Shifting zero

I zero my rifle off a bench for best accuracy, but when I shoot off stocks or put a bipod on, the zero shifts. Why does this happen?

The normal practice is to zero a rifle in at 100 yards from the comfort of a bench, a sand bag or a rest. We then expect the rifle to shoot exactly the same when we next venture out. But whether you shoot from sticks, rest on a convenient tree, or fit one of the many bipods to your rifle, you absolutely must practise in that style or position.

That’s because the recoiling difference and pressure variation between holds can, and will, affect the bullet’s impact point down range. If a hold is made too near the end of the fore-end, then the extra upward pressure can cause any floating barrel advantage to disappear. The barrel won’t be able to vibrate freely and this will alter your aim. The same is true with a bipod fitment. Often the added up-force is enough to close the gap between wood and barrel metal with the same consequence. More often than not, the shots will shoot high when a bipod is fitted.

I also see too many people gripping their rifles with their supporting hand’s fingers reaching around the woodwork and holding the barrel itself. Worse still, they use sticks to steady the hold, which is good, but rest the barrel on the sticks and do not use the supporting hand as a buffer.

Practise in real-life stalking situations. You are only fooling yourself if you can shoot good groups off a bench and then not translate this to the game field. BP