This isn't about building precision rifles. But it's about shooting them....
Pardon the rather strained attempt at a humorous musical reference in the title.
My buddy who dragged me into this precision shooting rabbit hole once said to me, "With precision shooting, a lot of little things add up to a big thing." (Not claiming he originated the aphorism... he probably heard it from someone else. But, I heard it from him.
)
Lovin'... touchin'.... squueeezin'...
(another musical reference)
Anyway, this post is about an unexpected "discovery" about the rear squeeze bag (that goes under the butt of the rifle). The front, in my case, is supported by a bipod. Some folks use a big bag as a front support. The purpose of the rear bag is to fine-tune the sight picture (primarily vertical / up and down). My then-15-year-old daughter demonstrates use of the rear squeeze bag...
Maybe what follows here is basic knowledge, and I missed it or forgot it as I've been going through this learning curve.
So, for whatever reason, I've always "squeezed UP" until my cross-hair comes down on the target and held it there. On rare occasion, I've even gotten a hand cramp from holding it there too long before I break the shot.
Then one day at the rifle range, I had a little epiphany. Instead of squeezing UP until the cross-hair I started by squeezing the bag BEFORE I establish my cheek-weld. Since there is no downward pressure (from my cheek-weld or the weight of my "big head"), the squeeze takes very little effort. I'm just squeezing against the weight of the rifle, which isn't much.
Then when I settle on the rifle with my cheek-weld firmly established, the cross-hair is well BELOW the target. I'm still holding the initial squeeze.
Think of it as "pre-squeezing" the bag.
Now, I RELAX my squeeze and let the cross-hair rise up until it's on target. Then I just HOLD my "squeeze" at that point.
So, instead of squeezing the bag UP (pushing the cross-hair DOWN) by INCREASING the tension in my hand... I let my hand RELAX until the sight picture is where it needs to be (cross-hair comes UP on the target).
Did that make sense? Are you guys thinking, "Well, DUH, Racer... Everyone knows THAT?" LOL!
Or did I stumble into something that could help some folks who are also spiraling down this precision rifle rabbit hole? I've read a ton, taken some live courses, and watched a ton of instructional videos, and I don't recall seeing or hearing anything about this, specifically. I found it to be easier.
Pardon the rather strained attempt at a humorous musical reference in the title.
My buddy who dragged me into this precision shooting rabbit hole once said to me, "With precision shooting, a lot of little things add up to a big thing." (Not claiming he originated the aphorism... he probably heard it from someone else. But, I heard it from him.
)Lovin'... touchin'.... squueeezin'...
(another musical reference)
Anyway, this post is about an unexpected "discovery" about the rear squeeze bag (that goes under the butt of the rifle). The front, in my case, is supported by a bipod. Some folks use a big bag as a front support. The purpose of the rear bag is to fine-tune the sight picture (primarily vertical / up and down). My then-15-year-old daughter demonstrates use of the rear squeeze bag...
Maybe what follows here is basic knowledge, and I missed it or forgot it as I've been going through this learning curve.
So, for whatever reason, I've always "squeezed UP" until my cross-hair comes down on the target and held it there. On rare occasion, I've even gotten a hand cramp from holding it there too long before I break the shot.
Then one day at the rifle range, I had a little epiphany. Instead of squeezing UP until the cross-hair I started by squeezing the bag BEFORE I establish my cheek-weld. Since there is no downward pressure (from my cheek-weld or the weight of my "big head"), the squeeze takes very little effort. I'm just squeezing against the weight of the rifle, which isn't much.
Then when I settle on the rifle with my cheek-weld firmly established, the cross-hair is well BELOW the target. I'm still holding the initial squeeze.
Think of it as "pre-squeezing" the bag.
Now, I RELAX my squeeze and let the cross-hair rise up until it's on target. Then I just HOLD my "squeeze" at that point.
So, instead of squeezing the bag UP (pushing the cross-hair DOWN) by INCREASING the tension in my hand... I let my hand RELAX until the sight picture is where it needs to be (cross-hair comes UP on the target).
Did that make sense? Are you guys thinking, "Well, DUH, Racer... Everyone knows THAT?" LOL!
Or did I stumble into something that could help some folks who are also spiraling down this precision rifle rabbit hole?
I've read a ton, taken some live courses, and watched a ton of instructional videos, and I don't recall seeing or hearing anything about this, specifically. I found it to be easier.
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