Shooting lighter weight rifles?

[MagnumManiac]

Great for the range...what about the field?...

I don't think you read very well

 

[asd9055]

I don't think you read very well

Maybe I didn't. I was talking about the Caldwell rest. Have it, love it. Its great at the shooting range. But what would you recommend for hunting?

 

[Pinoniper]

I can't do that. Some crosshair movement is visible when the trigger breaks, even with light pull weight Jewel triggers on my backpacking rifles. The heavier the rifle the more forgiving, but I typically see crosshair movement when dry firing. I just want it to be repeatable crosshair movement.

Yes, but, the reticle is moving?? Try sandbags as an experiment to rule out the bipod theory.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Maybe I didn't. I was talking about the Caldwell rest. Have it, love it. Its great at the shooting range. But what would you recommend for hunting?

The answer was in my original post, my hunting pack is what I use in the field.
Placed on, over or in something, like the fork in a tree, on a rock or over a log, it works just as good as any other rest.
I don't have to worry about a canted bi-pod leg.
I do have lightweight bags, but I tossed them outta my pack some years ago now.

Cheers.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I agree with the bipod slide/bounce issue. All my rifles are now under 10 lbs. If shooting on a slick bench it can play havoc with consistent pressure loading the bipods. You can try tape on the bench for a little grip. Doesn't take much. Biggest thing I have found for me is to ensure I have solid lock up/shoulder pressure. If not, the lighter unforgiving rifle tends to get loose. If shooting off bags/ruck you have to do this a little anyway as the bipods create the friction the ruck does not.

I also tend to put a little more pressure in the shooting hand/grip-not forcing the crosshairs, but not limp either. My rear bag tends to get loose and I prefer it is firm. Sometimes requires a little pressure to keep it firm.

Never seen a 7 pound trigger on an M40. Maybe 3.

 

[Backcountry sports]

How do you guys shoot lighter weight rifles good? I have a 7 mag Remington 700 action criterion magnum Sporter contour 26" long, have it in a Mesa precision stock bedded. Have a Trijicon 4-16x50 acculite scope on it. Weights about 9lbs. Shooting off a Harris and a rear bag at the range it seem like it's hard to shoot good. Seems like the reticle really is moving left to right. Have been struggling finding a good load for it am just wondering if it's the fact I just can't hold it as steady as my other rifles that are 2-5 more pounds. How do I get it to settle down?

I use a model 92 cooper backcountry on 7mm I have no issues shooting it right at 7lbs

 

[asd9055]

The answer was in my original post, my hunting pack is what I use in the field.
Placed on, over or in something, like the fork in a tree, on a rock or over a log, it works just as good as any other rest.
I don't have to worry about a canted bi-pod leg.
I do have lightweight bags, but I tossed them outta my pack some years ago now.

Cheers.

I prefer the bag my self but not always possible. I do carry sticks...for those shots I need to take standing or the bag is not tall enough

 

[Gills]

I run a 7mm rem mag also. Although I am running lighter bullets at 150 gr. It's a sako finnlight, with leupold vx--3 scope weighs in at 7.75 pounds. It rocks you pretty yard. But as far as getting steady it just takes practice. I prefer to get prone on my pack or lay my pack on a rock and really pull it down into my pack it seems the more pressure I can put on it the more solid it is.

 

[7070yshot]

How do you guys shoot lighter weight rifles good? I have a 7 mag Remington 700 action criterion magnum Sporter contour 26" long, have it in a Mesa precision stock bedded. Have a Trijicon 4-16x50 acculite scope on it. Weights about 9lbs. Shooting off a Harris and a rear bag at the range it seem like it's hard to shoot good. Seems like the reticle really is moving left to right. Have been struggling finding a good load for it am just wondering if it's the fact I just can't hold it as steady as my other rifles that are 2-5 more pounds. How do I get it to settle down?

What are your group sizes at 100?
Do you have a muzzle break? This calms a rifle down significantly. Some will say it's louder but who cares,, it's a gun and hopefully wearing ear pro.
So not knowing anything else about then, I would get rid of the Harris BiPod. Honestly, and I'm sure I'll get a few scoffs, there are much better bipods for magnum rifles. The rubber stops really only increase the bounce that results from the shot and torque of the barrel. Either shoot from a solid front stand or bag, something with little to no downward give, or bipod with ski type feet.
You want the rifle to ride straight back not up or bouncing off of rubber feet.
If you study how Benchrest andF-Class competitions guns run they are not using flimsy lightweight bipods.

Ejecting the bipod all together is a good idea as well - learning to shoot from a solid cradle that's mounted in a stand or from 4 legged sticks will give you an extremely solid hold.
Find a place to put they chicken wing (firing arm) and make it stable.

record yourself shooting
Where do your hands go? What does your grip look like, being exact and consistent from shot to shot will make a difference- same everything.

lmk how it works out

 

[zr600]

Well sometimes groups can be sub moa other times other times bigger. The gun does have a muzzle break on it. I did just shoot a 3 shot group with it that was half moa. What would you recommend for a better bipod? I was thinking maybe a rail and an atlas would maybe be worth a look. I might take a backpack and put a couple Coates or towels in it and try and shoot off that too. Thanks for all the advice any more is always welcome to. I think I might just need to work on my fundamentals on this rifle. I can shoot my heavier rifles very well. But they do have different stock designs too. I'm wondering if some of it is the stock too, maybe I'm just not used to this stock.

 

[Shootn4fun]

SOUNDS LIKE YOU MAY BE PUTTING YOUR MUSCLE INTO THE RIFLE, RELAXE! SQUEEZE SLOWLY OFF A SOLID POSITION

 

[Muledeerhuntingfreak]

The people who are talking about shooting A 308 to 6.5 creedmore or any other smaller rifles You know that is not even going to compare with shooting A 7mm rem mag It's the difference between getting kicked by a dog and getting kicked by mule I have 7 mm that I shoot Their way more difficult To shoot consistent also depends on how much you weigh-in order to absorb the kick if you are afraid of the rifle that also makes a big difference good luck

 

[zr600]

I'm not scared of the rifle it does have a muzzle break. I'm about 200lbs so I'm not a tiny guy. I feel like my wife's savage 308 which is a little lighter but no muzzle break or surpressor kicks harder then my 7mm. I have thought about turning the trigger down a little bit maybe that would help too.

 

[thwatson2]

Put a sandbag in front of the bipod so you can push forward a little. This will help stabilize the bipod. Then set your rear bag so rifle will sit still And on target when you are not touching the rifle. Lastly, use your opposing hand to help stabilize the rear of the rifle. Do not touch the forearm,action or scope with opposing hand. Only the rear of the stock or just brace your shooting hand with it. Then most importantly shoot a lot.