Hold/position sensitivity?

[Scott Tschirhart]

I find that some air rifles, particularly spring air rifles, are very sensitive as to how you hold them. If you are very consistent, your gun will shoot noticeably better.

I’ve never thought about this with firearms but I’m wondering about it. I know that the more consistent you can be with a SAA the better it will shoot. But have any of you experienced position sensitivity with rifles?

[stretch]

Springers can be remarkably unforgiving to bad technique.

The good news is that once you can shoot a springer well and
practice with it, you can't help but be better with a conventional
rifle.

I'm not a great rifle shot, but I have yet to own a conventional rifle that's as
finicky concerning technique as my RWS 48.

-Stretch

[Old No7]

I find that some air rifles, particularly spring air rifles, are very sensitive as to how you hold them. If you are very consistent, your gun will shoot noticeably better.

I’ve never thought about this with firearms but I’m wondering about it. I know that the more consistent you can be with a SAA the better it will shoot. But have any of you experienced position sensitivity with rifles?

Yes, on the spring air rifles for sure! And some guns with 2-piece stocks -- like leverguns -- can be very sensitive to where they're held. They might shoot well off the bench, but hit differently when shot offhand with a gloved hand. For my hunting leverguns, I put my gloved hand under the forearm (right where I'd hold it when out hunting) and sight it in that way -- and it does help.

Old No7

[Rockrat]

Yes. Good friend of mine had a Browning Bar in 308 win (boy, he regrets selling that) that would normally shoot about 2-3" @100yds, but if he concentrated on his hold, it would shoot under an inch at the same range. Any slight deviation and groups would open up rapidly

[Scott Tschirhart]

I just don’t shoot from a bench. Haven’t shot from a bench for more than 20 years.

None of my field shots are from a bench so I just don’t use one.

[AJMD429]

.
I’ve seen experienced shooters post comments that the position of the rifle BEFORE they shoot, as in which way the powder tends to be positioned in the cartridge, may make a difference. Obviously, that would be only a factor for loads with empty space between powder and bullet, and from what I recall, reading, was only the case with some of the ‘low volume’ powders, but not all of them.

I think generally the solution for that problem was that they made it a habit to point the muzzle of the rifle up in between shots. Not necessarily practical with hunting or defensive use of a gun, but usually a bit less accuracy is acceptable there versus signing in or competing at an event.

[Lastmohecken]

A long time ago, I noticed a difference in point of impact between shooting lots of light rifles, both leveraction and bolt action, between shooting in traditional bench style with the forend resting on a bag up front, and just holding the rifle by the grip only. I don't hunt that way, so I never sight in that way. I always have one hand on the forend and more or less rest that on the bag.

But I did find out, that on extreme long range shooting from a bench, with my nephew's custom built long range competition rifle, that I was having trouble hitting these tiny targets at 600 yards and more, by shooting that way, and was instructed to not touch the rifle hardly at all not even gripping the grip, really, even. But that's a specialized rifle for long range with a very light trigger, and even had a can on it. And then I was able to hit relatively small targets at very long ranges, once my nephew dialed it in for me. That rifle is not my cup of tea, but I have to admit it was impressive what could be done with it.

[Lastmohecken]

A long time ago, I noticed a difference in point of impact between shooting lots of light rifles, both leveraction and bolt action, between shooting in traditional bench style with the forend resting on a bag up front, and just holding the rifle by the grip only. I don't hunt that way, so I never sight in that way. I always have one hand on the forend and more or less rest that on the bag.

But I did find out, that on extreme long range shooting from a bench, with my nephew's custom built long range competition rifle, that I was having trouble hitting these tiny targets at 600 yards and more, by shooting that way, and was instructed to not touch the rifle hardly at all not even gripping the grip, really, even. But that's a specialized rifle for long range with a very light trigger, and even had a can on it. And then I was able to hit relatively small targets at very long ranges, once my nephew dialed it in for me. That rifle is not my cup of tea, but I have to admit it was impressive what could be done with it.

But anyway, for my standard hunting rifles and carbines, I find that I try to hold the rifle as I would under field conditions, and sight it in that way. Then when I take a shot while hunting, I never seem to notice a wandering point of impact, from field positions.