The .44 I've been putting the front of the receiver 1 1/2" behind the rear of the sand bag. The 32-20 I've been shooting with the receiver even with the rear of the bag.

Just shot a heartbreaking group with the 32-20 with it pulled back an 1 1/2". 4 of 5 into .3, the 5th (don't know which out of 5) bigged it out to .7.

If the checkering on a Marlin is good for nothing else, it at least gives you a good index mark for bench shooting. :D


50 yards with a scope, not a match target, strictly load development. Which raises another question: when do you know you have a good load? :confused:

I usually have the center of the forarm in the bag. as far as the loads go, when they are around an inch at 100 I'm happy.

I place bag as close to lever as I can

I prefer to have the rest as close to the receiver as I can. I learned that on Ruger #1's. I can't prove it helps with Marlins, but I have my suspicions with any 2 piece stock, that the rifle will shoot better with the rest farther back than with a 1 piece stock bolt rifle.

Mine shoots great with the forearm and tube removed. I should shoot it that way for the match but it changes my point of impact so much I hate to mess with it. I know I have all summer but I like being ready to hunt now and just enjoy practice.

I tried both of my 1894 without the forearms. Did not have good results but I probably didn't give it a fair chance either. It was just somehow unseemly and I couldn't wait to get the forearm reattached. :)

I usually try to get the bag right under the reciever. One question just for my own clarification, is the butt to be completely unsupported, I find i usually shoot better if I take my left hand and put it at my right shoulder, kinda like a reverse pledge of allegience and then put the bottom of the butt in the web between my thumb and index finger.

I usually try to get the bag right under the reciever. One question just for my own clarification, is the butt to be completely unsupported, I find i usually shoot better if I take my left hand and put it at my right shoulder, kinda like a reverse pledge of allegience and then put the bottom of the butt in the web between my thumb and index finger.

My thought is that would be ok. I believe there is just no support such as a sandbag.

I usually try to get the bag right under the reciever. One question just for my own clarification, is the butt to be completely unsupported, I find i usually shoot better if I take my left hand and put it at my right shoulder, kinda like a reverse pledge of allegience and then put the bottom of the butt in the web between my thumb and index finger.

I sure hope it's legal cause that is exactly how I shoot off the bench. I personally came up with this method from many years of shooting across the hood of a truck with a rolled up jacket or feed sack for a "sand bag".

50 yards with a scope, not a match target, strictly load development. Which raises another question: when do you know you have a good load? :confused:

I know my scores todate don't reflect it but I've become a believe in the "ladder" method of load development which is simply finding the Optimum Barrel Timing for a bullet's exit from the barrel. Might do a search on "Ladder".

Actually, all of the targets I've submitted to date are actually from stored ammo I've been shooting up. I hope to get some of this load work done before the end of the match and finally have some real nice targets.

Well, I just finished my first ladder test. I think I may have found a couple of "sweet spots" to further investigate. My increment was .3 grain Alliant 2400. From start to max I got 24 inches of elevation change. For the most part the shots worked up the ladder in two hole clumps with a fairly large difference between each clump.

Bag is at the rear of the receiver. Sure makes one concentrate eh?

I haven't submitted any targets...yet. I also use the ladder method and have found it to be quite enlightening. I use .2 gr steps. Michael, has Nick ever developed his Excel program for the Ladder? I do not know how to graph such so I just do the measuring with a machinist's scale and go from there using my limited cranial abilities.

Dave :cool:

I place the bag under the forearm. Just behind the sling stud which is attached to barrel band making sure the bag doesnt touch either. Im a righty, then take my left hand, grab the forearm wood only and pull down. The amount of force i use to pull down with is enough to tightly set the forearm in the sandbag..

Bag is at the rear of the receiver. Sure makes one concentrate eh?

I haven't submitted any targets...yet. I also use the ladder method and have found it to be quite enlightening. I use .2 gr steps. Michael, has Nick ever developed his Excel program for the Ladder? I do not know how to graph such so I just do the measuring with a machinist's scale and go from there using my limited cranial abilities.

Dave :cool:

I missed this Dave... As far as I know Nick hasn't. The graphing in Excel is pretty easy. May be in September I can give you the short course.

KenK... It is amazing to see the elevation in load development and that is what causes me to understand how this method can help your load work.

Thanks Michael,

I did a ladder this morning after shooting targets. I am experimenting with Vhitavouri N-120 using the Hornady 265 and BTB 290. Yep, there are two sweet spots but the best was on the upper end. We'll see.

Dave :cool: