Intermittent Pull To The Right

[Turkeytider]

Shooting .223 at 100 yards. Right handed shooter. I generally seem to miss right and sometimes high and right. Seems to happen regardless of factory load. Doesn`t always happen, I`ll also shoot a nice group centered around POA interspersed in with the other groups. What do you guys think? Inconsistent trigger pull? Flinch? I know I`m asking you to guess without watching me shoot but I`m a relative newby to rifle shooting and thought you guys (and gals! ) with more experience might have some ideas. Thanks.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

If it's ALWAYS right/high & right when you miss, then it's likely you.

If it were your ammunition, you'd expect it to be fairly random around your point of aim.

Keep practicing and concentrate on maintaining your sight picture and a smooth, consistent trigger pull.

 

[Varminterror]

What support are you using? Your right strike can mean different, even opposite, technical failings depending upon how the rifle is supported. A shoulder flinch when shooting on a bipod, by a right handed shooter, might push your strike right, whereas firing with a sling, it usually pushes strike down. Jerking a trigger, or using too much finger on the shoe when firing unsupported will typically cause right strike, whereas jerking the trigger on a front rest can pull the stock right, torquing the muzzle left.

 

[Aletheia]

Try to think about "follow through" after the shot is released, and squeeezing the trigger slowly rather than pulling it. When target shooting, the shot should almost surprise you if you squeeze the shot off properly. Almost. If you try to keep everything still during the follow through after the shot, you should be able to minimize your effect on the point of impact.

 

[wiscoaster]

Might be worth investing in a full-support bench rest, like a Caldwell "Lead-Sled" for example, which would take the shooter completely out of the problem source analysis. Or conclusively identify the shooter as the problem source.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Might be worth investing in a full-support bench rest, like a Caldwell "Lead-Sled" for example, which would take the shooter completely out of the problem source analysis. Or conclusively identify the shooter as the problem source.

I have the same thing happen occasionally when I use my lead sled in a folding table. The lead sled forces me to lean a little unnaturally to the right and changes my grip angle a little, so if I pull a shot it almost always goes right.
I am more consistent with bags or bipod and rear bag.

 

[Steve S.]

In my experience as a general reference, if you are making the rifle fire with your trigger pull, it is definitely you. If you have a nice trigger squeeze and the gun fires as a surprise to you every time, then more than likely it is the rifle. This should isolate if you need to work on your technique or work on a rifle problem.

 

[Hugger-4641]

In my experience as a general reference, if you are making the rifle fire with your trigger pull, it is definitely you. If you have a nice trigger squeeze and the gun fires as a surprise to you every time, then more than likely it is the rifle. This should isolate if you need to work on your technique or work on a rifle problem.

I'm confused about this statement. Unless I'm setting my trigger pull, I'm never surprised when it breaks.

I would recommend doing some dry fire practice and see if you are still dead on target during and after your trigger pull.

 

[Turkeytider]

Thanks everybody. Pretty sure it`s something I`m doing ( or not ), as a long time devotee of the " 95% Indian, 5% bow " philosophy when it comes to explaining misses. I`ll have sub-MOA accuracy and precision in one session and less than that in the next. I usually shoot with a front rest and rear bag. Last session I took away the rear bag to more closely replicate a hunting situation. While I shot " minute of coyote " in all but one of 5 groups, I had more pronounced right side misses from POA.

 

[Nature Boy]

Where do your crosshairs end up after you’ve taken your shot?

 

[Turkeytider]

Where do your crosshairs end up after you’ve taken your shot?

That`s a good question. If I`m honest, I have to say I don`t recall. Only thing I remember is the sight picture jumping with the recoil, such as it is with a .223.

 

[readyeddy]

Try holding the pistol grip with only your index finger (outside of trigger guard until you're ready to shoot) and thumb of your right hand (extend your other three fingers so they don't touch the gun) where your right palm doesn't even touch the grip. Your fore grip along with the top of the right hand (assuming it's an AR) will provide enough support to hold up the rifle if you're shooting standing. If this improves your groups, then try not squeezing the grip as hard during your normal shooting.

 

[TimRB]

If I`m honest, I have to say I don`t recall. Only thing I remember is the sight picture jumping with the recoil, such as it is with a .223.

Possibly you are blinking at the moment of truth. You will make a huge improvement in your shooting if you can train yourself to carefully note where the rifle was pointed when the shot broke. This is called "calling your shot". If you can't do this, it is very much more difficult to zero your rifle because you can never tell if a bad shot was you or the gun.

Tim

 

[Nature Boy]

That`s a good question. If I`m honest, I have to say I don`t recall. Only thing I remember is the sight picture jumping with the recoil, such as it is with a .223.

Awareness of things like that will help you zero in on the issue and work on your consistency

 

[.308 Norma]

Thanks everybody. Pretty sure it`s something I`m doing ( or not ), as a long time devotee of the " 95% Indian, 5% bow " philosophy when it comes to explaining misses.

Have someone else load your rifle, and tell them to not tell you whether or not there's actually a round in the chamber when they hand your rifle to you. If your rifle goes "click" instead of "BANG" when you squeeze the trigger, you'll know real quick whether you flinched or not.

 

[Turkeytider]

Try holding the pistol grip with only your index finger (outside of trigger guard until you're ready to shoot) and thumb of your right hand (extend your other three fingers so they don't touch the gun) where your right palm doesn't even touch the grip. Your fore grip along with the top of the right hand (assuming it's an AR) will provide enough support to hold up the rifle if you're shooting standing. If this improves your groups, then try not squeezing the grip as hard during your normal shooting.

Thanks. I`m shooting a Savage 110 Storm. My right thumb is forward as opposed to wrapping around the grip. The three fingers of my right hand are applying LIGHT pressure back into my shoulder. Next time I`m going to pay more attention to the details!

 

[readyeddy]

Ok so you’re pulling right only when you’re not using a rear bag. Well that’s basically a field position like shooting off a tree branch or off your back pack. And your right grip sounds good.

Let the front of the rifle free rest on a bag and use your left hand to anchor the stock in your shoulder. Quarter yourself to the target with your left shoulder pointing around 11 o’clock to make yourself comfortable.

It’s a bench variation of the sitting position where the fore stock rests on the left bent elbow with the left hand in the arm pit.

 

[JFrank]

When you dry fire for practice, take notice if the cross hairs move even the slightest amount ’ if possible stop doing whatever makes it move.

Sounds easy huh…

 

[Poper]

Many people blink at the instant the rifle fires. This is often a result of the concussion of the shot and is often associated with a flinch. One of the best tips I ever received to cure this tendency to blink (and often times - flinch) is to watch for the powder flash in your scope when the round fires. If you see the flash, then you did not blink. If you DIDN'T see it, you most likely DID flinch. This exercise forces you to concentrate and follow through. Just like any other sport, baseball, football, hockey, basketball, golf, etc., - the follow through is as important as the swing, throw, pass or whatever.

 

[Turkeytider]

I really appreciate all the input from everybody. Until now the only real rifle shooting I`ve ever done was when I was in the service ( 14s and 16s ). They certainly didn`t get into all the nuances of shooting! Since then and until now it`s only been shotguns. LOTS of difference!! So many factors that can impact the shot!