Groups???

[Bulldog]

Guys I've a rifle that groups lights out at 100yds. But at 300 it opens up alot?? Is it just my form. Heard someone mention free recoil might be a problem?

I assume "free recoil" is just a term for shooting from a bench and just squeezing a sand bag with the non trigger hand??

I just hunt the rifle and have been squeezeing the bag at the bench. Kinda feel like I should be holding the forearm like I would when I huntr?

Also, see guys at the range and they set the barrel in a sand bag a certain way. Trying to maintain cosistant forearm pressure of something? Then others reccomend a good sling for offhand shooting?? Won't a sling put even more pressure of a stock against the barre.

 

[Michael Eichele]

Your form could be the culprit. What jumped in to my head was parallax. Are you adjusting your parallax when moving from 100 to 300 yards?

Also, some loads will just not perform at longer ranges. Some will and some wont.

Have you tried different loads or just one?

 

[BountyHunter]

Unless the rifle is a relatively small varmint type caliber. Do not shoot free recoil. You are going to have to develop a consistent "hold".

key would be how do the groups "open" up. Vertical/horizontal or just enlarge?

What is "lights out" and what is open up with your gun. Be specific.

It is difficult for many to shoot really tight groups with a standard 3-9x at 300 as exact POA is hard to establish and repeat.

Parallax could be an issue, but at 300 I doubt it would be over an inch unless something is radically off on your scope.

Groups that are tight at 100 will be normally similarily tight (MOA wise) if the hold and everything else remains the same. Very seldom do you really see groups tight at 100 then just wander open at 300 for no reason. Even low weight/SD/BC PPC bullets group well at 300. They lose their grouping ability normally past 500-600.


BH

 

[long450]

Did not see caliber indicated? What does the group look like from each distance? Could be a lot of posibilities.

 

[Bulldog]

300wsm.

Was using same power on scope. Puts 5 shot groups under 1" at 100yds....

 

[cabelas90]

What kind of groups at 300 yrds? and how much under an inch at 100?

 

[Southpaw]

I'm not sure if you meant this literally

"Also, see guys at the range and they set the barrel in a sand bag a certain way."

I'm not the most experienced guy on this site, but if you actually have your barrel resting on your bag that would be part of the problem.

Southpaw

 

[Coyboy]

Bulldog, really.... You have a bunch of guys wanting to help out,,,,, but supply some relavent info!!!!

What we know, a 300wsm under 1" at 100.

Answer this;
Gun? factory or custom?
ammo? factory or handload?
Scope?tasco 3x9 or Nightforce 5.5x20? paralax adjustable?
Using front and rear bags?
Heavy trigger or lightened?
6lb gun or 14lb gun?
Group size at 300?

all these things can have a relative effect on your abillity to shoot at 300

Factory ammo can be absolute crap in the SD department and increase long range groups.
Paralax can exaserbate the long range error.
scope quality matters.
Long range and heavy triggers don't mix
Fouled up factory barrels lose there accuracy.
Heavy guns are easier to shoot.

Are you a practiced long range shooter or is this your first attempts at stretching out?

 

[FEENIX]

Guys I've a rifle that groups lights out at 100yds. But at 300 it opens up alot??

As others have pointed out, need more relevant input, otherwise, there's going to be too many speculations (hate "***"-umptions ).

Having said that, here's my speculation ... if you are getting 1" @ 100 yards, and if you mean opens up a lot is 3" @ yards, then I see nothing wrong (other than an opportunity for improvement) .

Good luck!