Deciding on muzzle weight?

[scorlett]

I'm a mediocre silhouette shooter (air & smallbore rifle - AAA), trying to get good. I've picked up a new (to me) 54.18 MSR (1808 stock). I shot the rifle a month or so with no muzzle weights. It felt very light, pretty stable, but a little fast. I added the small 54 gram muzzle weight, not much difference, then I added the 180 gram as well and about 6 oz to the butt. It feels a little slower moving now, but I don't seem to be shooting tighter groups. My wobble might even be a little bigger.

I'm sure with more time on the rifle; I could shoot it either way. How do I determine the better configuration? Are there advantages to shooting the rifle without the weights? What configuration is better for me to work with for future improvement?

(This assumes I'll stay under the 10.2 lb limit)

Thanks for advice,

Sam

[shootingpaul]

Hello Sam,
maybe you dont need the weights to shoot better, but do a little more practice with that rifle, i think that if you spend more time with it then you will find what works for you better, just because some shooters are using weights etc, does not mean that it will work for you.
I strongly think that you need to practice more changing only one variable at the time and in a couple of monts you will know what you need
hope it helps - let me know

[lucho]

Getting the muzzle wieght up will help.  But don't expect to have great improvements just because the muzzle weight changes.  Like shootingpaul said practice is the best way we all make progress.

That said, you do want you rifle close to the weight limit.  And you do want to add the weight to the muzzle.  I have about 6 oz on my muzzle.  More than about 8 oz may make the barrel muzzle heavy.

A lot of guys like the rifle to balance where they suport the rifle with thier left hand (for a right handed shooter).   I would try moving the 6 oz from the butt to the muzzle.  Or since the 54.18 has a lot of space under the barrel you can glue some weight in the forarm.

Then practice and see how it feels.

Lucho

[scorlett]

I was just wondering about the ideal balance point a few minutes ago.

The 54.18 is so light, that it looks like I can make weight with 8oz on the muzzle and 10oz in the butt (2 pc BKL mounts and a BR24xD). That will make the balance point a little ahead of my left (front) hand. My rule of thumb that I've learned so far (3 yrs), is that if shots are stringing vertically, the muzzle is probably too heavy. I think that seems to be the case if I don't have the weight in the buttstock. I'll probably go with 6 oz out front and 10 in the rear for now.

I've lengthened the pull 1/4" or so, and that feels better.  As everyone says, I just need to shoot the thing. I'm just trying to get an idea about where best to start. I've only got 2 weeks to the Texas State match, but, I'm still in a learning stage... so I'll just try to have fun.  :oops:  

Sam

[Fivepigs]

The best balance point is probably different for everyone.  But the idea of putting as much weight at the ends of the rifle (muzzle and buttstock) probably holds true in general.  Here's how it was explained to me:  imagine holding a broomstick in the center with a weight on either side of your hand (close to your hand).  Twist the broomstick back and forth (the ends should move in a semicircle).  Then move the weights to the extreme ends of the broomstick and try twisting it again.  Even though the balance point hasn't moved and the total weight is the same, it's harder to twist with the weights at the ends.  Same holds true for a rifle -- it's more stable with the weight at the ends.