[Chum]

I have come to a hurdle in my shooting abitlity. I have a problem with my heartbeat moving my gun. At 50 yards this is enough to move my crosshairs around at least 1/2" Am I holding the gun wrong? I don't have a benchrest but I have seen many on this site I know I could build. I am a carpenter and have all them tools. The windchill is -15 today so I need an indoor project. The problem is I don't know the proper place to support the gun. But I dont want what would be considered an illegal rest for competition. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[gordonmcw]

Years ago when I shot indoor 3 position, I found that your heartbeat can definitely affect your aim, especially if you had the sling in the wrong spot on your arm shooting prone. Best bet was to take a breath, let about half out, then settle down and shoot. If you wait too long, you can see the heartbeat effects increase as you get starved for oxygen. Once that starts, you're better off to not shoot, breathe normally again for a bit, then start all over. And that was along time ago (24+ years...) - I'll bet as old and out of shape as I am now, it would be even worse!

Good luck on that rest project, let us know how it turns out.

 

[Coyote]

Chum_ One thing that I noticed and you did not say. Was that the increased power of a scope shows your heart beat much more. If your using a high power like 24P-try going half of that. Also the idea of taking three breaths and then shooting the weapons as you exhale on the third breath works good for many shooters. I think I read somewhere that CD recommened this way of breathing and shooting. I have used that for years and it seems to work really well.

As far as the heart beat...no problems here......wife says I do not have a heart anyhow..........

 

[chundoo]

While I don't shoot three position or competitive bench rest, I believe the use of a shooting jacket with padding at the shoulder helps prevent your heartbeat from being transmitted to the rifle. I have a "PAST" recoil shoulder pad I use that accomplishes much the same thing.

 

[Chum]

Thanks for the pointers.

I'm using 9x. It's a funny thing I never noticed the problem untill the last time I shot. I think it's because I moved up to a closer target. I was shooting at 75 now at 50. The gun seems to move back and forth from left to right. I find myself trying to shoot between beats. I can keep them all within a 1/2" but thats not good enough to hit x's.

 

[Chum]

Do you hold the gun tight to the shoulder? Grip the stock with trigger hand firmly?

 

[georgiaboy]

Chum_Bucket,

Don't know if this is exactly what you had in mind, but thought I'd throw this link out there for anyone interested.

Cheap, simple, portable........ (but might work even better with some sandbags or other weights on the legs)

Booger Bench plans

To save a workable-sized pic of plans, click on the plans thumbnail (below the other pictures), then right-click in that image, left-click "Save picture as", and save to your "pictures" or "images" folder.....

HTH ....gb

 

[Coyote]

CHUM_ When shooting off the bench, I do not hold the weapon tight at all. 22s or 223s. The reason is that I do not feel that I can maintain the same pressure all the time, each and every shot. If I hold the weapon loose, that is easly managed each and every time. Plus there is no recoil in the 22 or even in the 223s. At least nothing to notice.

 

[Chum]

That is a nice bench. I guess I worded it benchrest. I'm not sure of the proper term for what I'm thinking of. Maybe it's the rest part. The part that actually holds the gun.

 

[Chum]

I guess I'll have to do the fix on my trigger. The pull is so hard I can't squeez it without flinching unless I have a tight grip on the stock.

 

[050]

Simple fix available.

Have a pacemaker installed with a "pause" button...



Ron

 

[899]

Heartbeats & targets?

Oh, yeah! Without a doubt! It's the difference between a "10" shot or an "X".

When I first started with the USBR target sheets, I picked the brains of Chief, Joe Haller, "IceMan" (John Pitcher), and several others about that problem.

Ya gotta avoid holding the rifle to any area of the body that has a strong "pulse", too tightly.

With a "normal" straight stock, the pulse in my wrist was affecting my aim. I found that a thumbhole/pistol grip style of stock helped me with that since my wrist doesn't contact the stock at all.

Even "timing" the shot to where the aimpoint is at a certain spot during a "beat".

It's hard work....which makes your heart beat harder & faster and really scru's things up!

 

[georgiaboy]

The part that actually holds the gun.

Oh....OK, then FWIW, here's a pic of what I shoot off of (for now anyway)....

 

[Chum]

Oh wow just 2 bags eh. And I was thinking you all had some sort of stand or something to craddle the gun. Hmmm one more question.... Do you hold the forearm with your hand at all? And is that an accepted way to shoot for the matches. Oops that was 2

 

[Chum]

LOL Ron

My luck the button would break on me.

 

[050]

I'd make two suggestions after seeing the picture.

They may not be worth the time it took to write them, but I think you would see an improvement.

Change your setup so the rear bag is a LOT further towards the rear of the stock, (but leave the butt hanging over).

Get rid of the front bag. it is too tall and tippy, and I think it probably waves around like a flag in the breeze. Use something that is totally solid. If you can't come up with a normal rest, use blocks of wood. Then limit the front cushion to something that is only an inch or two thick from top to bottom. That big tall bag can't be very solid.

By moving the rear bag back, you will negate all the leverage that your shoulder is inducing into the stock while you hold it.

.....at least that is where I would start.

Ron

 

[georgiaboy]

Thanks Ron, I'm actively in search of a "real" front rest..... and the rear rest is positioned there so it would hold the rifle upright for the photo.....

Speaking of which, Chum_Bucket..... check out this thread:

http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18742

....gb

 

[Chum]

Thanks Ron

I have been setting up on a table with blocks of wood topped with one of those styrofoam filled hunting seats for a cushion. I have been just resting the gun butt on the table. That rear bag looks like it would help alot.

 

[050]

The word "styrofoam" to me sounds a lot like the word "Pogostick"

Take an old leg off of a pair of Levi's and cut it a foot or so long. fill it with sand. the styrofoam will always be "bouncy" regardless of how carefully you try to postition the stock on it. the sand will create a solid base, regardless of whether it is packed loose or tight. That setup is NOT the best, but it will do a whole lot better job than styrofoam. :t

 

[Chum]

Ouch $80 for the rock. Looks nice though. Hmmm I was hopeing to build something out of free wood. I think I can figure something out. Ive got some scrap 4x4's I can use to add a little weight to the bottom. The pictures helped alot with some ideas. Thanks. Time to get to work.