I find that my head is tilted at a 45* angle when shooting BR with my current set up. Would taller rings reduce my head angle? I am trying to figure out how to get my head / neck angle more vertical.
Scope ring height = head angle?
- Thread starter igolfat8
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either taller rings or some "custom" stock work by you . maybe just a different cheek weld lighter more vertical . No law about how hard you push your cheek into the stock.
tall rings and you must figure center to center barrel and scope height
tall rings and you must figure center to center barrel and scope height
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At your next match, maybe take pictures from right and left sides of fellow competitors and their guns without them shooting it, and also have someone take same pictures of you shooting your gun. Try to take photos at approximately the same angle and distance to make later scrutinizing easier.
Perhaps find a shooter of about same physical size as you and shoulder their gun. Head size can matter a lot so sizing someones head to be as close to yours might be difficult. Then at home, print them out and study the similarities and differences very carefully.
Back when I was scuba diving and skydiving, video was super helpful in correcting problems and achieving mastery.
Perhaps find a shooter of about same physical size as you and shoulder their gun. Head size can matter a lot so sizing someones head to be as close to yours might be difficult. Then at home, print them out and study the similarities and differences very carefully.
Back when I was scuba diving and skydiving, video was super helpful in correcting problems and achieving mastery.
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I've always used high rings on my guns as a matter of comfort & proper positioning. I think it's subjective for each person. I always try for what feels the most natural & least uncomfortable.
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When I get a gun I take a guess an loosely mount my scope on it. I get it set on the bench then snuggle up to it with my eyes closed. Once I’m comfortable I open my eyes and immediately know what I need to do with the scope. Unfortunately with most guns that we are being offered by the industry, i have to move the scope up. Then I stand up with my eyes closed, shoulder the gun and do the same thing. What we like from the bench is not always what we will like in the field. If I have to, I’ll compromise.
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I’m struggling with that whole cheek weld thing myself. If id have known fusing my neck would’ve affected shooting my pcp’s I wouldn’t have had that surgery!!
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It’s exactly what I do.. that being said,I make all my own stocks so I know my cheek weld and scope height.
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This has been a very interesting question and discussion. 
Lacking a strong background in firearms, may I ask a couple heretical questions?
I wonder...: There are a lot of requests for higher scope mounting when offhand shooting. — Might that have something to do with people having a habit of shouldering the rifle fairly low on their shoulder — a habit from shooting firearms that have recoil...? 
I wonder... if guns without recoil could be held in non-traditional ways that are more stable than the traditional way (but would be impossible for firearms due to the recoil)?
Just wondering....
An example of such a non-traditional way might be to hold a rifle (bullpup!) not perpendicular to the shooter's chest, but parallel to the chest (across the chest) — that is, the shooter is not facing the target head-on, but standing sideways to the target.
Matthias
Lacking a strong background in firearms, may I ask a couple heretical questions?
I wonder...: There are a lot of requests for higher scope mounting when offhand shooting. — Might that have something to do with people having a habit of shouldering the rifle fairly low on their shoulder — a habit from shooting firearms that have recoil...? I wonder... if guns without recoil could be held in non-traditional ways that are more stable than the traditional way (but would be impossible for firearms due to the recoil)? Just wondering....
An example of such a non-traditional way might be to hold a rifle (bullpup!) not perpendicular to the shooter's chest, but parallel to the chest (across the chest) — that is, the shooter is not facing the target head-on, but standing sideways to the target.
Matthias
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This has been a very interesting question and discussion.
Lacking a strong background in firearms, may I ask a couple heretical questions?
Just wondering....
An example of such a non-traditional way might be to hold a rifle (bullpup!) not perpendicular to the shooter's chest, but parallel to the chest (across the chest) — that is, the shooter is not facing the target head-on, but standing sideways to the target.
Matthias
@JungleShooter Interesting postulate. I’ve actually shot standing sideways with decent results shooting my Evol off of a tripod. One thing I’ve learned to pay closer attention to when doing so is the position of my feet. Maximum tripod height and the terrain comes into play shooting off the tripod. This affects head position and cheek weld placing me/the shooter at varrying heights and angles dictating relative head position, so it’s not the same scenario as shouldering a rifle to take offhand shots. This is what I’ve observed in my limited experience in this area.
