Bench Zero Exercise
Objective: To help the shooter ensure that the zero point is correctly aligned.
Skill level: New shooters, and those who are experiencing a sudden loss of group.
Time: whatever it takes!

Technique

The zero point - sometimes known as the Natural Point of Aim - is where the rifle wants to point if you stop holding it where you want it to point.

Ideally the zero point will coincide with the exact centre of the aiming mark (target).  When you pull the trigger there will be the lowest number of muscles trying to control the rifle and - in general - you should get a better shot.

In practice the zero point can be difficult to find. In NSRA bench shooting the zero can make the difference between a decent bull and a 1 off.

I am often questioned as to how much (or how little) muscle can be used to steer and hold a rifle.  The answer is ideally NONE.

Try this:
  • Get yourself set up on your target as though you were ready to fire.
  • Close your eyes and take two "normal" breaths,
  • open your eyes and dont lie to yourself .....
  • where is the rifle?
  • If it is not exactly on the target then it is most likely that you do not have a valid Natural Point of Aim.
Note that it is VERY easy to adjust your position as you open your eyes and to persuade yourself that the rifle is in the middle.  You aint fooling anyone.  Especially that bullet!

How to fix your problem?

That is the hard part. 

If the rifle is too high consider
  • screwing down the front rest or
  • squeezing your rear hand a bit more
If the rifle is too low consider the opposite.

Left right is - in many ways - easier, just tweak the rear hand - remember you can push and pull it with your trigger hand.

With the exercise you DONT NEED TO FIRE.  You can practice zero point alignment for a night without ever firing a live round.

Stage 2

When you do pull the trigger, watch for the recoil.  Recoil on bech shooting is strange.  Since the rifle is usually held by a solid shoulder the front of the rifle will move to the left or right (unlike prone shooting).  The trick is that if your shoulder pressure is the same, the recoil will be the same. 
NOTE that unlike prone shooting, the rifle may not settle with the target in the middle of your sight.