I have a factory Savage Model 10 GRS shooting suppressed with factory Hornady ammo. Shoots 1/2-1 MOA groups. Gun has 1500-2000 rounds through it. My cold bore shot is way off, like 2-3 inches at 100 yards. After that shot it shoots great. I let the gun rest for 20-30 minutes, first shot off 2-3”. After that my dope is good out to 550. Why is this happening? Every time (last 6 times) I let it cool, my first shot is off and then groups tighten up. Doesn’t make any sense. I’m on an elk hunt so I’m really in a pickle. Any ideas? Thanks guys.
Help with gun problem
- Thread starter leclairk
- Start date
DaveTooley
Gold $$ Contributor
Does it do the same thing without the suppressor?
Probably not the answer you're looking for but unless you can come up with the cause and correct it, you may have only two options:
(1) If the cold barrel shot is consistent with regards to point of impact. Make the necessary correction in the field by placement of cross hairs accordingly - the obvious problem with this option is not knowing when the cold barrel shot will happen. However if you're hunting big game at closer ranges this probably will not be a factor since you have a larger margin of error for big game. Determine the max distance that you can keep all your shots in the vitals. Make a record of cold, warm, and hot barrel shots made over various times and weather conditions.
(2) Use the rifle as a practice rifle and use something else for a big game hunt. In my opinion, you cannot afford to have a big game rifle that is not reliable. It's one thing to miss a varmint, fox or coyote, it's quite another to miss a deer of a life time or an Elk.
PS: I never used a suppressor - can the amount of fouling be an issue?
(1) If the cold barrel shot is consistent with regards to point of impact. Make the necessary correction in the field by placement of cross hairs accordingly - the obvious problem with this option is not knowing when the cold barrel shot will happen. However if you're hunting big game at closer ranges this probably will not be a factor since you have a larger margin of error for big game. Determine the max distance that you can keep all your shots in the vitals. Make a record of cold, warm, and hot barrel shots made over various times and weather conditions.
(2) Use the rifle as a practice rifle and use something else for a big game hunt. In my opinion, you cannot afford to have a big game rifle that is not reliable. It's one thing to miss a varmint, fox or coyote, it's quite another to miss a deer of a life time or an Elk.
PS: I never used a suppressor - can the amount of fouling be an issue?
The best option for me at this point may be to leave my rifle in the motel and use a friends gun. I was hoping there would be a simple solution that I could use in the field but I fear there may not be. It’s always the first round that is off, usually high, but sometimes low. I don’t feel comfortable taking a shot at 300 yards that could be high or low by 9”. The solution is use a different rifle and once I get home take it to a gunsmith to figure out what the heck is going on with it. It sucks because I’ve but a lot of time into the rifle with the goal of killing an elk, but it is what it is. It’s got to be something to do with the heat of the barrel/chamber and once it’s warm the accuracy comes back. Somehow these crazy odd occurrences find there way to me.
In some hunting rifles I've owned in the past a cold bore shot may be out of the group by a small margin but normally not that much. Yours seems to be further out than what I've seen in the past.
It's not you - it's the gun. I should have elaborated a little more in my post.
The reason I offered the two approaches is that I had a similar problem with a rifle. I spent a lot of time, money, and mental energy trying to solve this problem but I never did. I took mine to a good gun smith and we tried all manner of fixes and never did figure out the reason for the flyers. But you should give it try with a gunsmith.
In my case the rifle was a varmint / predator rifle where my margin of error was a lot less. In my case, the rifle would consistently throw the cold barrel shot 1 to 1 1/2 inches high vertically at 100 yards. The clean barrel shot was the same only higher. The clean barrel shot didn't bother me, that's a simple fix, just don't hunt with a clean barrel. But the cold barrel (fouled barrel) shot flyer is a significant problem for a hunter.
The reason I didn't give up easily is that this rifle, from a warm (not hot) barrel shot in the sub 1/2 moa range off the bench. During a typical practical range session lasting about an hour and half I would shoot 5 at 100 yards and 5 at 200 yards off my shooting sticks allowing the barrel to cool between shots which is my normal practice. This rifle (except for the lone cold barrel shot) out performed most of my other rifles but I just couldn't trust it in the field - the cold barrel shot is the "money shot".
The end result is that I relegated the rifle to a practice range rifle. Hunting is hard enough but when you got the rifle working against you it makes double hard. Then there is the lack of confidence that will creep in and you're more focused on the flyers than the fundamentals to make the shot you have to make - not good.
Good luck on your hunt and the fix for your rifle.
Tag
Thauglor
Silver $$ Contributor
I have read that this is caused by something in the throat, there have been reports a good JB paste scrubbing in the throat fixes or minimizes it. Could be a carbon ring or something in the chamber (depending if it always did it or not). Friend has a competition anschutz with a custom benchmark barrel that does this. A JB scrubbing fixes for a bit but it is coming back again for him. A few theories on this on rimfire central. There is no concrete answer on why this happens that I have found.
Maybe I missed it but what caliber is it and is it a pencil barrel or something a bit more stout?
outasite`08
Gold $$ Contributor
le, Has your cold bore shot always been the same? If so, you can rely on that as part of your data. Shoot using that data and prove to yourself, a good shot can be taken. I have cold bore on the three guns I shoot the most and keep the data in each guns data book. With practice you can make an acceptable CB shot. That`s a little hard if you`re already on a hunt. Good luck, Jeff
billlarson
"Hold Into The Wind"
Your first shot.Is it from a clean or oily barrel...???
Not an uncommon condition even with custom barrel.
I have only had 2 or 3 barrels that shot on target first round with an oily barrel.
Had a 33/47 lead bullet barrel shooting in Coors matches :::first round 1:00 5" out::second round 1:00 3" out::: third round 1:00 edge of center ring out.
Good to go until it cooled down between relays.
I have only had 2 or 3 barrels that shot on target first round with an oily barrel.
Had a 33/47 lead bullet barrel shooting in Coors matches :::first round 1:00 5" out::second round 1:00 3" out::: third round 1:00 edge of center ring out.
Good to go until it cooled down between relays.
Barrel is dirty. I have not cleaned it or oiled it while this has been happening. Prior to this happening my cold bore was never that far off, maybe 1/2” at 100. I’ve got probably 1500 rounds through the gun and this has never happened, clean barrel, oiled barrel, dirty barrel, it’s never mattered.
Of the 3 stock screws I check, the first one closest to the barrel end was tight (I don’t have a torque drive with me only a standard driver), middle screw was about a half turn loose, and the one closest to the butt was at least a full turn loose. I will head out this evening and see if this was the problem. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the tips guys.
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