Do you hold your rifle "down"?

[Texastaxi]

When you're shooting off a bench, do you let the rifle rise, at will, off the bags or do you use your off hand to hold it down as much as you can?

[30-30]

Let it rise.

[Nailhead]

Let it rise. By using your hand to hold it down you can change the harmonics in the barrel causing it to shoot differently than by letting it rise like you would in most situations.

[Cajun Blake]

hugging, tight gripping, extreme shouldering, or muscling the rifle/barrel/grip when shooting off the bench will change point of impact

[Colton]

Let it rise

[Patton]

I just tuck mine into my shoulder and place my hand on top of the scope of down the stock. Not holding it- just resting my hand there

[Bowfish]

For precision shooting from the bench your off hand should be back supporting the buttstock....of course you might be using a sled or bags and this might not be needed. I agree you dont want to hold it down.

[bear]

not very free floating if you are touching it

[STGS]

When you're shooting off a bench, do you let the rifle rise, at will, off the bags or do you use your off hand to hold it down as much as you can?

Practicing already? Be sure and send me a certified target for my approval.

[catslayer]

let it rise... if i'm on the bench front of stock is loose on bench, shoulder into rifle, right hand ready to shoot/run bolt, left hand is wrapped around resting on the rear bag

[SaltwaterSlick]

let it rise... if i'm on the bench front of stock is loose on bench, shoulder into rifle, right hand ready to shoot/run bolt, left hand is wrapped around resting on the rear bag

I'm a mirror image of this (as I'm a leftie), I try to shoulder mount the rifle normally, but not touch the rest of the gun when shooting from the bench/bags. This closely simulates the "artillery hold" that seems to promote the best chance of consistency in accuracy in big bore rifles (and springer pellet rifles too.).

[Texastaxi]

I'm having some sighting issues with my 45-70.

I've always laid my left fingers over the edge of the forearm. I didn't think it would affect the shot, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something I shouldn't be doing. I hadn't shot many large bore (higher recoil) rifles, until this year so I'm kinda winging it.

Yes, Jeremy, I'll mail you a target!
I'll probably bring this rifle to Pearsall. I'd like to see what it'll do to a deer ... quite a bit of energy.
I also want to shoot one of your camp pigs with that fancy schmancy 500!

[Slick8]

IMO with a magnum or big bore it's okay to hold down the front. I know the bench guys scoff at this but you're not trying to cut x rings in a competition.

With my 45-70, I shoot it from a lead sled and hold two fingers on the side of the stock (no barrel contact) to help stabilize it. Does it affect accuracy...don't know but I've shot consistently sub moa at 100 yards and under 3 inches at 200 with a 1-4 power scope. My Cooper shoots .25-.5 at 100 and .5 at 300 using the same method.

To take it another step, if your rifle is properly bedded and floated a finger or two on the stock for control shouldn't affect your accuracy. Think about this, if shooting from sticks or free hand you're going to have more than two fingers on the stock. Just keep your hands off the barrel or scope.

JMO...if you want to do some chootin, let me know.

[Seacoal]

When you're shooting off a bench, do you let the rifle rise, at will, off the bags or do you use your off hand to hold it down as much as you can?

Shooting something small, my off hand is not even touching the gun, and my on hand (and shoulder) are barely.
If I'm shooting somewhere larger, I'll have my hand on top of the scope. I won't try to stop the recoil, just follow the gun to ensure it doesn't want to do anything dumb like cut my face if that makes sense. Mainly only on magnums do I do this.

Pretty good question of the day Kevin

[Phillip Fields]

When sighting in my hunting rifles I will hold slight pressure on the forearm, not touching the barrel. I do this to emulate the hold I will be using when I'm making hunting shots in the field.