Bipod, Bags or Front Rest - what's best for Hunting Rifle Load Development?

[HuntingBronco]

I have a feeling some of my rifles are finicky in terms of how they shoot depending on what I am using to steady them and myself for bench work and load development. BR guys spend a small fortune on rest apparatus, and as far as I can tell - pursue nearly free recoil with bag wax and what not. Seems easy to get sucked in - some of my lightweight rifles really don't like my technique with a bipod....so they end up on a bag with free hand pressure on the fore end....

So many choices - what are you all doing?

 

[338 dude]

I have a feeling some of my rifles are finicky in terms of how they shoot depending on what I am using to steady them and myself for bench work and load development. BR guys spend a small fortune on rest apparatus, and as far as I can tell - pursue nearly free recoil with bag wax and what not. Seems easy to get sucked in - some of my lightweight rifles really don't like my technique with a bipod....so they end up on a bag with free hand pressure on the fore end....

So many choices - what are you all doing?

Duplicate what you'll be using in the field that is what counts what good is it to develop a good load then use a totally different technique in the field I'm sure the results will change as well

 

[Jud96]

For load development, I use a Caldwell Rock BR front rest and a big homemade rear sand bag. This allows me to get very steady and gives me good repeatability and confidence.

 

[idcwby]

Duplicate what you'll be using in the field that is what counts what good is it to develop a good load then use a totally different technique in the field I'm sure the results will change as well

This. If your going to make your long shots off a bipod, work the load up that way, so you and the gun are use to it.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I prefer to have as much control over load work up as possible so I know what the gun will do under "perfect" conditions. Then when I do some positional shooting to prepare for a hunt I know if it's me or the position because the baseline I created during work up is solid.