Rifle torque on front rest - Fore-end hop

[ovenpaa]

Shooting with a front rest is very new to me and I seem to be getting excessive hop at the front of my 7mm and I am not sure how to stop/reduce it.

I use a Farley Coax II at the front and a SEB rear bag. The front bag is not over packed and I use a former cut to the same profile as my rifle to keep the bag shape when it is not in use. The rifle is an F Open and weighs in at as near to 10kgs as I can get it. The fore-end is 75mm wide. The rear bag could do with a bit more weight in it.

I am shooting 180 grain Bergers in a 7mm SAUM currently at 2950fps.

I initially tried a hard hold but results seemed erratic so I moved to semi free recoil where I put some downwards pressure to the stock with my right thumb and keep my shoulder close to the butt so it acts as a stop but not much more. This gives me more repeatable results but I get quite a big torque reaction where the stock twists and partly climbs out of the front rest bag and then returns to position, watching other people the rifle seems to recoil a lot more smoothly than mine. Is this normal or am I lacking something in my technique or set up

[artiglio]

Good afternoon Ovenpaa,

Had/have exactly same issues , seem to be resolving them slowly, biggest improvement was made experimenting with balance of rifle on bags, for me this has meant getting rest well forward and rear bag as far back as possible, alignment of bag and rest also important. Gun Pimp sent me an article he wrote I'll see if I can forward it.

Regards phil

[ovenpaa]

Thanks Phil, a copy of the article will be handy. I do keep my front rest at the front and always return it to the stop between shots, the rear bag is a SEB that belongs to Christel and I know it is too light for my rifle plus her rifle butt profile is different to mine, I notice that I have to move it back periodically. At present I rest the bag on my shooting mat and that could be part of the problem as well.

I have got to invest in a rear bag for myself soon and get some heavy sand in it to keep it in place.

I have a string that I use for aligning the front and rear bags but trying to get everything in line with a frame over half a mile away is not easy.

Do you use any talcum powder or similar to help with tracking?

[Gun Pimp]

Ovenpaa,

If you are using Cordura - as opposed to leather - ears, you should use a silicone spray to help with 'slide'. If you are using leather (not good in rain) then use talc as a lubricant. You can get silicone spray from any Shell garage.

It's hard to get a good stable rear bag set up on a mat on grass but a thin mat will help here as will a heavy bag - i.e. filled with heavy sand.

You shouldn't experience too much torque - I don't from my 7mmWSM.

The top F Class guys have various solutions to rear bag set-up. Preferably go along to a shoot and have a look.

Vince