Free Recoil on Light Rifle Affecting Accuracy?

[HSmithTX]

Free hand on top of the scope pulling down will help a lot on a bipod off a bench, I can spot impacts with an 11 pound 28 nosler doing this.

 

[Andrew Massi]

I'd ditch the Caldwell rest and shoot off a bipod with proper shoulder pressure. Your rear bag placement, angle aND weight will all help with muzzle rise.

 

[charliewhisky]

I initially read that as "chink sling". I thought "hmmm this is interesting. Maybe a Korean War vet designed it" lol

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ching_sling check it out

 

[Don Titus]

My Tikka T3x Superlite 30 06 is a thumper with 178 grain ELD-x handloads.

I shoot off a Caldwell Rock front rest and a rear bag.

I've found that Tikka can be tricky to shoot accurate. I don't have a flinch and follow through on the shot but man that muzzle jumps. I wonder if reducing that muzzle jump would improve accuracy.

I'm considering a Witt's clamp on brake or just holding the stock when shooting.

Anyone find allowing a light rifle to freely recoil off a front rest affect accuracy?

I have the same set up you do, but in 300 WM with a factory brake. I don't mind the recall at all. In fact the recoil in my T3X is considerably less than both my Sako Finnbear 30-06 and my Mauser Bauer in .308.

I would urge you to have a factory Tikka brake installed, it should reduce recoil by at least 40%.

 

[nealm66]

This works for me. Helps with bipods on a bench as well. Pull the butt of the rifle hard into your shoulder a few times till you find the spot where it doesn't come off target keeping thumb forwards. Then while having a mild pull into my shoulder, I put the ball of my index finger on the trigger without gripping and thumb forwards so nothing to send it sideways on recoil. I also use this method offhand and tripod. Hope this helps

 

[nealm66]

I forgot to add to keep your cheek weld very light although you should notice this when repeatedly pulling back into your shoulder. It will also find bad rests, sling studs, and barrels not lined up in the channel etc. Doesn't hurt to do a couple dry fires looking for movement while setting up

 

[General RE LEE]

Different rifle but here is my bench set up. Caldwell Rock front rest and Protektor rear bag. My 7mm STW Sendero is heavy and I can easily spot my shots. My light .30-06 Tikka goes flying at the shot. My Sendero barely moves with the Little Bastard brake.

 

[Andrew Massi]

Different rifle but here is my bench set up. Caldwell Rock front rest and Protektor rear bag. My 7mm STW Sendero is heavy and I can easily spot my shots. My light .30-06 Tikka goes flying at the shot. My Sendero barely moves with the Little Bastard brake.

That front rest is doing you no favors with recoil management, but there's plenty of meat in the tikka barrel to thread for a brake. Might as well

 

[nealm66]

It looks like a good setup to me. I did load work up on a light tikka in 300 wsm last year and definitely noticed the trigger not helping me. I checked and it was at 3lbs but for some reason it felt like a lot more. Not hard to lighten it if I remember the directions were in the box or YouTube. I can spot my shots with some pretty violent recoil but I really couldn't say how I do it. I've caught myself relaxing too much and have had my ear muffs ripped of my head and can't hear nothing but a ring for a good while so it's a double edged sword

 

[General RE LEE]

It looks like a good setup to me. I did load work up on a light tikka in 300 wsm last year and definitely noticed the trigger not helping me. I checked and it was at 3lbs but for some reason it felt like a lot more. Not hard to lighten it if I remember the directions were in the box or YouTube. I can spot my shots with some pretty violent recoil but I really couldn't say how I do it. I've caught myself relaxing too much and have had my ear muffs ripped of my head and can't hear nothing but a ring for a good while so it's a double edged sword

I installed the Mountain Tactical trigger spring. Excellent trigger now.

 

[ericbc7]

I had a Witt clamp on muzzle brake on my T-3 hunter in 30-06 and was impressed at how well it worked. Later I had the barrel threaded for my suppressor so took it off in favor of a threaded brake. The clamp-on never slipped during the 60 or so rounds of Hornady light mag I put through it, but a couple of the screws that came with it seemed soft. I didn't have a torque wrench at the time.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

The only thing that matters is what happens when the bullets in the barrel. Light guns will not shoot as well as heavy guns. 100% fact. More mass moves less. Brakes dont help, the bullet is long gone by the time you feel any recoil. Everyone wants the lightest rifle possible, they dont seem to realize they are giving up accuracy.

 

[General RE LEE]

The only thing that matters is what happens when the bullets in the barrel. Light guns will not shoot as well as heavy guns. 100% fact. More mass moves less. Brakes dont help, the bullet is long gone by the time you feel any recoil. Everyone wants the lightest rifle possible, they dont seem to realize they are giving up accuracy.

My heavy Sendero 7mm STW is an accurate platform. I will say lighter recoiling cartridges are better in light rifles. My Tikka 6.5 CM is a tack driver.

I will say my Tikka 30-06 is a tack driver as well but it takes more effort to get tight groups.

 

[wasskeet]

Brakes definitely help felt recoil, but my ears hate them. I struggle with muzzle flip on a heavy 7RM. It is primarily shot off a bench with a Harris bipod. Accuracy is acceptable but spotting my hits is nearly impossible. Ive tried changing up my hold and installed a good brake, but still can't spot my hits without adjusting after shot. I don't have this problem with a light 308 win. There are so many things that effect rifle position after the shot. I am going to keep trying different things including different rifles and cartridges until I find a something that I am happy with.

Speculation from one of the less knowledgeable here, but I'd say a good stock would help immensely. One that has less drop at the toe in particular. Get lined up on the bench with your 7 mag, then simply move the gun back about 1/2" and see how far off target you are. That and as Alex Wheeler stated, more weight. These two things sure helped me.