Sighting in

[oomcurt]

Just curious...I have seen this more than once...watching folks site in thier caplock or flintlock from a bench. They don't use any cushioning under the barrel or stock. Hmm.. Back when I shot centerfire...one always used sandbags, heavy jacket..anything that would prevent any "bounce" from a hard surface. Is this something normal with muzzleloaders?

 

[roundball]

Yes, they react the same way CF rifles do if you sight them in from a bench...

To avoid a false POI, I do all my sighting in and practice sitting in a small chair with my elbow braced down on my chest because that's how I shoot when I hunt...either sitting in a tree stand or on the ground, leaning against the tree...POI also happens to be the same for me even standing offhand as I brace my elbow the same way

 

[Bob J]

I sight in using a sandbag under the forestock, or sometimes a leather covered shooting rest made by Pro Tek.

 

[musketman]

Just curious...I have seen this more than once...watching folks site in thier caplock or flintlock from a bench. They don't use any cushioning under the barrel or stock. Hmm.. Back when I shot centerfire...one always used sandbags, heavy jacket..anything that would prevent any "bounce" from a hard surface. Is this something normal with muzzleloaders?

I would pad the rest, it not only cushions the bounce, it also prevents the underside of your stock from getting scratched as it slides along the hard surface during the recoil...

 

I lay the forestock on my left hand and grasp it as I normally would for an off hand shot. The bench is just there to steady the nerves.

 

[2172]

I follow Anvil's thinking...when I use the padded rest, I seem to get a differing POI from what I need offhand...and 99.9% of my shooting is offhand...Hank

 

[MikeChapin]

If I'm working up a load I use a rest. I'm less concerned about where I am hitting as opposed to compairing group sizes when I change charge and patches. I want the rifle to be as steady as possible.

For sighting in I do what Anvil does. I try to have everything like I was holding offhand and just use the bench to steady my elbow.

 

[Slamfire]

I have no quarrel with using a bench to sight in. But agree you ought to practice in the possitions you use in the field. If I can't lean up against a tree or post, I shoot from the sit. :front:

 

[sneakon]

If I'm working up a load I use a rest. I'm less concerned about where I am hitting as opposed to comparing group sizes when I change charge and patches. I want the rifle to be as steady as possible.

I agree. I try to take as much variability out of the equation when going through the process of identifying the best ball/patch/load combination.

For sighting in, I just try to shoot in as many positions as I can imagine. I like to cover allot of ground when I hunt and have been in the open, in the trees, in the brush, in the boulder field, etc. when I have spotted game and can't predict what position I would be in to take a shot. So I try to have at least some experience shooting in a variety of positions.