What's the proper benchrest technique?

[tpcollins]

I exchanged a benchrest at Cabela's recently for what I think is a more stable one. This summer I mounted an additional rear mounting screw at the rear of my MK-85 and free floated the barrel - and I like how it shoots. A friend suggested I tightly secure the front end (barrel in stock) at the front of my benchrest for consistent shooting. To me, this would negate free floating the barrel and would seem to make my muzzleloader shoot differently in the rest versus off hand in an actual hunting situation. Should I strap down the front end down while shooting or let it float? Thanks.

[mike.dawson]

Free recoil just like you are hunting, put your off hand on the bench and don't grab the forearm to hold it down, do as you do in a hunting shot.
Mike

[wilmsmeyer]

I will disagree with the first response to your post. When hunting you will always have a hand on the forearm.

A firm grip (not a death grip) should be used to hold the rifle firmly on the front rest. Slight down pressure is OK if you can be consistent.

Free recoil and heavy recoil do not mix the same as light recoil and free recoil. Muzzleloaders bark pretty good and when the gun jumps around at will it is not the same as a hunting hold.

[RAF]

Everyone has their own ideas. I personally allow my rifle to free recoil. I do it on the bench and I do it hunting. On the bench I put the rifle in the front rest and use my left hand to squeeze the ears on the rear bag to adjust the elevation. I usually hunt in a blind and put my forearm on the window ledge and rest the rifle on my arm. If I'm out of the blind I'll grab a tree with my left hand and rest the rifle on the back of my hand.
The bottom line is do what you like but be consistent.

[ChrisChampion]

You should shoot from the bench the same way you intend to shoot in the field. RAF's example above shows that not all grip the stock in the field. Some also shoot this way off of shooting sticks. They grip the sticks to steady them and let the gun just rest in the cradle. My muzzleloaders have always shot better groups on paper when the forarms are not gripped. Probably because I can't grip them the exact same way every shot. Heavy recoiling loads or not. Some do grip the stock firmly in the field. Even though my guns shoot better with not gripping them I do my final sight in before the season gripping them because I do grip them in the field.

[whyohe]

i would not "strap" your gun down IMO. i do not grip hard my fore arm and so on the bench i lightly rest my index finger on the top side of the fore arm. i try not to touch the barrel. once i have my gun sighted in at the bench i take shots in positions i use hunting to confirm no majior differances in POI. IMO you will just about always get some variances in POI when changing shooting position cause if the different way you hold the gun and the recoil effect will change slightly causing slight changes in POI. just my opinion.

when you try your hunting position shots an if you are high then try free recoil and see if they hit the same. if you are lowthen at bench try gripping thr fore arm and see if the POI is close. basically do try different things till you get both close to the same POI.