What a difference a rest makes (in point-of-impact)!

[bandg]

Bandg,

You are arguing against Newtonian physics and your argument has little chance of success. Just because you have not experienced POI shift between rested and unrested pistol shooting does not mean the principle is invalid. Obviously, if pistol recoil is minimal, so is this effect. That doesn't mean it isn't happening. It simply means you have not detected it. The greater the recoil the more obvious this effect is. This is very easy to demonstrate. If you take any pistol with a recoil and compare the barrel line with the guns shooting group center, you will see a significant difference of sometimes greater than a foot at 25 yards. This occurs because the pistol's recoil resistance occurs at the grip and the grip is substantially below the recoil thrust line (the barrel). The greater that distance difference is, the greater the rocking leverage is for any given load. You will note that this is not so much of a factor with a rifle because the shoulder is much more inline with the barrel. That said then, it stands to reason that anything the pistol shooter does to change the pistol's recoil resistance will change the POI. I can go on and state examples, but it would be redundant. My point here is that when you sight in a pistol, it can only be for one circumstance of pistol support. You choose which one.

At least you are open minded enough to say "just because you have not experienced POI shift between rested and unrested pistol shooting does not mean the principle is invalid". The OP in this thread stated that what he experienced would apply to all pistols. How is that possible if I don't experience it when I shoot my pistols? I'm not saying OP didn't experience something or that you don't, I'm saying that I don't so it cannot be universal. Pretty simple actually.

I don't agree because my experience has shown me it isn't "always" true. Different with different pistols? Probably. Much harder to detect in some instances? Almost certainly. I guess the question is, how relevant to each shooter is this claimed effect. 

Why do you assume that a pistol can't recoil when rested. It will still recoil, it isn't "strapped down" in any fashion. It is simply rested on a surface. As I've stated, I zero my pistols (recreational and concealed carry) rested but I don't always shoot them rested. They are shot offhand to practice "actual use". Zeroing rested assures shooter instability has as small an effect on accurate zero as possible. Same as zeroing a rifle on a rest. If I were experiencing a different POI after doing a rested zero and subsequently shooting offhand then I would agree with you and state that the act of simply resting the pistol changes POI. Problem is, I don't experience that.

 

[steve-l]

I didn't state the pistol does not recall when rested, of course it does, but it will not recoil the same as when it is not rested. I was in my younger years a very competitive pistol shooter. As a competitive shooter, I was also a reloader for both economic reasons and ammunition consistency. I always used a Ransom rest when developing loads to eliminate shooter frailties. The POI when using the ransom rest was never the same as when I was shooting the same gun with the same load. The use of the Ransom rest was to isolate the load from other inconsistencies, like the shooter Because you don't experience the difference does not mean it does not exist. Do not deny the physics. Newton is alive and well. It is not Newton's fault you cannot detect the difference. I am however, very happy you're happy.

 

[bandg]

"you cannot detect the difference". There is no functional difference. I shoot to the same POI whether rested or not. I'm certainly sorry that you aren't able to do the same. Must be frustrating. But I hope that you are happy as well. I don't think Newton is concerned at all.