using a very, very light, let the weapon do what it wants "artillery hold" and got much better results. I don't use it with my rifles.
A centerfire cartridge will not have a recoil pulse prior to the projectile moving, have a much lower dwell time in the barrel due to higher velocities, and the systems tend to be heavier and more rigid and less susceptible to vibrations. I prefer to pocket a rifle, snug up to it, load the bipod, and attempt to achieve consistency that way since guys much smarter and more experienced than I have advocated that approach for years. I couldn't imagine using an artillery hold on heavier centerfire or magnum because recoil exploits angles and using a artillery hold gives recoil all kinds of angles and I like having a shoulder that functions. Hope that helped answer your question and don't forget I am by no means an expert and still learning myself.
http://www.pyramydair.com/article/The_artillery_hold_June_2009/63 (link to article and video)
I will use an artillery hold with springer pellet rifles but not on centerfire rifles. I had a springer that drove me nuts in terms of accuracy until I researched and started using a very, very light, let the weapon do what it wants "artillery hold" and got much better results. I don't use it with my rifles.
A centerfire cartridge will not have a recoil pulse prior to the projectile moving, have a much lower dwell time in the barrel due to higher velocities, and the systems tend to be heavier and more rigid and less susceptible to vibrations. I prefer to pocket a rifle, snug up to it, load the bipod, and attempt to achieve consistency that way since guys much smarter and more experienced than I have advocated that approach for years. I couldn't imagine using an artillery hold on heavier centerfire or magnum because recoil exploits angles and using a artillery hold gives recoil all kinds of angles and I like having a shoulder that functions. Hope that helped answer your question and don't forget I am by no means an expert and still learning myself.
More willing to bet that he is referring to "free recoil" which the practice of allowing the rifle to recoil freely without proving and form of substantial resistance. This is primarily the technique used in Benchrest shooting, and to some degree in F-Open shooting.
The rifle is supported on the front by a mechanical rest and some form of bag on the rear.
Video below is "Free Recoil" shooting.
Practical for those applications, but not really for anything else.
The rifle is supported on the front by a mechanical rest and some form of bag on the rear.
Video below is "Free Recoil" shooting.
Practical for those applications, but not really for anything else.
Free recoil in the context of PRS shooting is really quite an effective thing. I've been working on the technique myself after shooting with and getting tips from some very generous PRS pro shooters. It works great for positional shooting off barricades or odd objects. The key things that seem to make it work are 1) Having a low recoil rifle like a 6mm based cartridge in a heavy PRS competition gun with a muzzle brake. 2) Having a light trigger pull weight and 3) Shooting with the Game Changer bag or similar.
All you do is place the bag on whatever you are shooting off of, then position the rifle so that it's perfectly balanced pointing at the target. You want to be able to let go of the rifle entirely and still have it stay in position and stay on target. Then you place your left hand on the rifle with light pressure... either a finger alongside the barrel channel or a lay hand across the front scope ring. Just enough to be able to fine tune your aim. The rear of the rifle you essentially don't touch except the trigger finger, which you pull straight back until the shot breaks. I am trying it out with just a hint of contact with the cheek rest, butt stock and palm of my trigger finger hand...but just barely brushing against the gun so as not to disturb the aim point. It keeps my body in the right spot to "catch" the rifle on recoil, but doesn't transmit any of my body movement to the gun. Not sure if I'll stick with that or work towards entirely free recoiling the rifle with no contact...still messing around with learning what works for me.
I see about a 50% reduction in "wobble" on target with this method compared to gripping the rifle and shouldering it more firmly, and it's also much less susceptible to wobble induced by elevated heartrate/adrenaline.
All you do is place the bag on whatever you are shooting off of, then position the rifle so that it's perfectly balanced pointing at the target. You want to be able to let go of the rifle entirely and still have it stay in position and stay on target. Then you place your left hand on the rifle with light pressure... either a finger alongside the barrel channel or a lay hand across the front scope ring. Just enough to be able to fine tune your aim. The rear of the rifle you essentially don't touch except the trigger finger, which you pull straight back until the shot breaks. I am trying it out with just a hint of contact with the cheek rest, butt stock and palm of my trigger finger hand...but just barely brushing against the gun so as not to disturb the aim point. It keeps my body in the right spot to "catch" the rifle on recoil, but doesn't transmit any of my body movement to the gun. Not sure if I'll stick with that or work towards entirely free recoiling the rifle with no contact...still messing around with learning what works for me.
I see about a 50% reduction in "wobble" on target with this method compared to gripping the rifle and shouldering it more firmly, and it's also much less susceptible to wobble induced by elevated heartrate/adrenaline.
Bumping back up to see if there is more people shooting this method in PRS. I've been practicing a lot of dry fire with this method for positional and my crosshairs stay on the target as if I was prone. Looking for tips to help me spot misses. When I live fire it is difficult to see splash on a miss. Any tips to have the steadiness of free recoil but still being able to spot misses? I understand this is the downfall of free recoil though. I am shooting 6mm heavy Palma and hellfire brake on a gamechanger.
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Here's a recent article describing free recoil shooting: https://accurateordnance.com/category/articles/
As far as spotting your misses goes, this is when it pays to have a heavy 6mm rifle. It looks like you already have this so there shouldn't be a whole lot of recoil. As long as your magnification isn't too great you should be able to spot trace. If you have a lightweight rifle and perhaps a larger caliber, there is not a good way to keep the rifle steady if you're performing free recoil properly.
As far as spotting your misses goes, this is when it pays to have a heavy 6mm rifle. It looks like you already have this so there shouldn't be a whole lot of recoil. As long as your magnification isn't too great you should be able to spot trace. If you have a lightweight rifle and perhaps a larger caliber, there is not a good way to keep the rifle steady if you're performing free recoil properly.
My F class rifles are set up to shoot free recoil which is basically having minimal or no contact with the rifle to minimize disturbance when firing. This is widely practiced by BR shooters and gaining popularity in F Class. In both disciplines heavy mechanical front rests and rear bags are used. The triggers are set very light and may not be practical for PRS. Some FTR shooters are using this technique as well.
hmm free recoil n f class, now that’s a touchy subject to some,
FTR from bipod not seeing how its any benefit, bipod hop via this method would be extreme. You would have to completely rebuild firing position after each shot.
As to F class rules IIRC state Rifle must be shouldered when fired. No longer shoot F class rules may of changed?
So if rifle is 1/4" off shoulder etc etc etc Free recoil butt is slightly off shoulder
Back when i shot F class this was a topic of many a heated discussion, perhaps no more
FTR from bipod not seeing how its any benefit, bipod hop via this method would be extreme. You would have to completely rebuild firing position after each shot.
As to F class rules IIRC state Rifle must be shouldered when fired. No longer shoot F class rules may of changed?
So if rifle is 1/4" off shoulder etc etc etc Free recoil butt is slightly off shoulder
Back when i shot F class this was a topic of many a heated discussion, perhaps no more
it works... once.
then you have to set everything back up again. if your trigger is too heavy, it doesn't work as well
then you have to set everything back up again. if your trigger is too heavy, it doesn't work as well
There is minimal contact with the rifle so not in violation of the rules. The rifles built by Pierce Engineering for the FTR team in which Litz is a member shoot free recoil.
Who is this litz guy?? Pierce eng ??
Not rule a nazi, just saying it was a hot topic @ one time
Who is this litz guy?? Pierce eng ??
Not rule a nazi, just saying it was a hot topic @ one time
Just some guy who writes books and does some shooting. LOL Pierce builds a fine rifle and built both my F Class rifles.
