How to keep the rifle steady when zeroing/load testing?

[Tackleberry270]

Best tips ever been told when on target close ur eye for 2 seconds look again and u should still be on target if ur solid and bring trigger finger and thumb together don't just pull t trigger makes a massive difference.

Its good advice. It means you are ensuring your body is naturally pointing at the target and that you are following through with the shot without disturbing your position too much. Practicing applying this in different positions means that when you come to adopt a particular position in the field for a shot you should be able to do it quickly and without thinking about it too much and still apply these principles.

 

[forrestfarrier]

And also check u don't flinch! Get a friend to load with a empty chamber at some point!

 

[Solwaystalker]

Bipod and monopod works well for me
Got a bit of stick from the other estate stalker when i left the monopod
on out on the hill tho

 

[HME]

Skinner

You aren't a million miles from me. I have all sorts of bags, rests etc. and you can shoot from any position you want at whatever targets take your fancy. Plenty of tips I can give you.

HME

 

[Brithunter]

Now it sounds like you need to learn basic trigger control. Pistol shooters had to learn this very early on as without it your knackered. The trigger finger should be capable of movement to actuate the trigger independent of the rest of the hand. Only the trigger finger moving.

Townsend Whelen goes through this very thoroughly in his old book:-

The Hunting Rifle.

How to gradually increase the pressure on the trigger when the sights are aligned and hold the same pressure when they wander off a bit until they once again align when pressure is again applied until the sear is released. How to do and use dry firing to learn proper trigger control.

The trouble with trying not to have much contact with the rifle when testing and sighting in that the POI will not be the same when the rifle is held normally in a lot of cases.


There are targets out there that are made to help align the reticles of scopes like this one:-

Wish the local shop stocked them that's for sure. Sadly load development had to cease due to the move and this county conditioning the rifle the be held for collection purposes only and not to be shot . Calibre is 9.3mm hence the 270 grain bullet weight.

With a target of this design the cross of the reticle can be aligned quite easily. Square blocks would work the same if they left a suitable cross of white in the middle.

 

[matt_hooks]

Brit, I know it's not much use to you at the moment, but I'm sure a concerted search online would find a printable target similar to that one. If not, it should be a matter of minutes to knock a template up in a DTP package and print it out.

A very quick google revealed this page

http://www.mytargets.com/

The third target down is similar.

http://www.reloadbench.com/pdf.html

And a load more there. That's just the first two pages I looked at.

 

[.Skinner.]

Thanks to all for the advice and helpful answers. Thanks Brit, I actually have a few of those targets printed off in a drawer somewhere, and I think I got them off of this site?! I'm sure I did, along with one or two other styles.
Cheers all

 

[bewsher500]

I am sure many will criticise it but I was taught not to use the tip of the finger pad to apply pressure to the trigger.
Sure this is fine on set or light triggers but with bigger bore older rifles with 4lb trigger pull it can induce "snatch" or worse "wobble"!

I prefer using the 3rd pad on your finger on the trigger blade.
I promotes a firmer grip on the pistol grip (not what everyone wants granted)
More importantly by curling the index finger in to make a fist you get a smoother more "torquey" control on the trigger and a smoother release (at least that is what it feels like to me)

its only at the range lying prone with solid rests that I will attempt the sniper position (bipod bag at front, no hand hold on fore-end, left hand under stock butt controlling elevation/windage)

I have actually stopped using the bipod on the range as I would not normally use it stalking. no point zeroing on a nice concrete bench and then wondering why you cant replicate it standing in a ditch resting on a fence post!