Question about pig / hog saddle

[30-6]

It is always drummed in to rifle shooters about using a relaxed hold while holding and firing a weapon, and leaving the barrel harmonics do their thing.

So how can a clamped gun provides this requirement ? Especially when the tripod feet may be on different surfaces so giving different grip / support to the feet.

 

[wymberley]

I've always thought that a relaxed grip referred to the rifle being held by the shooter such that it naturally pointed at the target without undue effort by the shooter forcing it to do so.

[30-6]

With a PCP air it is acceptable to rest the fore end on a hard surface due to the lack of recoil. So I would consider a clamped fore end the same if not worse with regards to accuracy for a recoiling rifle.

[Walker570]

I always rest the forend of my rifle, air, 22rf or full bore in the palm of my hand even on top of a bypod rest which I rarely use.  The only exception is a purpose built tripod rest I made for my Boxer air rifle for use in my chair blind but that has a layer of foam in the rest areas so resembles the soft surface of my hand.   I had an American friend miss a fallow buck at about 60yrds when he rested the rifle on a bottom rail of a post and rail fence.... it taught him a lesson, because he never had another chance on that trip.

The only rifle I take a firm grip of is my 375JDJ which if you don't it will come back and bite you.

[wymberley]

Assuming the barrel is free to do its thing on firing, I've always wondered where the bullet is when all this recoiling is going on.

[Walker570]

I believe the bullet has already departed.  Any interference with barrel harmonic will disturb the trajectory planned.  When I first purchased my PCP air rifle I wondred if it effected that so I did a test and found that it did alter point of aim.  During all of our rifle traing we were told never to rest the rifle on a solid surface, always use our hand as a cushion if no other soft surface was available.    Amazingly it does not appear to effect the use of a bipod.  I always used just one stalking stick when after large quarry, much swifter to get in position and get lined up and follow but I always rested the forend on the thumb and forefinger, not on the stick and it just became second nature.

Many moons ago I put a piece on here about how to use a single stick when kneeling.  Unfortunately the old arthritic legs will not let me get down in that position today, but it was almost like using a high tripod but with better ability to track a moving animal.

[Mr.C]

Surely any rest or bipod is in contact with the fore end of the stock not the barrel. I've seen some one use a rest on the barrel and it did mess up the accuracy. Moved it back on the fore end.... hey presto, back on target.