.04 MOA All Day Long If I Do My Part.

Those ARA cards are very high X counts. You would win most local ARA club matches.

thomasair said:

Very few shooters don't look through the scope when firing. Thats kind of a bush league technique if you ask me. I'm always making last second adjustments before firing...so if I wasn't constantly looking through the scope would be problematic. By all means... hug you gun if you think it helps.

Mike

Click to expand...

I definitely agree Mike. Can’t imagine taking a record shot without looking thru my scope. I hug my gun because I think this is the real way to test my skill - the old fashioned way.

Those X counts are good but what intrigues myself most is the consistency from Mike time after time, and that's what wins matches.

tommyb said:

Thanks..

I assume this process is used only when you have a mechanical front rest vs. using a bipod like an Accu-Tac for example. In other words, can you use your same process with a front bipod vs. a mechanical rest?

That aside, let me make sure I am following what you do here Troy.

So, you use the side adjust on your Bald Eagle mechanical front rest to "move your cross hairs to the adjacent bull," and then lift the butt of your rear protektor bag while pushing forward; and then drop the butt of your rear Protektor bag and reset your POA for the next bull. Is that right?

Also, since I don't have a Thomas, I do cradle my body around my rear bag with light cheek weld and I typically have 6-8oz 2nd stage release on my triggers. I totally understand the notion of not touching the bench or your gun and not looking thru the scope -- but if I had to do all of that, I would get another hobby.

In other words, I want to feel the gun and look through the scope and pull the trigger when I shoot from the bench, but I do get why others use the approach you mention. Not a critique, just not me.

I also will admit that not touching the bench, the gun or the trigger on a solid front and rear rest set up, can remove many of the errors that I wrestle with using my traditional approach.

Click to expand...

I only use a bipod (Atlas) with my M3 and when shooting from a barricade or table top.

When sniping the M16A1 target at 100 yards you must ensure the bipod legs are not torqued/twisted.

To do this you get on target and then holding only the butt of the rifle you ghost ring the target through the scope and gently let the butt of the rifle drift until the rifle-bipod finds its natural torque free point of aim. You then use your free hand to the lift the rifle-bipod to move it on target. When you're rifle-bipod is straight on target and not torqued you will find very little movement in the system when you let it drift . You then lightly push forward on the rifle-bipod to load the system so you can bring your shoulder to the butt and assume the firing position.

When done right the only adjustment to be made before sending it is elevation

I have never figured out how to correctly forward load a bipod using a rear rest.

In three-point the only points touching the table are the two feet of the bipod and your non trigger elbow (non trigger hand sets elevation, minor windage adjustment & lightly forward loads the bipod. The bipod should be set high enough so you are not leaning over and your body orientation to the gun should be the same as shooting off-hand and far enough from the table that nothingon on your body is touching it.

Oh, I forgot! Your understanding of how I use the Eagle is correct.

thomasair said:

Ok, here is 35 4 shot groups at 50y outdoors.

For the first shot in every group I tried to hold what I felt was the appropriate amount so I could keep the groups mostly near the middle. For the remaining 3 shots of each group , I held in the same place as the first but tried to shoot in a similar condition. This was done to take me out of the test as much as possible for an outdoor situation.

Why 4 shot groups?

Read this. http://www.the-long-family.com/group_size_analysis.htm

This gun is set up the best that I am currently capable of for 50y.

So the 35 group average is .372 MOA at 50y. 140 shots in total.

What do you reckon the chances are for an exceptionally talented Indian with a 1 MOA gun to beat this gun in the hands of a mid level Indian? I’m guessing pretty close to zero.

This concludes the Benchrest lesson for today.

Mike View attachment 343441

Click to expand...

I just re-read this thread today and I had forgotten about how many groups (35) were in the representative sample size. I watched the Brian Litz video and he advocated using large sample sizes when trying to draw one or two conclusions about the gun and the shooting session. Even though the conversation was about powder burners and not air rifles, the principles were relevant to our hobby.

I wish I had a dime for how many times I would begin to form an unknowingly ‘wrong’ conclusion after testing out a tune or a change with a various pellet because I shot only four or five 5-shot groups and thought the gun was as good as it can get. I’m a convert now to shooting larger sample sizes with greater number of shots before I can assess my gun’s performance, or more importantly ‘my’ setup and performance.

Mike's guns are AMAZING! If you really want one, get on his waiting list. You will have plenty of time to save up the balance

Nice fly splatter BTW.

igolfat8 said:

Mike's guns are AMAZING! If you really want one, get on his waiting list. You will have plenty of time to save up the balance

Nice fly splatter BTW.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I saw his work. His guns are really nice. I'd like to have one someday.

The gun shows very good potential lol