bullet impact walking up and right

[justgoharder]

Had the 338EDGE out at buffalo creek today in colorado; put 25 rounds through her, overall some solid results but also one potential issue...

at 600 yrds my 5 shot groups were avg of about 4.5 inches not great but not bad either, the bad part was that my cold bore shot would be a direct hit in the 2in diameter 'X' and each subsequent shot would move about .75"-1" up and to the right.

this is a hunting rifle, my biggest concern is a consistent cold bore shot and today all five cold bore shots (after the very first fouler round) were within the 2in circle x ring at 600yrds.

but any ideas why the impacts are walking up and right?

[rscott5028]

I would shoot it left handed or have someone else shoot it just to be sure that it's not something you're doing subconsciously.

If it's still consistent, then it would seem to indicate stress somewhere in the stock, bedding/pillars, barrel threads, between the reciever/lug/barrel shoulder, bolt, scope/base/rings, etc...

-- richard

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by justgoharder

Had the 338EDGE out at buffalo creek today in colorado; put 25 rounds through her, overall some solid results but also one potential issue...

at 600 yrds my 5 shot groups were avg of about 4.5 inches not great but not bad either, the bad part was that my cold bore shot would be a direct hit in the 2in diameter 'X' and each subsequent shot would move about .75"-1" up and to the right.

this is a hunting rifle, my biggest concern is a consistent cold bore shot and today all five cold bore shots (after the very first fouler round) were within the 2in circle x ring at 600yrds.

but any ideas why the impacts are walking up and right?

You're still well under 1 MOA even with the ragged group so you aren't doing too bad at all.

Was your first shot on a completely clean bore?

What was the condition of the gun the last time you shot it?

How was it grouping then?

Where you shooting of bags/bipod or led sled or???

[justgoharder]

1st shot was a completely clean bore, then 5 set of 5 shots each over about a 10minute period with 30-40min in between sets.

bipod and rear bag

last year i didn't have anything like this that was noticeable and before last year i wasn't shooting the gun well enough to be able to tell.

i was thinking that there must be a stress or contact point. maybe i'll pull the action out and open up the barrel channel a little more. i finished this stock myself a few years back and while it passes the dollar bill test the channel is pretty close to the barrel.

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by justgoharder

1st shot was a completely clean bore, then 5 set of 5 shots each over about a 10minute period with 30-40min in between sets.

bipod and rear bag

last year i didn't have anything like this that was noticeable and before last year i wasn't shooting the gun well enough to be able to tell.

i was thinking that there must be a stress or contact point. maybe i'll pull the action out and open up the barrel channel a little more. i finished this stock myself a few years back and while it passes the dollar bill test the channel is pretty close to the barrel.

That's why I never shoot with a clean bore when it counts. Too much changes with the first few fouling shots.

Try this. Before doing anything take it back out and set it up again and see what happens.

If it's still shooting well you have your answer.

My guess is it's either the difference in a clean and fouled bore or you are jerking/flinching a bit and didn't realize it.

The up and right stringing is very common with right handed shooters when you flinch/jerk.

[rscott5028]

Originally Posted by WildRose

That's why I never shoot with a clean bore when it counts. Too much changes with the first few fouling shots.

Try this. Before doing anything take it back out and set it up again and see what happens.

If it's still shooting well you have your answer.

My guess is it's either the difference in a clean and fouled bore or you are jerking/flinching a bit and didn't realize it.

The up and right stringing is very common with right handed shooters when you flinch/jerk.

+1
right hand trigger pull tends to pull the aim to the right
the slope at the rear of most hunting stocks may encourage muzzle rise

You should really try to make sure it's not the shooter before altering your rifle.

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by rscott5028

+1
right hand trigger pull tends to pull the aim to the right
the slope at the rear of most hunting stocks may encourage muzzle rise

You should really try to make sure it's not the shooter before altering your rifle.

So can "giving" just a little with the shoulder in anticipatin of recoil.