Technique problem

[BilliamB.]

Very often, when I'm at the bench and shooting off sandbags, I'll put my first shot at a given target down at the four or five o'clock position. Thereafter, my groups will tighten us and I will put the rest of my mag into or close to the bull. This seems to happen at both 50 and 100 yards whether I shoot a .17 HMR Winchester 9417, .22 Kimber bolt action or a dedicated .22 AR15 with a bull target barrel.

The problem only popped up this year. What am I doing wrong? Any thoughts?

TIA

 

[Art Eatman]

Whee! Yeah, sounds like the shooter, not the gun. Bummer. Okay, could it be that for whatever reason you are anticipating that first shot and doing a small amount of "twitch" into the rifle? Whatever you're doing is minor, since you're only off a small amount.

 

[Risky buisness]

This sounds much like heeling, a condition caused when the shooter anticipates the shot and subconsciously pushes the shoulder into the rifle. Have a friend go with you, and let him/her load your firearm, and hand it to you, the friend will either load a live round or a spent cartridge, or nothing if nessessary. Then will watch closely for any movement of the shooter or rifle when the ' shot ' is taken, thereby noting what happened and using a mental effort not to do it again through several sessions can be corrected pretty easily.

 

[BilliamB.]

Whee! Yeah, sounds like the shooter, not the gun. Bummer. Okay, could it be that for whatever reason you are anticipating that first shot and doing a small amount of "twitch" into the rifle? Whatever you're doing is minor, since you're only off a small amount.

Oh, it's definitely the shooter!

 

[BilliamB.]

This sounds much like heeling, a condition caused when the shooter anticipates the shot and subconsciously pushes the shoulder into the rifle. Have a friend go with you, and let him/her load your firearm, and hand it to you, the friend will either load a live round or a spent cartridge, or nothing if nessessary. Then will watch closely for any movement of the shooter or rifle when the ' shot ' is taken, thereby noting what happened and using a mental effort not to do it again through several sessions can be corrected pretty easily.

Will definitely try that. Thanks!

 

[Art Eatman]

What I always tried at the bench was to keep the cross hairs centered as best I could while increasing pressure on the trigger. The break would come as a surprise.

The "heeling" test looks like a good idea...It's also useful with handguns.

 

[Bushpilot]

Along with the good advise the others had about not anticipating the shot and having some one alternately load or not load your rifle for you, you might also try this:

When I shoot I mentally think about keeping the cross hairs on the target even after the shot. Now I know this is not possible, especially with rifles that have a lot of recoil, but in my mind I'm thinking of holding the cross hairs on target through the shot, not simply thinking that once I pull the trigger my job is complete... It works for me..