Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong (shooting from a rest)?

[uncoolperson]

A few months back I built a gun rest to attach to a camera tripod, thinking I was pretty smart and all that.

It's pretty cool, seems to hold fairly steadier than my two arms do on their own.

But for some reason I can't group, I think I actually shoot better standing with my rifle than with this thing... which is weird, cause I don't shoot good without some kind of a rest (gots me a tremor).

I'm not talking hundreds of yards out, but 50 my grouping quadruples.

I'm not resting the barrel on the rest, I'm resting the stock further back than where my bipod attaches. I've tried all kinds of different positions sitting, and I still can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Any ideas?

[jackelope]

maybe it's the gun.

have you shot it off of a bench at the range?

what kind of gun, scope, ammo, caliber, etc?

lets get the specifics.

[rasbo]

let a buddie shoot it...see if it does the same thing...

[uncoolperson]

same rifle standing, on the tripod from a bipod, 4 different rifles. It's technique I'm screwing up.

(2 AR's, remmy 700 in 06, and some 06 a friend was looking at getting)

Slightly better when friends give it a go, but still not quiet right.

I could understand it not being equal with a bipod, but it's really not accomplishing what I had hoped for... figure it must just be something different that I need to figure out.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Growing up in the New England woods, I was taught to brace my forearm and body against a tree, but instructed to NOT rest my rifle against the tree trunk, as it would cause the bullet to hit off-target.  As a result, I always brace my hand or arm that is holding the rifle, not the rifle on the rest if it is rigid (sand bag, rolled up coat, etc. is supposed to be ok).  When I shoot using shooting sticks, my rifle rests on my left hand, which is clasping the sticks.  Not the sticks themselves.

I have no idea if any of this is true, it works for me so I've not experimented.  Good luck!

[jackelope]

you're flinching or jerking the trigger.

[mazama]

Are you saying you are using camera tripod as a rest, show us a picture.

[BLKBEARKLR]

It almost sounds like you are leaning into the rifle, if that is the situation then you are changing your a lot of the variables, stock to cheek, sight picture, sight alignment. All of those together are an ugly combo to fix.

I would get on a bench that is not acceptable to movement and try it again.

Joe

[uncoolperson]

I just took something like this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G3BB9K
filled it with softair bb's (lighter than lead)
attached it to a chunk of metal, used a nut to attach that to my camera tripod and bam rifle tripod.

Next time I'm out I'll see about me leaning into it too much, after thinking about it some I think it might be the opposite (not getting a good solid grasp because it's not as solid as I'd hoped). That might be the jerking the trigger, like I said it isn't just me. So I guess holding it too lightly and pulling the trigger might cause some movement.

Thanks for the input.

[Mookie]

And it sounds like you are putting pressure on the stock which will cause inconsistent shots. You also are probably gripping the rifle tighter than normal

I am betting it is not the rifle, but how the rifle is rested.

[ICEMAN]

Have someone else load the rifle where you cannot see. Ask them to mix it up...sneak in an empty chamber and hand it to you.......this will show you if you are yanking the trigger... Remember, you should not really know when the gun will fire....if you are yanking the trigger...as your crosshair wanders over the target...quickly pulling the trigger when your mind says "Now!"....you will jerk the shot...  Instead, hold steady, exhale, and when you runout of air...take a steady shot.

[littlebuf]

use a rear sand bag and see if your doing the same thing. you can concentrate more on your trigger pull or jerk or flinch if that's what it is if you have a rear sand bag as well

[jackelope]

and use the sandbags to hold the gun. ...take as much of yourself out of the equation as possible.

[uncoolperson]

I'll give that a shot ( ) perhaps there's something going on allowing us to flinch differently than normal.

[Jamieb]

Shooting standing up with the aid of a tripod or tall shooting sticks is alot harder then most would think. Even though most of the weight of the rifle is on the rest your still supporting alot, too much for me to shoot good groups. On a bench, sitting, laying with a bi pod or bags.etc. you've got the bench or the ground steadying you. I played with tall shooting sticks for awhile, my shots strung vertically pretty consistently. If I could lean back against a post or something solid then I could do pretty good but just standing with the rifle over sticks I suck. I gave up on the tall sticks along time ago, there's almost always something around to rest on and when there's not I can shoot off hand pretty well. I've practised alot at 100 yards on one knee and sitting with my legs crossed, knee's up to rest my elbows on, not bench rest accurate but good enough. I'll always take laying down shooting over a pack when I can and its the only way I'll stretch the range past a few hundred yards on game. Besides a steady rest shooting good groups takes consistency in every thing and concentration. Consistency and concentration get easier with practise. I very rarely shoot for groups after load work up, I dont care much for shooting paper. Shooting rocks or other targets of opportunity at diffrent ranges with whatever natural rest is available is fun. I jusrt read everything I typed and I probably could have just said junk the tripod.