Strong vs light hold (with pic)

[Kevin1]

This is shot at 50 yards with 22lr bulk ammo
It’s a sporter rifle with wood stock that has been professionally bedded.

I notice a much better grouping with a strong hold (bottom of the target).
A light hold gives less accuracy.

Why such big difference? Is this because it has a light weight stock?
Would a strong hold make also a difference in shooting a centerfire round in a heavy synthetic, aluminum bedded stock?

 

[DJ 480]

sounds like somthing is making contact...elaberate more on what you mean by "hold"

 

[Kevin1]

Shooting with a bipod and a rear rest. The rifle has nice bedding and is free floated.

Light hold: A light grip, with the stock gently touching the shoulder. Same exact position shot to shot.
Strong hold: A firm grip applying pressure from the stock to the shoulder.

 

[[email protected]]

I would like to hear some insight on this as well please, can someone elaborate.

 

[Graham]

Take the shooter out of the equasion and I don't see that much of a difference on that paper.

 

[bm11]

I find that a .22lr needs a consistent, firm hold, to maximize accuracy. It is in this respect that it is a valuable "trainer," it shows me on paper when I am not focusing 100%.

To be clear- I am not "death gripping" it, I am holding firm pressure to the rear. A loose hold results in too much movement after the trigger is pressed, and it makes a difference down range due to the much longer time the .22 bullet is in the barrel compared to a centerfire.

 

[Kevin1]

Take the shooter out of the equasion and I don't see that much of a difference on that paper.

Strong hold is obviously grouping better. If anything, I wasn’t able to be as consistent with a strong hold compared to light hold (it’s tiring and harder overall. Not to mention I was at the end of the session and started to lose concentration).

Bm11: it does make sense what you’re saying about the vibration and the longer travel time of the bullet. Thanks.

 

[FequalsMA]

When using a bipod there is a happy medium between freecoil and a death grip. It's all about what the gun experiences during recoil. The more consistent the rifle recoils the more consistent the grouping will be.

The problem with freecoil / very light hold, is that when using a bipod the rifle is not in the same position from shot to shot. Once the target is required the feet of the bipod are most likely in a different location, the rear bag is holding the stock a bit different, your shoulder is most likely not on the but pad which means it could be higher or lower than previous shots. Because the rifle is completely free to recoil these small changes are not dampened by the shooter.

When using a death grip you are applying excessive forces into the rifle with your cheek weld, hands, shoulder... The problem with this is that none of these forces will be the same every time. We are only human. By applying excess force, any error in position or force of the cheek, hands, or shoulder gets amplified.

So find a happy medium and stick with it!

 

[XL Mammal]

^^ This. I've found I get my best results when the only tension is a slight amount in the bicep of my trigger arm pulling the rifle STRAIGHT back into the shoulder pocket. The trick is to keep everything else relaxed...especially the trigger finger and thumb.

 

[Kevin1]

Great advice regarding the “happy medium” hold as well as the slight tension in the bicep.
That’s what I did and it made a difference. It was easier to shoot and to have a better trigger control.

Below groups were shot with the same exact setup and same ammo (rifle tunnel at 50 yards, Harris bipod, rear rest, bulk ammo).
On my second grouping, there is a flyer. It could be because I was getting used to the medium hold. But it’s probably just a bad ammo. Remember, this is not match ammo. It’s HV bulk ammo (CCI AR tactical)

 

[FequalsMA]

Happy you found the medium!

 

[Kevin1]

I have recently purchased a high velocity spring break barrel airgun.

To get the best accuracy with a spring airgun, all the available sources recommend using the “artillery hold”. This is a very light hold with follow-through that would allow having the same vibration patterns.

Why the techniques to shoot a 22lr would be any different than the Artillery hold for airguns?