leverguns off the Bench??

[bcboy]

Just wondering where everyone places there front rest ? Been shooting off the bench alot..you know canadian winters
Well me and some friends got too thinkin as where is the right place to put the front rest..me I place it as far back as i can ,,would be logical if i was the best shooter but I aint..
Since I am askin is it important, maybe someone can share me sum advice..
mostly shootin Win 71, marlin 336 35 rem and 94 30-30
Thanks

[FWiedner]

Personally, I rest far back on the forearm close to the receiver. I put the butt in my shoulder and very seldom use a bag under the toe.

[J Miller]

I try to sit so that I can cradle the forearm in my hand as if I were standing. Sometimes I'll support my hand with the sand bag but usually not.
If I actually put the rifle on the bag, I get it as far back to the receiver as I can.

Joe

[Tycer]

I stand and shoulder the gun and then I put a piece of tape where my ring finger is on the fore stock. I put a matching piece of tape on the shooter side of the front bag and line them up the same every shot.

With peep sights I shoot 2" difference to the side at 100yds bags vs sitting or standing.

[AJMD429]

I try to sit so that I can cradle the forearm in my hand as if I were standing. Sometimes I'll support my hand with the sand bag but usually not.
If I actually put the rifle on the bag, I get it as far back to the receiver as I can.

Same here. Works well; yes, I can get smaller groups with a rest and only holding the gun by pushing the toe of the butt into my shoulder or the rear rest-pad, using my left hand, but I only do that for heavy guns I'd only be shooting off the bench.

With peep sights I shoot 2" difference to the side at 100yds bags vs sitting or standing.

That's a good idea to know the difference; I've never thought to measure it, as long as once I sight in with groups-on-paper off the bench, I can switch to standing, and hit the vitals-sized gongs at the appropriate distances. Would be nice to know if there is a consistent difference I could count on. (Not sure if my offhand groups would be good enough to tell a difference unless it was measured in feet... )

[Griff]

I tend to cradle the forearm in my hand, exerting rearward pressure to keep the butt firmly against my shoulder, then rest that hand on the prop. Or, if I do rest the rifle directly on the support, I'll push against the front of the trigger guard for that rearward pressure. I feel these give me the closest POI to the varying field positions I might use.

[bcboy]

Thanks !! .. I actually was going to try to rest the front barrel on my front rest
I guess its time for more practise..

[Pete44ru]

I've found, over the years, that rifles with two-piece stocks cannot be effectively benchrested the same way that rifles with one-piece stckcs can.
If they are, best accuracy (POI notwithstanding) will certainly not result.

I recommend that NO wood or metal part of a rifle with two-piece stocks should come in contact with anything other than a part of the shooter's body - beit hand and/or shoulder. ONLY.

The forestock should be grasped very firmly in the off hand, with that hand pulling down (onto a rest) and back (into the shooter's shoulder) at the same time.
The off hand insulates the rifle from whatever front rest - similar to a field position, but much steadier.

The buttstock should be grasped very firmly with the shooting hand, with the back of the palm bearing hard against the back of the lever's loop and/or pistol grip (pulling back towards the shoulder), and the trigger finger (only), wriggling freely, to activate the trigger whenever.
Care should be taken that no part of the buttstock touches a rear rest or benchtop during the shot - only the shooter's chest/shoulder.

I've shot some very small groups using the above method - so small that more than a few have refused to believe them, until I shot the groups again, before their eyes. (IIRC, the doubters were named "Thomas" )

.

[jeepnik]

I rest it where my hand would grip the forearm. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I figure it's as good a place as any. By the way, with some rests that cradle the forearm and buttstock, it's difficult to work the lever. I picked up a rest from the NRA for AR's with high capacity magazines. Plenty of room to work the lever.

[Old Time Hunter]

Generally rest the forearm on the bag with my left hand under the butt of the stock supporting the stock in the crotch of my hand. Breath in, then out taking the slack out of the trigger to the break point while settling into a minerveal state while presenting the bullet to the target in my mind while breaking the trigger. If I do this the same way each time, the bullet seems to pretty much find the same spot on the target...most of the time.

When shooting off hand, I use the open palm of my left hand under the forearm, then follow the same mind game as I moult in to one with my firearm...

[Old Savage]

I throw a gym bag with shooting gear in it on the bench. On top of that I have a back pack with a blanket folded up inside. I hold the forearm in my hand and rest that on the gym bag. Right elbow is on the bench on something soft - a towel maybe. For me this feels simulates the feel of my sitting position. I relax around the rifle. Get the tension out and squeeze the trigger.

[Hobie]

I try to sit so that I can cradle the forearm in my hand as if I were standing. Sometimes I'll support my hand with the sand bag but usually not.
If I actually put the rifle on the bag, I get it as far back to the receiver as I can.

Joe

Dittos.

[Old Shatterhand]

I try to sit so that I can cradle the forearm in my hand as if I were standing. Sometimes I'll support my hand with the sand bag but usually not.
If I actually put the rifle on the bag, I get it as far back to the receiver as I can.

Joe

The same here, albeit I never rest the rifle in anything but my hands, and I use this methode for my levers as well for my drilling and other rifles. I have found it important to hold the gun the same way at every shot, as a shift of grip can be a shift of POI, especially with heavy-recoiling calibers. It is most important when correcting the sights.

Pete

[Rifleman]

Anywhere on the forearm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Pjg9sAk0w

The fouling shot makes 1moa at 200 yards with the sandbag right at the forearm barrel band.

[El Chivo]

I use my hands to try and replicate an offhand shot. I don't grip it hard and let it bounce with the recoil.

I'm not a great benchrest shooter but it seems to give me the same results as a good offhand shot, so for sighting in it is more appropriate.