Really stupid new guy question...

[Reno]

I have been lurking around here for a couple of months. So much to read, endless amounts of great information. It's a really great site. I am currently shooting a .308 Rem700 that I purchased after reading around here quite a bit. It should be a good training rifle for me. When hunting season rolls around it will double as a good deer rifle on the max 500 yard shots that present themselves in Upstate New York. Anyways, to my really stupid question...

I've seen mention of cupping your palm, or stocks with a palm swell in quite a few different posts. Could someone possibly explain to me what the purpose of this is, if any, other than part of a repeatable and consistant shot routine? I have searched and searched, but the closest description of it I could find was in this thread:
MARKSMANSHIP BASICS - Trigger Control

While many of post's there describe it to some degree, I didn't grasp a clear definition as to why. The answer is probably common sense, but the closest possible reason my small shooting experience could comprehend was proper trigger finger placement and pull. Also, what are the chance's that someone has a pic or two of a stock with a palm swell from a different angle or two? I'm just curious as to what this looks like. Thanks in advance for any information you provide.

[lerch]

the purpose of a palm swell. well to be honest i have never heard or read anything on the exact reasoning behind it but they sure are comfortable. I suppose having your entire hand in relaxed contact with the rifle stock would limit strain and thus shaking of that hand as well as getting a consistant positioning of the finger on the trigger. I figure on a standard stock it is easy to get your finger to far over on the trigger and pull with more of the middle or back of the finger rather than the tip where you should be. By having the swell fill what would normally be a gap between your palm and the rifle I guess you get into a more consistant routine and also have a more relaxed yet solid grip on the gun

I guess that really aint a answer but more of just my opinion. good question!

take it easy
steve

[royinidaho]

Lerch that was a good reply. It's pretty much the way it is.

To add my 2cents, besides making the shooting experience more comfortable which is a good thing, the palm swell, in my opinion, tends to keep the hand "indexed" the same for each shot. It also tends to keep the elbow indexed the same, especially prone, for me.

My feelings are that the swells, I put 'em on both sides and use a thumbhole stock, should fit 'your' hand. When someone shoulders my 'Big Girl' from both sides the first thing they say is that the swells are different. That's because "my" hands are different. And so are your's especially the left hand. Its way more different than the right.

Regarding swells on both sides: With two eyes, two trigger fingers and two shoulders, I shoot from both sides which greatly improves the degrees of freedom when the shot opportunity arrives. Note, this is mostly from the prone position.

Also please forgive the stock foo paws, she's going back on the bench for a refinish job this spring.





HTH

[James Jones]

Like Roy said , for a functional stand point it helps keep your grip , hand and arm position consistant and that is a big factor is shoot better more consistant groups.

It also is more comfortable for guys with bigger hands I like a bit of a palm swell to help fill my hand which allow me to keep the grip consistant.

[Reno]

Thanks, I figured it had something to do with a conssistant shot routine but wasn't 100% positive.

[8x57JS]

Originally Posted by Reno

I have been lurking around here for a couple of months. So much to read, endless amounts of great information. It's a really great site. I am currently shooting a .308 Rem700 that I purchased after reading around here quite a bit. It should be a good training rifle for me. When hunting season rolls around it will double as a good deer rifle on the max 500 yard shots that present themselves in Upstate New York. Anyways, to my really stupid question...

I've seen mention of cupping your palm, or stocks with a palm swell in quite a few different posts. Could someone possibly explain to me what the purpose of this is, if any, other than part of a repeatable and consistant shot routine? I have searched and searched, but the closest description of it I could find was in this thread:
MARKSMANSHIP BASICS - Trigger Control

While many of post's there describe it to some degree, I didn't grasp a clear definition as to why. The answer is probably common sense, but the closest possible reason my small shooting experience could comprehend was proper trigger finger placement and pull. Also, what are the chance's that someone has a pic or two of a stock with a palm swell from a different angle or two? I'm just curious as to what this looks like. Thanks in advance for any information you provide.

For the 500 yards shots on deer,I would step up to the 300 Winchester mag. Better yet,get closer....light bulb