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Long Range Hunting & Shooting
Why factory ammo still shoots pretty accurately after time and handloads seem to diminish accuracy over time
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<blockquote data-quote="Bremmy" data-source="post: 2563508" data-attributes="member: 120538"><p>I think I may have an explanation to what you are observing. I handload all of my rifle ammunition, so I cannot comment on how storage of factory ammo may affect its accuracy. I have noticed over the years that after my handloads have set idle on the shelf for a year or so that their accuracy seems to have dropped. I have determined what is causing this for me, however it may be something different for you. </p><p></p><p><strong>Observation</strong>: I have spent a lot of time working with a specific rifle, scope, cartridge combination during the load development process and made numerous trips to the range dialing in the most accurate load possible and end up with a combination capable of shooting super tiny groups. I pack everything up and move onto the next rifle. A year or so passes and I get the bug again to pull that rifle and ammo out for some range time. But, when I sit down and begin shooting, immediately I notice that the groups aren't nearly as tight as they were when I packed things up the previous year. Sometimes the groups have gone from 1/4" to as much as 1/2". This shocked me the first time it happened. I have even had cases where the POI has shifted slightly. It can be very frustrating. </p><p></p><p><strong>Findings:</strong> If I keep shooting, over the course of the day, my groups begin to tighten back up again, eventually getting back to what they were when I packed the rifle up the prior year.</p><p></p><p>I know you may not want to hear this, but in my case, the problem wasn't the ammo or the rifle. <strong>It was me</strong>.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bremmy, post: 2563508, member: 120538"] I think I may have an explanation to what you are observing. I handload all of my rifle ammunition, so I cannot comment on how storage of factory ammo may affect its accuracy. I have noticed over the years that after my handloads have set idle on the shelf for a year or so that their accuracy seems to have dropped. I have determined what is causing this for me, however it may be something different for you. [B]Observation[/B]: I have spent a lot of time working with a specific rifle, scope, cartridge combination during the load development process and made numerous trips to the range dialing in the most accurate load possible and end up with a combination capable of shooting super tiny groups. I pack everything up and move onto the next rifle. A year or so passes and I get the bug again to pull that rifle and ammo out for some range time. But, when I sit down and begin shooting, immediately I notice that the groups aren't nearly as tight as they were when I packed things up the previous year. Sometimes the groups have gone from 1/4" to as much as 1/2". This shocked me the first time it happened. I have even had cases where the POI has shifted slightly. It can be very frustrating. [B]Findings:[/B] If I keep shooting, over the course of the day, my groups begin to tighten back up again, eventually getting back to what they were when I packed the rifle up the prior year. I know you may not want to hear this, but in my case, the problem wasn't the ammo or the rifle. [B]It was me[/B]. [/QUOTE]
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Why factory ammo still shoots pretty accurately after time and handloads seem to diminish accuracy over time
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