when sighting in a rifle using a sand bag rest do you hold the rifle down against the sandbags with your left hand or do you just use the left hand for stabalizing? (for right handed shooters)

I like the use of a quality benchrest rest. Sandbags tend to be a tad hard which can make your groups be higher than they should. With a quality benchrest I don't touch the forearm. for sandbags, they may need to be stabilized more to keep from shifting.

On my Hart rest, both bags are filled with sand. It's fine - and no - I don't hold the gun with the left hand.

The left hand is used to squeeze and manipulate the rear bag for the purpose of elevation.

if you are using sand bags i would suggest putting sandbags under the butt of your stock to help with the motion and recoil of your rifle. gc is right about sandbags. your shot groups will be higher. if you use the bags at the rear of your gun this should help with that. with your left hand hold the rear sand bags. gl

ya, what he said

what these guys said actually i don't put any pressure on the gun if i don't have to... one finger on the trigger... thumb lightly behind the receiver on top of the stock... left arm under the butt of the stock against the sandbag resting under the butt... if you get it all set up right the gun will jump on the front sandbag, you'll take most of the recoil and the gun will sit back down where it had been if you don't flinch or upset it's motion...

i am sure i could take a few lessons from Uncle Sam's training program for sure...

Jamie