Win Featherweight flyers?

[Gary O]

Over the years I have owned Winchester Featherweight rifles in .243, .270, 7-08 & 30-06. All of them began to wander after 2 shots on paper; so much so that I gave up on 5 shot groups and went to 3. My latest rifle is a 7-08 that I bought new last year and sent to an accuracy rifle smith for a pro bedding job. Today I came home from the range with 4 groups that all displayed flyers that ran over an inch away from the first 2 shots fired. I spoke to the rangemaster and he suggested that I get a concentricity gauge to check my handload runout. What say you? Thanks...

 

[jmr40]

Perfectly normal for thinner barrels. As they get hot the groups get larger. Not all do it, or at least some do it less, but I don't see it as a handicap at all. You have a lightweight hunting rifle. You will never fire more than 2-3 consecutive shots while hunting anyway. It is where the 1st shot from a cold barrel hits that matters.

 

[MrBorland]

AFAIK, it's more an effect of a receiver face that's not perfectly squared with the barrel. Common with factory rifles. As things heat up, metal expands and puts pressure on the barrel differently.

 

[Skyshot]

Try shooting groups with about a 15 minute or more cool down between each shot.

 

[back40]

my m70 extreme weather is the only rifle that i'm ok with using 3 shot groups. as mentioned, when the bbl heats up the shots wander a bit. i've never taken the time to let it cool completely between shots, so 3 shot groups it is, and usually the third is starting to open up the group as you've experienced. mine in .30-06 will still keep three shots in under 3/4" at 100yds, so i'm just fine with it for hunting rifle.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Shoot one round each range trip. That will best duplicate actual hunting trip conditions. If you hunt with a clean or fouled bore, shoot it the same way. If you think your load is what it needs to be, you'll have a better idea.

I've been working a M70 Lightweight in .308 recently; if I'm very patient, I can get 10 or so rounds down range before the heating effect is pretty obvious. Some rifles, I just shoot one round, cold bore, and see what I end up with.