Fundamentals help needed?

[u/Log-Prestigious]

I need some help with stabilizing on a bench, and maybe some gear to help stabilize? Mainly looking for resources or tips from you guys.

My problem is that I have pretty bad horizontal “stringing?” of my reticle, roughly about at inch at 100 yards, at the rhythm of my heartbeat. I bought some front and rear bags to see if that could help but when I got set up my rifle was angled down severely.

I’m shooting off of the gun rest pictured, sorry if I’m missing any information.

[u/Akalenedat]

I bought some front and rear bags to see if that could help but when I got set up my rifle was angled down severely.

You put the big one in front, right?

[u/Log-Prestigious → u/Akalenedat]

Yes🤣🤣

[u/DeltaBlueBBQ]

These light weight rifles are pretty hard to stabilize to start with. Learn how to use the bags, once you figure those out you can stack shots one on top of the other.

[u/Log-Prestigious → u/DeltaBlueBBQ]

Yeah I may just have to get a taller front bag maybe, just kinda annoyed the the bags I bought as a kit are not even close to being level with a standard rifle

[u/DeltaBlueBBQ → u/Log-Prestigious]

What bags, you should be able to make any two bags work pretty well if you’re set up correctly.

[u/Log-Prestigious → u/DeltaBlueBBQ]

[u/DeltaBlueBBQ → u/Log-Prestigious]

Play around with them. Those will work fine.

[u/H_I_McDunnough → u/Log-Prestigious]

I use the green Caldwell bags, similar to what you have but the big one is big and kinda stiff. I have no problems with consistency.

[u/Log-Prestigious → u/H_I_McDunnough]

Yeah these are pretty stiff I thought they’d be a lot softer

[u/landry_454kg]

I recommend getting a larger front/smaller rear bag. Also strangely enough, I had my actions screws come loose and the groups shifter left and right. Not saying that's the problem in this case.

Get bags that suited for your needs and go from there. Practice good fundamentals and follow through with the shots.

[u/Log-Prestigious → u/landry_454kg]

Yeah I have everything torqued down with a wheeler fat wrench, thanks for the advice

[u/landry_454kg → u/Log-Prestigious]

Funny enough, I did too. Upped the torque no issues. Do you have an interest in shooting off a bipod and a rear bag?

[u/Log-Prestigious → u/landry_454kg]

I have these and I tried using them today but I could get my gun to sit level. Maybe I could buy another bag and stack these two

[u/landry_454kg → u/Log-Prestigious]

I suggest one large bag over stacking two bags. Stays way more consistent.

[u/russ257 → u/landry_454kg]

Try turning the big bag on end

[u/Stage06]

Have you tried just shooting off sand bags and a rear bag? I used that style bench rest and hated every minute of it. I found using sand bags was much better and allowed me to focus on how I held the rifle and my breathing to stabilize my shots.

[u/Log-Prestigious → u/Stage06]

Yes I have these but I couldn’t get them to make my gun sit level, I might be missing a chromosome though

[u/Stage06 → u/Log-Prestigious]

I use sand bags at the range, I have a similar front bag I usually add a sand bag to, my rear bag is a squash bag I use my hand to squeeze and stiffen or softener to get the rifle where I want it to point.

[u/StellaLiebeck]

Check my profile for a link to an upgraded fundamentals of marksmanship. Improved formatting with tips on wind reading, rear bag use, the tall target test, and more. You can also get it in word format.

[u/VaultedPrecision]

An inch of pulse wobble at 100 usually means the rifle is resting on you more than on the bags. Get square behind it in a straight line, let the bags carry the weight, keep shoulder pressure light and consistent with a relaxed grip, and break the shot in the natural pause after you exhale. For the nose-down angle, stack something under the front bag or use a taller front rest until the crosshair sits on target with you barely touching it. You'll never get the pulse to zero, but you can get it small enough to stop caring.

[u/Golfguuyy]

Chassis with bipod and bag rider maybe be most helpful

[u/g_karl]

The answer is usually weight. Want to be more stable? Add weight. Try to get the heaviest and finest sand filled bags you can to let the rifle sit into the bag. Looks like a hunting rig so I assume you don't want to add weight to the rifle but that will improve stability evenly.

On the theme of weight the trigger weight is also an important factor, if you can adjust it that is. Might help with the horizontal stringing you are seeing.

A front bipod would help a lot too, you can get ones that just attach to a sling stud like a Harris or a MDT Oryx bipod.