Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Interesting piece on forearm hold

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Hold+that+Forend.html

I'm ready for a coach to teach me since lately my goal rifle is under 7 pounds ready to roll.

Looks like, from reading this, that my Dad wasn't too far off when he was teaching me @ 3 or 4 years of age just how to shoot.
(He was a Marine DI in the early part of WWII.)

I wish you guys would quit posting stuff like this. People might learn to shoot thier expensive ltwt rifles, and I wouldn't be able to buy them for a bargain price because they can't keep thier shots in a 6" group.

TYVM.

Allen

Is this the same guy that claimed the 6.5x55 swede was no more effective than the 30.30 win.?

"The USMC sniper now typically holds his rifle in the crossed arm position while the forend of the rifle rests on a pack. Recoil of the M24 rifle is mild and generally, very little control is needed to maintain POI (point of impact). Nevertheless, in recent years, the USMC and allied nations have adopted the .338 Lapua and .50BMG chamberings which require somewhat greater attention to technique. While these weapons systems have recoil suppression devices such as muzzle breaks, recoil is still somewhat greater than the M24 rifle. Shooting techniques have not changed accordingly and is an issue that remains un-addressed."

WOW. ..surprised he hasn't been hired by the USMC or the rest of US military to teach their sniper/long range guys how to shoot(bet the Canadians could use some help too). I mean, WTF do they know..

"..High energy cartridges like the .338 Lapua and .50BMG produce significant recoil regardless of recoil taming devices. By significant, I do not mean significant felt recoil- regarding the .338 atleast..."

..hidden recoil? Dark matter recoil?

"Again, we need to be concerned with the recoil effecting potential accuracy for precision shooting. The crossed arm hand hold, regardless of military doctrine, can be counterproductive to magnum rifle shooting, especially away from the rifle range and out in the field.."

So military snipers don't go "out in the field", partaking in "magnum rifle shooting", got it.

That article should be re-labeled "what not to do".

It is pretty obvious after reading that "article" that the author is another internet "expert" who self appointed himself the title.

There are a schit-ton of things completely ate up with the article, and I honestly don't feel like going through it point by point.

Just a couple of notables: He refers to the Marine's M24s. The U.S. Army issues the M24, not the Marines.

His body position alone indicates that he is clueless. In every picture, he is canted, at an angle away from the rear of his rifle, and attempting to control his rifle with his shoulder, as well as holding the forend, or gripping the top of the scope.

He then blathers on about not holding the front of the rifle, and how everyone else is doing it wrong.

If he was oriented properly, as straight as possible, inline behind his rifle, and using his whole body to absorb the recoil of the rifle instead of a small portion of his shoulder, he would not need to worry about holding the top of his scope or gripping the forend.

Frankly, the guy is clueless.

Don't worry.

If people follow the authors advice, they will be complaining in no time about how terrible their rifles shoots, and how the groups wander all over the place.

I found a picture of the guy from the old days.

Good form....




(maybe its SNYPER?)

OUCH!

I've read a few of his "articles". Definitely self appointed.

So...what are you supposed to do with the forearm?

Well, You should have a read of one or more of Nathan's 5 books or just login to his site ballisticstudies.com and take a short look at the knowlegde base under cartridge research.

You might find him to be a good read whether it's bedding a rifle, bullet expansion, long range hunting or research for bullet makers.

This has been on my mind for a bit after having some trouble with a light rifle. I usually just let it free recoil with the crossed arm technique while squeezing the rear bag.

Reading the article in the OP confirmed what my gunsmith asserted about shooting lightweight rifles. He says to hold it tight.

I've searched for other information and every source (Sinclair/Brownell's, American Rifleman, Outdoor Life) basically says the same thing.

I'm going to use some of the techniques suggested and do some testing. Makes sense that it will help

In my experience with light weight rifles, if you consistently do the same thing with every shot you get consistent results, regardless of whether you hold the forearm or not. Having seen 500 animals culled (99% head shots at 200m on average) in 4 days with various weight/type rifles and no one holding a forearm does say something about not holding the forearm as well. Again, not saying the guy is wrong but I have seen very good results by not holding the forearm.

I think the big point missed by the author of the article is the fact that all those pre Vietnam war era rifles being used in the photos have barrels locked into stocks with bands and hand guards. The barrel harmonics/vibration is different than a more modern free/semifree floated barrel...So different shooting technique is called for.

In my not so extensive experience shooting lt.wt. rifles I've found that pulling the butt stock into the shoulder pocket snugly with the shooting hand, looping up in a sling(if you're so inclined)..and that consistency thing that M77 mentioned helps a lot.

SBTCO,

I'm curious about what is light weight? With my 6lb 14oz .257 wildcat I could fire seven or eight shots into 3/4" at 100 yards. Two questions about this? Is this considered light weight and is the group good for it if it is? By the way I was using the cross the arms squeezing the rear bag.

That's awesome

Accuracy.... consistency from all positions... recoil management... and spotting shots/hits... are all facets that one needs to consider when shooting a light rifle at critters. I'll gladly give up a bit of accuracy, in order to more consistently place shots in the field, and see hits.

If you think Nate Foster is full of schitt... I suggest you watch a few of his videos. Pounding goats at a G+ is no joke. It's always easy to nit-pick someone's suggestions or the way they're suggested.... but when you do, it's also easy to miss the point entirely. Controlling the front end of the gun leads to broad base consistency... and consistency leads to accuracy... particularly with hunting rifles.

"While these weapons systems have recoil suppression devices such as muzzle breaks"

Wow! I didn't know they came equipped with devices to snap off the end of the barrel. How many shots can the sniper take before the barrel is down to 12" long?

Could he have meant a muzzle brake, like brakes on a car, well duh!