Concerning cheek weld when shooting from an ideal height (or close to ideal height) I hadn’t considered the height of the scope rings much at all. I’m often more concerned with the height of the comb on the stock. @igolfat8 I’m wondering if the height of the chair you’re sitting at the bench also if affecting the angle of your head. Do you have an adjustable seat that you can lower so that your head can remain more upright when viewing your target through your scope?
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I use an adjustable height drummer’s throne stool and have played with different heights. I have recently gone to free recoil with nothing touching the rifle except my trigger finger. When I shot with cheek weld and more contact with the rifle it wasn’t as much of a problem as it is now. I’ve found better accuracy shooting free recoil which is why aim not ready to abandon this method of shooting yet.
BigRagu, I too had my C6-C7 vertebras fused due to a dirt bike accident over 25 years ago, that has caused me a lot of discomfort shooting with my head at an angle which is why I am trying to get more upright.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
BigRagu, I too had my C6-C7 vertebras fused due to a dirt bike accident over 25 years ago, that has caused me a lot of discomfort shooting with my head at an angle which is why I am trying to get more upright.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
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As long as you can center your eye in the "eyebox" of the scope, I don't see that it really matters other than personal preference.
Parallax issues really only arise if the eyebox is lenient enough to allow you to see a good sight picture when your eye is not truly centered.
Although small eyeboxes make it difficult to obtain the sight picture quickly, once you do obtain a consistent, steady sight picture, the chances of being off as to parallax is reduced by quite a bit.
It really doesn't matter what angle your head is at as long as the crosshairs indicate you are leveled. Assuming the scope is set up correctly to begin with.
So, do what you have to do to make the head/neck angle more comfortable and make the necessary adjustments accordingly. (grin)
JMHO and don't hesitate to contradict me. (smile)
p.s.
I shoot (from my "pesting sniper window") at all kinds of ridiculous angles which require me to often lay on the floor and twist my neck into positions I would never do, except to get the shot at the pest. So, I think I know at least a little bit about what you are saying... then again... maybe not. (smile)
Parallax issues really only arise if the eyebox is lenient enough to allow you to see a good sight picture when your eye is not truly centered.
Although small eyeboxes make it difficult to obtain the sight picture quickly, once you do obtain a consistent, steady sight picture, the chances of being off as to parallax is reduced by quite a bit.
It really doesn't matter what angle your head is at as long as the crosshairs indicate you are leveled. Assuming the scope is set up correctly to begin with.
So, do what you have to do to make the head/neck angle more comfortable and make the necessary adjustments accordingly. (grin)
JMHO and don't hesitate to contradict me. (smile)
p.s.
I shoot (from my "pesting sniper window") at all kinds of ridiculous angles which require me to often lay on the floor and twist my neck into positions I would never do, except to get the shot at the pest. So, I think I know at least a little bit about what you are saying... then again... maybe not. (smile)
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The most comfortable face position for me is to have the cheek rest on the gun close to my jaw. I gave up decades ago trying to get the mythical perfect cheek weld.
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I use wind flags and shoot with both eyes open and it’s more difficult to see my flags with my head at a 45* angle.
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Using a scope with both eyes open is easier said than done for most people.
For those, like you, who actually CAN do it, it has great benefits! At times, I can do it, but it takes a lot of work for me. (smile)
So, most of the time only the eye looking through the scope is opened to eliminate at least some errant lighting which makes it harder to see the scope sight picture.
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I feel like moving my scope all the way back as far as it’ll go and just turn the shoulder butt into a chest butt and sight thru the scope from the rear, not even touching my face on the stock, lol.
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My scope is all the way to the rear. To reiterate, for free recoil, I do not want any part of my body touching the rifle except my trigger finger.
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I put both scope rings ahead of the turrets and sit behind the gun at the back of the bench. There is no craning needed.
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I have my scopes further back than most. Like Bigragu above, multiple neck surgeries have left me rather inflexible, so I need high rings and a rear bias. Unlike Bigragu above, I am vertically challenged at 5’6”, so that adds to the equation as well, and a repeatable cheek weld and hold is tough to find. I am glad to see someone of Mr. Thomas’s stature buck the trend, and apply a unique solution.
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