Recoil control on the bench

[tddeangelo]

So, I took some rifles to the range over the past weekend, and among them was my 35 Whelen. The cliff notes version on the Whelen, for those who don't know/remember:

-Was an M70 Classic in 30-06, rebored late last summer by JES to 35 Whelen.

-Placed in a McMillan stock that came with factory-installed pillars.

-Due to fast approaching hunting seasons and McMillan's suggestion that I shoot it before bedding it, I did not bed the rifle to the stock.

-In this state, the rifle turned in 2-2.5" groups at 200 yards. I hunted with it and killed two bucks with it last year.

I bedded the stock to the rifle recently, and this past weekend's range trip was my first shooting with it in the bedded stock. It took about 10 shots till it seemed to "settle in". Then I started getting groups of about 4 to 5 inches at 200. The more I shot, the more I saw improvement, but it wound up with a 4-shot group where two shots almost touched (shot 1 and shot 4) and two shots an inch apart from each other (shots 2 and 3), but those two "pairs" had about 3-4 inches of space between them.

The rifle literally flies up off the rest during recoil, though, and I'm thinking recoil is causing at least some of this. I know I was sloppy with it when I first shot it, for sure, but I felt pretty confident with it right till the shot would break. Then I felt like the rifle was just all over the place.

Normally, I reach out to the fore arm and (from below) hold on to the stock. This just didn't seem to be working for me, however, during the last range session.

Any suggestions on managing harder kickers off a bench? I believe I will pick up a PAST pad to help distribute the recoil around my torso a bit more so that I don't get shoved around as much, but I really think the groups look like they do because the rifle flops like a fish out of water when the shot breaks.

Ideas/suggestions?

 

[JD338]

Tom,

Get a Bulls Bag. It will hold the rifle down and make it more manageable.

JD338

 

[Darkhorse]

I sometimes use a sling with just the front attached. I hold the sling just under the swivel with just enough pressure to settle the rifle for the shot, and to control barrel jump.
A bull bag is probably a better idea though.
If you haven't tried a limbsaver recoil pad on that rifle then try one on. I had my doubts but one really tamed my 7mm mag. The old rubber pad had gotten real hard and it was pounding me good.

 

[tim629]

bulls bag!

I first learned about them here, got one for christmas and its great! I have only used it a few times but it really reduces felt recoil as well as the muzzle jump. Has also shown me that some of my loads were better than I thought once I took out a bit more human error

 

[Oldtrader3]

Put some downward pressure on the forend to keep the stock from bouncing off the rest. I put two fingers on the top on the stock where I normally would hold it from below offhand shooting. Some people hold down the scope with their left hand.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Bulls Bag...

 

[tddeangelo]

While I've never heard a bad word on the bulls bag, I HAVE heard that they won't completely solve this issue. Seems like most folks here think they will, however?

 

[LD375]

Caldwell Tack Driver also works great,

 

[sask boy]

Since getting the bull bag it is all I use ! It is top notch in my books :wink:!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Ridgerunner665]

While I've never heard a bad word on the bulls bag, I HAVE heard that they won't completely solve this issue. Seems like most folks here think they will, however?

Use a Bulls Bag (or similar product) and hold the rifle down with your left hand on the scope as OT3 mentioned...that will control the muzzle jump as much as it can be controlled.

 

[tddeangelo]

Good point.

I shoot off a Cabela's "Granite" tripod rest. While it has a bean bag on the front end, it makes a very hard rest. I've read that the rifle's harmonics can cause a harder kicker to jump when rested on a very firm rest.

So between the less firm bulls bag, the grip it puts on it, plus left hand control, that should do the trick....

Time to call up the folks with the Bulls Bags.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Tom, I use a Caldwell tripod rest as well, with a bag under the stock butt. My .30-06 does not bounce but all of the larger then .30 caliber do. So I put two fingers on the stock next to the barrel when I shot the larger calibers.

 

[JD338]

Time to call up the folks with the Bulls Bags.

Good idea. :wink:

JD338

 

[big rifle man]

Get yourself the heavier model Past recoil pad. I use one exclusively for my .338RUM and it works. That rifle does jump a little.

 

[boomer68]

How do you find the Bull Bag compared to the Benchmaster?

http://www.benchmasterusa.com/BenchMaster-Rifle-Rests

 

[SJB358]

Put some downward pressure on the forend to keep the stock from bouncing off the rest. I put two fingers on the top on the stock where I normally would hold it from below offhand shooting. Some people hold down the scope with their left hand.

I am one of the ones that lays a hand over the scope while shooting from the bench with the heavier recoilers. I don't do it with the lighter ones, but my Newton comes up out of the bags pretty quick.

 

[skidmark]

I have a Bulls bag also however I get better results shooting from my old hart
rest and a rear bag. I use old dryer sheets under the forearm and on the rear
bag and let the rifle recoil straight back into me. My .340 has a vicious muzzle
jump but I just tuck my left arm to the rear bag and let her go. Never notice it
when hunting.

 

[tddeangelo]

Dryer sheets....now that's interesting!

And to be clear, the recoil isn't bugging me physically. I had a dud primer (long story) in the batch and when that "shot" broke, there wasn't a hint of wobble on the rifle. It's not that I am being beat up so much as I just need to keep her under control during recoil. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but it's just feeling like there's too much movement going on.

 

[Guy Miner]

You're heading in the right direction.

Different shooting a .222 off the bench vs shooting a .375 off the bench...

Try the same techniques with each rifle could result in really ugly groups downrange, and/or injury to the shooter when that more powerful rifle comes charging at ya!

Talk about dangerous game! :grin:

Guy

 

[skidmark]

Yep...dryer sheets...old ones work best
helps the stock slide back smoothly.
And yer gun smells fresh too. :mrgreen: