Fundamentals, Part 2: What the Gear Can't Do for You
A practical look at breathing, stock contact, trigger control and follow-through, now that the rifle is set up. In August I argued that fundamentals beat a parts list. In September I wrote about the bipod, trigger, and forend weights that removed obstacles from my setup. This month is about the part no product page can sell you: how I run the rifle once it's stable. Building the position The bipod and weights give me a solid foundation, but a position still has to be built on purpose. Load the bipod. Push forward into the bipod (mine is the WARNE 7912M Skyline Lite Bipod) so it carries the rifle's weight, and apply the same pressure every shot. Inconsistent preload moves the point of impact even when everything else is right. Seat the stock in the shoulder pocket. Same placement and same firmness every time. Not on the arm muscle or collarbone. Line up behind the rifle. Keep your body in line with the bore so recoil goes straight back. That's where the added weight helps...
