30/30 at the range today.

[aussie]

I had an interesting time at the range today and I'm curious if anyone else has found something similar. I was shootinig my Winchester 94 30/30 from the bench, complete with rests. At 50yards the group (for want of a better word) was around 5". Needless to say, I was not impressed. Persisted for a while, nothing changed. I then thought if that's the best you can do, might as well toss the rest away. I did this and just shot holding the rifle in my hands and resting my elbows on the bench. I couldn't believe the difference. Groups were immediately transformed to around 1.5" for 5 shots. For me, this is quite acceptable for a hunting rifle/carbine. Oh yeah, I was using the standard open sights. Has anyone else experienced this?

aussie.

[Nath]

Glad someone has a good'n

Yes you have got to keep hold of them friend, that I do know.

Nath.

[Jaguarundi]

Yup,sounds like the benchrest setup was put'n pressure on the forearm and/or magazine thus effect'n the barrel.This can also happen in bolt action rifles were there is contact with the barrel and woodforestock.The counter pull from a slinged rifle can change the forearm tension and change groups also.This could all just be speculation of course(not have'n the rifle in hand).Another more simple factor maybe the shooter and the shooting position utilized.The shot to shot placement with repeat sight alignment may be depend on the shooting position.Just my two cents.

[Old Savage]

Rests can definitely cause the gun to react away from the pressure points.

[Hobie]

The most I do is rest my hands on bags/rests. I only zero from a bench (or shoot over the chrony) practice is done from field positions. Most of my guns would not be zeroed for field positions if zeroed on bags/rests.

[Tycer]

I put the forearm on the bags exactly where my hand is when shooting offhand and make sure the forearm is in the exact same place on the bag for each shot.

[86er]

Not only do we get inconsistency when resting the forearm, the same gun shoots 3 inches high for me when it shoots dead on for RKrodle. We can't figure that out but it is consistent from gun to gun.