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- Dec 4, 2009
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I purchased a bunch of bullets from a fella that is an excellent shot, but shoots smokeless. During our conversation, he gave me a tip for helping the rifle to recoil straighter back. Now all should know that regardless the shooting position used, the straighter the rifle recoils, its a benefit to tighter groups. His tip was to use a piece of satin cloth on both is front and rear rests. He told me that the satin frays badly and must be sewn on all edges. Also that there the two sides of the satin are different, one being glossy while the other side more dull. He said that the dull side was more slippery. Its very light weight and he holds it on his rests with rubber bands so the wind doesn't blow them away.
Well it got the best of me, so I had the wife pick up a yard when she was in town at JoAnn's. Now I can sew a hole closed or a button on, but beyond that, I got nothing. Then I got to thinking about the rubber bands and though it would be really nice if they could be made with elastic to hold them in place. I guess the wife took pity on me, so she offered to try. Now it became a challenge to her and of course women want things to be perfect, where I just wanted it to function. As a smart married man, I stayed completely out of the room.
It took her most of the day to be satisfied, but I was happier than heck when she finished. She doesn't like the bunching look, but it must be there to allow the rifle to lay properly in the rest detents. I'm more than satisfied, I'm pretty darn happy with them.
So.... the retired Ergonomist came out in me and I had to actually verify if the satin made a difference and what that difference would be. So I got out the force equipment. I laid the rifle (11.3#) on the rests, then with the force gage measured the actual force it took to move the rifle through the rests on top the satin. The result are:
WITH the satin......... movement was 5#
WITHOUT the satin.... movement was 11#
There is absolutely zero doubt that the satin will help the rifle recoil straighter back and easier. IMO if it tightens a group .125" its worth it.
Well it got the best of me, so I had the wife pick up a yard when she was in town at JoAnn's. Now I can sew a hole closed or a button on, but beyond that, I got nothing. Then I got to thinking about the rubber bands and though it would be really nice if they could be made with elastic to hold them in place. I guess the wife took pity on me, so she offered to try. Now it became a challenge to her and of course women want things to be perfect, where I just wanted it to function. As a smart married man, I stayed completely out of the room.
It took her most of the day to be satisfied, but I was happier than heck when she finished. She doesn't like the bunching look, but it must be there to allow the rifle to lay properly in the rest detents. I'm more than satisfied, I'm pretty darn happy with them.
So.... the retired Ergonomist came out in me and I had to actually verify if the satin made a difference and what that difference would be. So I got out the force equipment. I laid the rifle (11.3#) on the rests, then with the force gage measured the actual force it took to move the rifle through the rests on top the satin. The result are:
WITH the satin......... movement was 5#
WITHOUT the satin.... movement was 11#
There is absolutely zero doubt that the satin will help the rifle recoil straighter back and easier. IMO if it tightens a group .125" its worth it.