Any of you have this weird problem

[bstomper]

As stupid as this is going to sound, it is true. I just recently got into reloading and longer range shooting, out to 820 yards so far. I had a long learning curve with the reloading but with alot of research and help from members on this forum I believe I have a good grip on it now. With all the paper shooting out to 100 yard I have done during the learning stages, I have grown to hate shooting paper. I never could get the sub .5 moa groups that alot of you get, hell it was hard enough getting sub 1 moa groups. It was simply because I had a hard time holding the crosshairs steady on that orange dot. The other day I finally had a load for my 6.5 creedmoor that I wanted to test out at further distances, to test how good my load was. The furthest I shot that day was 700 yards. Once I had everything dialed in to where I was hitting the target center mass, I repainted the target and shot some more. I was getting 5-6" grouping, with the exception to the odd flyer. I am still very new to the long range shooting thing so my groups probably aren't that impressive to alot of you but for some strange reason I am much more comfotable, confident and steady with my shooting out to the further distances than I am at the closer ones. Seems strange but it's a problem I'm glad to have.

 

[BoomFlop]

My guess is it is a mental thing and trigger control.

Next time at 100 yards, try turning your scope down a littlewhile still giving you a reference to line up crosshairs with. Dry fire a couple times and then try shooting a group.

Good luck,
Steve

 

[bstomper]

Good point, I'll give it a try. I have a 4-16 X 44 vortex HST and I usually shoot 100 yards at about 9 - 10 power but I'll try turning it down a bit more. At 700 yards I was on 14 power and it was fine.

 

[dfanonymous]

Yeah I'd think it's a technique thing, and agree with above ^
Just something to consider about on here and online I general, is there is a lot of BS and there's a lot of focus on gear and components. It's a stupid thing even in PRS for the last few years where people are trying to buy their way into more accuracy. Honestly, I'd be interested in knowing more about your issues getting a steady gun, like what your doing, and how you've tried to keep the gun steady, and you recoil management. I've found that these things can help shrink groups and increase hit probability at long range.

 

[bstomper]

I always shoot in the prone position. I keep my body inline with my rifle. Shoot off of a bipod with a squeeze bag under the butt of the stock I try my best not to grip the gun with my shooting hand a squeeze the trigger. The part that I believe is the problem is the gun moving on the trigger squeeze. I'm doing my best to mitigate that problem.

 

[BoomFlop]

Make sure that you simulate some recoil to see if crosshairs move. If as you apply pressure rearward, and the crosshairs move, they will do the same thing upon recoil even with a nice squeeze. Also, make sure trigger is crisp and around 2-2.5 pounds (my hunting trigger pull).

Hope that makes sense?

Steve

 

[eklarsen]

If your having trouble holding the reticle on the target your rest or your technique is not solid. what do you use for a rest, bags or bipod? are you using a squeeze bag under your rear stock? look up natural point of aim and do some testing, it should be very natural and little effort to keep gun on target, if you are putting a lot of effort into it you are likely exacerbating your issues.

 

[Deleted member 112772]

Is it possible that the bullet isn't stabilized yet at 100yards?

 

[bstomper]

what do you use for a rest, bags or bipod? are you using a squeeze bag under your rear stock?

post #5
bipod and squeeze bag
I checked out the natural point of aim and will give it a try

 

[bstomper]

Make sure that you simulate some recoil to see if crosshairs move. If as you apply pressure rearward, and the crosshairs move, they will do the same thing upon recoil even with a nice squeeze. Also, make sure trigger is crisp and around 2-2.5 pounds (my hunting trigger pull).

Hope that makes sense?

Steve

I will practice some dry firing and see if the reticle moves off target

 

[bstomper]

Is it possible that the bullet isn't stabilized yet at 100yards?

I don't think so because the bullet holes in the targets are perfect circles

 

[Deleted member 112772]

True. Two bullets touching and a separate group of two touching is a sign of not holding the same point or grip/ trigger squeeze

 

[Travis H]

This goes to the remark of 2 bullets touching and the a second set touching.

I have had that problem once. With my Browning stainless stalker with boss. Started tracking down possible problems, and it ended up being a loose screw. The front screw that goes up through the stock and sucks down your front reciever. Try checking all screws are tourqed to spec.

 

[gohring3006]

Make sure the parallax is set up so the target and crosshairs are not moving independently.
100 yards will cause you to concentrate more on the cross hairs being on the dot, and fighting the wandering crosshairs along with the parallax not being set, will compound the problem.