What to do

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gimposaurus

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My rifle, with my handloads, will put 2 rounds touching at 100... then another one 2" away.


Suggestions to fix this?
 
This is probably a really stupid question, but that's never stopped me before. :)

The one that's 2" away isn't by any chance the first shot from the barrel is it? I know on my rifles I have to discard the first 1-3 shots before she settles in.

Regards,
Dave
 
happens to me alot, I think its some sort of deviation in pressure(velocity). My 30-06 did that alot with 165's and IMR4350...I switched to Varget/IMR4064 and 150's and got great consistency...turthfully not sure why I would have those issues and be able to blame it on the powder cuz I weigh all my charges....just an educated guess
 
this is usually indicative of a rifle problem - bedding, probably. to fix it, float your barrel, then bed the action. problem should be solved. don't forget to seal the barrel channel back up once you are done floating.
 
I'd agree it is probably a bedding problem.

But it can also be a barrel problem, if it wasn't properly stress-relieved during manufacture.
As the barrel heats up, it warps!
You can rule that out by firing one shot, then waiting for the barrel to fully cool, firing another shot, and so on.

If it groups all of them in the same place then, you may have a problem with your hot barrel.

If it still throws one out of the group, it's most likely poor bedding allowing the barrel & action to move around in the stock.

Have you checked your action screws?
Have you checked your scope mount screws?

You could also try some forend pressure by shimming the front of the barrel channel with a cardboard shim until you have upward pressure on the barrel.

Contrary to popular openion anymore, not every accurate rifle has to be free-floated!

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rcmodel
 
Scope is tight, action screws are tight. I've tossed the old plastic stock and am getting it bedded into a laminate as I think that bedding may be the issue...and the old stock was ****ty anyway
 
Are you getting consistent results - 2 on with 3rd off for several groups? Or did it happen only once or twice? If it's consistent, is it always the 3rd shot that is off? If the answers are yes, no, yes, then it is definitely the rifle/scope and most likely not the reloads.

If it only happened once or twice ... well, it's happened at least once to just everybody who shoots, no matter what rounds they are shooting.
 
It happened consistently, I could not find a load that would group all 3, i would get 2 close together then one up to 2" away
 
Gimposaurus,
Long shot - make sure the scope recticles aren't moving around. The eyepeice on 1 I had was. I was getting intermittent results: 2 tight & then a flyer. The shots would string verically & then they would string horizontally. I had the bedding & floating suggestions, checked them but they seemed fine. I finally figured it out when focusing it one day on the clear blue sky.

What rifle/scope is it if you don't mind telling here?

I know your frustration.
WNTFW
 
leupold vxi that has been reliable for a couple of years on other guns, and it's a rem 700 SPSS

Getting it bedded and a new stock at the mo, and I have a bushnell elite 4200 on it now, I will see if there is still a problem and go from there
 
The scope in question was Bushnell Banner not 4200 in my case. It is what came on the gun. It now has a Leupold. Not that Leupold is better that is just the way it worked out. Bushnell replaced the scope which seems to be fine & it will go on a .22lr to see how it is.

I was getting a flyer that was 4" off @ 100yds. Weatherby Vanguard in .270.

Let us know what happened.
 
Try this: Stop shooting three round groups. Instead, shoot 5 to 10 round groups with the same focus you did for three. This will be much more indicativee of "practical accuracy" of the firearm. It will also help you sort of if you have a flyer or if you have a firearm problem a gunsmith can help you with. Three rounds just isn't enough to be statistically useful when you're working on sorting out a rifle for accuracy purposes.

BTW, if you're going to spend money on a rifle to help it's accuracy,you'll come out money ahead trying these steps in this order before you do any others:

1. Have the muzzle crowned by a professional gunsmith.
2. Have a trigger job done, again by a professional gunsmith.
3. Free float the action or bed it, depending. Good is when you can slide a dollar bill between the barrel and stock and just have it clean until you reach the action.

I'm assuming you're working on a bolt action.

Regards,

Dave
 
I alway shoot 5 shoot groups and take the best 3 out of 5. after several groups I pretty much have an idea of what I need or if it was me.
 
I have had the trigger worked and I had the barrel floated.... I'll try some 5 shot groups when I get the rifle back, if it still won't shoot a re-crown is my next step
 
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