Ok Romey, I guess I just shoot or my mechanics are different from the bench to the field.

Dave

I dont think it would be much of a venture to guess thats true with everyone so your not alone by any means

My mechanics certainly change from the bench to the field. I barely hold the rifle from the bench. Hold gently on the pistol grip to pull the stock into my shoulder, left hand squeezes a bag under the butt to raise and lower the sights.

I think, from what I see out and around, that proper shooting position is becoming a lost art. I'm not sure I know how some people even hit a target!

Speaking of rests, I went up to shoot some Herter bullets from my 243 yesterday. Got up there and realized I'd left the legs to my table at home, 2 miles. So went back home and got them, re-set my target frame, set up the table and what do you know: forgot my rest and butt bag! No I didn't go home again. Got out a set of tire chains and an old coat to use for a rest but they were to low. Ended up bracing my elbows on the table and wrapping the sling around my forearm. maybe tomorrow I'm going up again with some of the best shooting stuff. Ity's a tuff day when 2" is your best group. 85gr Herter semi point bullets, kinda neat tho!

I am a firm beleiver in, sight your rifle or pistol on the bench, then get away from the bench and dont go back unless its to investigate a problem in the rifle or working a load up.
Its some odd to me that when im at a range folks look at me odd for sitting, kneeling, laying prone and even standing shots NEXT to the bench. I also run far more rounds at high and low angles then i do flat ground at home.

I agree.

I think, from what I see out and around, that proper shooting position is becoming a lost art. I'm not sure I know how some people even hit a target!

I am a self taught shooter. My forms is not the best, it has just came around from shooting. My brother inlaw is a capt in the national guard. His form is textbook. But he can't hit shet. My form sucks and can out shoot him any day.
However he had me do a little drill that i completely flubbed up.
Put 2 rounds in a clip and have a spare clip with 2 rounds. Shoot the 2 rounds out of clip one. Don't stop moving and reload and shoot again. That was very hard for this hunter, who was used to having solid rest to shoot from. to keep moving unload the clip and load another clip and shoot without stopping. That takes some practice.

tim

I prefer old fashioned sand bags

i don't use a bench rest, i use home-made sand bags for my bench shooting.

they work well, and were completely free. we used some scrap fabric sewn against a plastic kitchen bag so the sand wouldn't escape. i made 4 of them and they've lasted about 5 years now.

i have a cousin that uses a caldwell with the fine adjustment screws. he swears by them, but i like to practice while i sight in, so i can feel the rifle and how it behaves. it probably is a little harder to sight in this way, but i feel more comfortable with the rifle afterwards.