Load Testing From a Bench - Why?

[Daryl]

Just to show, that indexing balls and centering the sprues is not the only thing that is important,
but trying different powder charges is as well.
A few days ago, Taylor and I did some rest shooting at 25 and 50 yards.
This target was shot with my .50 Beck that Taylor built, Rice Gun Maker's square groove bl. using a .495" cast
ball and the powder charges noted. The 'load' needs a little more fine tuning, but I'm getting there.

10 ounce .021 Denim for patching. No wiping. I should also note, that the 75gr. 3F GOEX load, clover leafed the balls
at 25 yards.

This shows that, the same as with modern rifles, a good shooting load at close range, does not necessarily mean good
shooting load at longer ranges.

[Percy]

If I'm  reading your target right it looks like 2 different loads to me.

Percy

[RichG]

I'd try 90 grains and see if group continues getting smaller or opens up. there's usually a sweet spot  that shoots best with any combination.

[smylee grouch]

Good topic Daryl. Enclosed is photo of a bench session I had on a nice calm morning, no wind and  over cast sky. I had shot 5 shots and looked through the spotting scope and only seen a ragged hole. Not sure if I had shot 5 I walked down to check it out. I was happy with what I saw so thought I would try 5 more. By this time the sun had poked through and with the same load and hold I sent three way off. The sun will play some mean tricks on you some times.

[Pukka Bundook]

Very important point, Smylee.

[Don Steele]

There are very real "bench technique" points involved whenever you sit down to shoot over a rest ( or two..). Consistent results require consistent technique and it's not quite as simple as just sittin' there punching holes in the paper.
Whenever I go to the bench for load development or any sort of T&E exercise I always find groups tighten the more I shoot with any given combination. When you're doing everything just right, starting with the load choice, the loading procedure, and your technique at the shooting bench...flyers start to disappear.

[alacran]

Don you are quite right . When I used to compete in crosstick matches. I would spend a few relays just practicing at 100 yards. So much of the shooting, discounting wind and mirage is proper technique.  Finding a load that seems to work one session must be verified with subsequent sessions to weed out statistical probability.

[smylee grouch]

When shooting in any style, consistency is key. As noted, shooting off the bench for load development or sight in  should be more than resting the gun and shooting. Consistent placement on the bags, hold, finger placement and even where you place your target on the backer can affect different changes to POI.

[Daryl]

I fully believe that technique in shooting off a rest, is about 40% of the accuracy, however if you don't have good technique
you simply will not shoot to the potential of the load.
Yes, Percy - 2 different loads as marked.
SmyleeG - nice shooting. Great potential in that load - I'd likely stick with it and work on patching - maybe. About those 3 on the right.
It is difficult to shoot through changing conditions, for sure.  Shaders certainly help.
This is the first time I've put this rifle on paper, other than the other postal matches we've done, but that was all offhand shooting. Same
with the .36 bl. on my squirrel rifle - hadn't gotten around to benching either of them - yet.  It's time. Been shooting them both on the
trail for quite a while. The sights on the squirrel rifle came off the .32 bl. and onto the .36- no change. LOL - rather sloppy of me.

[Jeff Murray]

I've had the best(most consistant) results with a north facing range, shaded bench and morning shooting sessions.  One local range faces south and you can go blind trying to shoot in the afternoon, even with shaders.  Wind seems to be more cooperative in the morning.

[smylee grouch]

Jeff. That's a good point and most of the rifle and trap shooting ranges I have shot at are laid out to shoot north.

[alacran]

Jeff. That's a good point and most of the rifle and trap shooting ranges I have shot at are laid out to shoot north.

That is why I love to shoot at Ben Avery in Phoenix.

[smylee grouch]

Yes Ben Avery is set up nice as is the Whitington Center range in Raton, NM. My own range at my cabin is also set up to shoot north.

[Daryl]

That whitetail doe almost looks like an archery target.

[hanshi]

Unfortunately for me nowadays you could load my rifle with blue match heads and I still wouldn't hit anything important.

[smylee grouch]

That doe came out of hiding about 5 min. After I had stoped shooting for the evening. I think she knew the season was still two months away. 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

That has happened to me several times.  A group of us were blasting away on the CAS range one evening, and I turned to see a mule deer buck standing on top of the thirty foot berm on the handgun range next door.  He had a great view - wasn't in the least alarmed.

[recurve]

because you need to know how well the rifle can shoot with the load you have (then add you ,to find out what you're able to do with it)

[Maven]

I don't know about you fellows, but as I get older, vision becomes a major factor in sighting in a rifle.  At 25- and 50 yd., I'm reasonably certain I can shoot well from the bench and thus, less than optimum results are my doing, especially with open/primitive sights.  At 100 yd., even from a bench, I'm not sure whether it's me or the gun.  Ergo, for serious load development, whether CF cartridge rifle or ML rifle with primitive sights, 50 yd. is the maximum range I'll bench test my guns.  It has also "ruined" my offhand skills!

[Sharpsman]

In my opinion and experience using a 'modern' style bench rest technique is for the birds! Having the rifle elevated on a modern style rest causes excess recoil and also somewhat places the shooters body in a position that is not conducive to consistent accuracy! This photo shows what I use. The front of my chest/body is up against the bench, the rifle is held with my forward hand up at the front of the forearm of the rifle and the hand is placed atop or against a rolled up shooting mat! The rifle is pulled rearward very snugly into my shoulder and is held that way throughout recoil. If I were concerned about shooting standing/offhand I would first desire to know what the rifle/load is capable of and that can only be established with any degree of success by shooting from a stabilized position! Frankly....I don't need to shoot offhand because I don't shoot competition and as for hunting...there's always something to use as a rest, whether it be across my knee, the side of a blind, or a tree!

IMG_0677 by Sharps Man, on Flickr

[Daryl]

I found years ago, I cannot rest my chest against the table due to heart rate pulses.
This was not visible with iron sights, but certainly is when using a scope. Thus, I do not
rest my chest against the table.  My 3-legged bench-rest is not higher than your rolled
up blanket. I prefer the benchrest with it's sand bag as it is consistent, never changing.

[smylee grouch]

Some folks use a different bench position for working up loads and sighting in. I have both a sit down bench, stand up bench and a strung rope that lets me shoot off hand with some extra support. The stand up bench and rope help with heavy kickers.

One side of the shooting deck has the upright bench for left handers and the other side for right handers with the sit down bench in between them.

[Jeff Murray]

I prefer sand bags on a solid bench. Have used both a single and double bag setup while sighting in.  The double bag helps steady the rifle when shooting at longer ranges.  I have also used the safety padding from my motorcycle jacket to help with the recoil on larger calibers.  The Ben Avery range is a superior facility and hosted the NMLRA Western Nationals while that event was active.  I was sighting in a rifle on the public range there several years ago when a mule deer strolled out on the 100 yard range to enjoy some fresh grass.  The range officer used the PA to tell the shooters "don't even think about it".  We all thought but did not act. 

[smylee grouch]

Well I sure hope we can have the big shoot at Ben Avery nxt year, (2021). Good shoot at a great range.

[R.J.Bruce]

I can recall reading an article of Elmer Keith's years ago when he was discussing the sighting in of heavy recoiling British double rifles. He stated that all of the English gun makers of such weapons had built what he termed "a standing bench rest".

This allowed the gun makers to test fire those humongous guns without sustaining permanent damage to their bodies. He went on to say that he had duplicated such a standing bench rest at his place in Salmon, Idaho.

Since I have never liked shooting at a sitting bench rest, I have always thought that I would like to build one of them for myself some day.