One more time....cold barrel flyer

[ElKabong]

Took a Model 70 Fwt I recently purchased to the range this morning.
Chased the scope around for a few shots at 50 then a 100 yds.
Shot two 5 shot groups....I THINK the flyer was the first shot in each group (9x scope made it hard to pick out .243 bullet holes).

Assuming it was the first shot (will re-test next session), what would you look at first...

Stock....it has a pressure point right at the end of the forearm (should have checked it with a warm barrel maybe it opens up)

Action screws....I've heard the middle screw too tight can cause a problem with Winny's

???? Or something else.


The other 4 shots were good enough that I don't suspect any problems with glass. And the flyer was about the same direction and distance out of each group so that I don't suspect me (NOT that I'm above being the problem lol!).

Rifle looks encouraging other than that, first group was with H4350 and a Sierra 85 BTHP, second same bullet with H4895. Random loads pulled from my own data on a 788. If it always throws the first out in the same spot I guess I can compensate on the cold bore shot.
The 1/2" 4-shot group with 4350 makes me want to like this rifle!

ElKabong

 

[R.W.Dale]

First off forget about 5 shot groups with a featherweight barrel, 5 shot groups are for heavy barreled varmint/target rifles, On a hunting weight rifle a 3 shot group is a more realistic example of the kind of accuracy you're going to see in the field.

Next slow down if you have to shoot the rifle and then put it back on the rack for a few minutes than then move on to the next shot. You'ed be suprized at how this can make the world of diffrence in the accuracy of a hunting rifle.

I just haven't found it to ba a realistically attainable goal to have a lightweight barelled rifle to go through a 5 shot string without having the POI shift due to the heating of the barrell, That is unless you take all day shooting your group.

 

[ElKabong]

I just haven't found it to ba a realistically attainable goal to have a lightweight barelled rifle to go through a 5 shot string without having the POI shift due to the heating of the barrell

I agree, but the problem doesn't seem to be shifting POI after 3 shots or eroding group size as barrel heats up. But instead, first shot cold is shifted right by 1"-1.5" then the next 4 produce a .5" to 1" group. I don't intend to use it for long strings of varmint shooting. If the first shot is right by 1.5" and the next two are touching at POA, I would still like to decrease the variance from a cold bore first shot to a possible follow-up shot.

If I zero to the cold bore POI, I am worried that this could change drastically with temp/humidity.

I did go through the groups pretty quick.
What do you think about a cold shot, with a quick follow up? Leave it to cool for several minutes (completely cold to touch), then two more in the same fashion.

I can fudge for the first shot by holding a little left, just never had this problem (to this extent anyway) with the few other rifles I've owned.

Thanks,
ElKabong

 

[R.W.Dale]

look at it this way. the first shot from a stone cold barrel is right on target while the other 4 are being shifted over as the barrel warms up. Remember that in a hunting situation that first shot going where it's supposed to go is what counts. Hence the term "one shot groups"

Your barrel isn't by any chance CLEAN for that first shot is it?

 

[ElKabong]

It had around 10 shots down an initially clean barrel before the last ten shots (pictured). I'm not really concerned about long strings that cut holes, maybe a better question is... Is there anyway to tighten up the spread between a cold barrel shot and a subsequent follow up shot.

I don't think the problem is a gradual warming of the barrel as the group moves approx. 1.5" immediately. That's why I was thinking the first shot may be settling the action/stock. If so, I wouldn't think that would be condusive to reproducing a consistent one-shot group from a cold barrel.

Definitely food for thought, I'll try a 3 shot group with several minutes between shots also.

ElKabong