Point of Impact shift off of sticks

Catahoula

Catahoula

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I’m seeing a point of impact shift when shooting off of sticks. It’s not enough that I’m concerned about it in the field, but it’s more than I’ve seen in the past. This is a rifle I acquired about a year ago, and have shot extensively, but this is the first time shooting it off of shooting sticks. Rifle is a Remington 700 in 270 Win, with Meopta 3-15x scope. The pictured groups were shot this morning at 150 yards. The group on the right was shot prone using my daypack as a rest. The group on the left was shot off of a Bog tripod standing. I haven’t shot off of sticks in a couple of years and don’t remember this type of shift with other rifles in the past. Is this just the nature of this rifle, or is it more likely that I’m rusty and need to work on my technique? I shot several groups from this rifle and the pictured results are fairly consistent.

IMG_4543.jpeg
 
Could be you induced a pressure point onto the barrel while holding the rifle on the sticks.

Could be your head is not aligned the same behind the scope between prone and standing behind sticks. I notice this difference a great deal now because due to neck disc souvenir from the Army, it hurts to shoot from prone due to the compression of holding my head up so much. My group/zero always shifts between prone and bench or sticks.

And yes, you need more practice - we all do!
 
I have never had a rifle shift POI off the sticks. I assume you are not letting the barrel itself rest on them?
 
I think you need to shoot a few more groups to confirm. That’s a very good group at 150 yards off a bog pod standing. I’d find a way to support your elbow on the trigger arm (assuming right) and see where your groups go.
I have seen a POI shift when I’m not lined up square to the target. I’m sure it’s me and my form, but I’ve repeated it multiple times. Example shooting a target in front the swinging right to simulate an animal that ran and stopped.
 
I’ve been shooting off a BOG death grip a lot lately while thermal hunting for coyotes. Using a pretty highly modified AR. It is dead on from the bench. And hard to hit using the tripod. I’m getting better but it does take practice. The benefit of the thermal is I have the videos showing what happened. So I can see that I’m pulling the rifle off target when I shoot. It has made me practice different and use the sticks different. There is definitely a learning curve. Experiment with how you stand and grip the rifle off the BOG.
 
bakerb said:
I’ve been shooting off a BOG death grip a lot lately while thermal hunting for coyotes. Using a pretty highly modified AR. It is dead on from the bench. And hard to hit using the tripod. I’m getting better but it does take practice. The benefit of the thermal is I have the videos showing what happened. So I can see that I’m pulling the rifle off target when I shoot. It has made me practice different and use the sticks different. There is definitely a learning curve. Experiment with how you stand and grip the rifle off the BOG.
Click to expand...
No one wants to do it, but having someone load the rifie for you with an empty really helps identify what you do as the trigger breaks. Recoil covers up a lot of bad habits shooters miss otherwise or don’t think is occurring.
 
I’d have someone check with a thin piece of paper to see if the barrel is still floated while you are on the sticks in shooting position (Make sure gun is empty, but act like you are shooting) the only thing is can be is pressure on the barrel if it’s the gun. Could be you are consistently moving with the trigger pull while on the sticks as well, but that’s not on the gun.
 
First question, are you gripping just the forearm and resting it on sticks or wrapping your hand around head on sticks and holding down gun at same time.
I have seen it when holding gun too tight with support hand, you are pulling them left. May need try different grip with support hand.
 
Catahoula said:
I’m seeing a point of impact shift when shooting off of sticks. It’s not enough that I’m concerned about it in the field, but it’s more than I’ve seen in the past. This is a rifle I acquired about a year ago, and have shot extensively, but this is the first time shooting it off of shooting sticks. Rifle is a Remington 700 in 270 Win, with Meopta 3-15x scope. The pictured groups were shot this morning at 150 yards. The group on the right was shot prone using my daypack as a rest. The group on the left was shot off of a Bog tripod standing. I haven’t shot off of sticks in a couple of years and don’t remember this type of shift with other rifles in the past. Is this just the nature of this rifle, or is it more likely that I’m rusty and need to work on my technique? I shot several groups from this rifle and the pictured results are fairly consistent.

View attachment 749761
Click to expand...
I think this is a good group for that distance shooting from a stick.
 
Mark Biggerstaff said:
First question, are you gripping just the forearm and resting it on sticks or wrapping your hand around head on sticks and holding down gun at same time.
I have seen it when holding gun too tight with support hand, you are pulling them left. May need try different grip with support hand.
Click to expand...
Good advice. I don’t think I’m putting pressure on the stock, but I’ll watch that next time I shoot.
 
IMO, change anything and your POI changes slightly. I haven't noticed a big difference between rifles, but throw in a different direction for the breeze...

I prefer to just Zero off the sticks (preferably Quads), if same as expected to use hunting. Most practice is the same way.
 
When shooting off a tripod, I too get a very slight left shift in point of impact.

However, when I switch to quad sticks, the shift disappears

My thinking, it’s probably my timing on the trigger break or a little lateral input. There’s definitely more movement to manage on the tripod compared to the quad sticks, which feel more natural and stable.

I chalk it up to be:
  • Adding a bit of side pressure with my trigger hand, or
  • Slightly steering the rifle while trying to control the wobble on the tripod.
 
Catahoula said:
I’m seeing a point of impact shift when shooting off of sticks. It’s not enough that I’m concerned about it in the field, but it’s more than I’ve seen in the past. This is a rifle I acquired about a year ago, and have shot extensively, but this is the first time shooting it off of shooting sticks. Rifle is a Remington 700 in 270 Win, with Meopta 3-15x scope. The pictured groups were shot this morning at 150 yards. The group on the right was shot prone using my daypack as a rest. The group on the left was shot off of a Bog tripod standing. I haven’t shot off of sticks in a couple of years and don’t remember this type of shift with other rifles in the past. Is this just the nature of this rifle, or is it more likely that I’m rusty and need to work on my technique? I shot several groups from this rifle and the pictured results are fairly consistent.

View attachment 749761
Click to expand...
As others have said make sure your not flexing the for end with pressure ect..

My bit of advice is keep a dope book and round count for each rifle.
And log the weather
Shots fired/groups
Shooting position
Ect...

Will develope a pattern of how you oerform under various situations

I dont see anything wrong with the group beyond it opened up a bit. Just think its a stsnce you need more practice in to become proficient.
 
Are you using a clamp on top of your bog?
 
POI changes as barrel reaction changes due to changes in forend pressure point and/or rigidity of forend rest. One possible solution is to rest forend at same point for all shouting and not squeeze barrel and forend together with supporting hand. Another possibility would be to free float barrel so it doesn’t touch forend no matter where it’s rested. Always avoid resting barrel directly on or against anything.
 
In my experience, there isn't a measurable POI shift on the sticks. Having said that, there are many variables to how you setup on sticks (and a bench rest for that matter) and that is usually the problem to solve. I take my bench rest groups as a measure of what the gun can do...and my groups off sticks as a measure of what I can hold in the field for accuracy. If there is a wide delta, then you have some practice to look forward to.
 
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