I am also in the same predicament - With me I believe the older you get (68) we TRY TO HARD--get impatient and pull the trigger when we shouldn't .
Good Luck
Jim
Accuracy and age?????
- Thread starter msinc
- Start date
I am also in the same predicament - With me I believe the older you get (68) we TRY TO HARD--get impatient and pull the trigger when we shouldn't .
Good Luck
Jim
Thanks for all the replies fellas!!! I didn't think this thread would generate as many responses as it did!!
it could definitely be me, I am not trying in any way to get out from under that. As posted, I am the common denominator and cannot deny it. At the same time I will say that not exactly all of my rifles wont shoot...I have a Cooper 243 that will touch bullets at 100. I have a 700 VSSF 223 that will also do it, but only one certain load and one bullet, switch any component and its gone. The Cooper is bone stock, the 700 has a trigger. Here are a few facts that have sort of steered me this way:
I cannot get any caliber{tried 4} Nosler Partitions to shoot better than 2" @ 100 out of anything.
Years ago I had a Savage 110V that would put any bullet and load into a dime @ 100. I haven't seen a 223 group 1 inch since without a lot of special time consuming reloading practices. The old Savage got ammo that was resized, trimmed if needed, any SR primer, any 55 grain or less weight bullet and any published load data powder charge. It was shot at a cardboard box while leaning over the hood of my truck.
The one I have today gets pockets uniformed, BR4 primers, flash hole deburred, annealed, outside neck turned, trimmed to length, one certain powder, one certain bullet, bullet seated with an L.E.Wilson straight seater, etc. and as stated, change or deviate one thing and it looks like I am shooting buckshot.
That leaning off the truck hood has now turned to a full bench with Sinclair rest and Protektor bags...the cardboard box is a system of 4x4's and 2x4's planted in the ground so the wind cant move it.
It's kind of the same story with some of my other rifles...I have an old WWI 1903 with pits in the bore. It will shoot better off the bench with factory ammo than my 70 with a heavy Krieger barrel. 25 years ago, I shot a 1/2" group at 200 yards with the Model 70.
I am not afraid to admit I have changed, but it sure don't seem like it's all me. I use 1.25+ reading glasses. I cant see up close as good as I once did, but I don't qualify for Lasik's yet. I have also noticed a lot more parallax in today's scopes. I never used to much worry about it because although I knew what it was, I could never find it. Yesterday, at my range, I could adjust in parallax to every scope I shot. Two of them I had trouble getting it out of. I had to move the zoom ring back off of the stop at highest power to get the parallax out. I am starting to think everyone wants to get rich, but no one wants to give you your moneys worth!!! Thanks again for the replies so far!!!
it could definitely be me, I am not trying in any way to get out from under that. As posted, I am the common denominator and cannot deny it. At the same time I will say that not exactly all of my rifles wont shoot...I have a Cooper 243 that will touch bullets at 100. I have a 700 VSSF 223 that will also do it, but only one certain load and one bullet, switch any component and its gone. The Cooper is bone stock, the 700 has a trigger. Here are a few facts that have sort of steered me this way:
I cannot get any caliber{tried 4} Nosler Partitions to shoot better than 2" @ 100 out of anything.
Years ago I had a Savage 110V that would put any bullet and load into a dime @ 100. I haven't seen a 223 group 1 inch since without a lot of special time consuming reloading practices. The old Savage got ammo that was resized, trimmed if needed, any SR primer, any 55 grain or less weight bullet and any published load data powder charge. It was shot at a cardboard box while leaning over the hood of my truck.
The one I have today gets pockets uniformed, BR4 primers, flash hole deburred, annealed, outside neck turned, trimmed to length, one certain powder, one certain bullet, bullet seated with an L.E.Wilson straight seater, etc. and as stated, change or deviate one thing and it looks like I am shooting buckshot.
That leaning off the truck hood has now turned to a full bench with Sinclair rest and Protektor bags...the cardboard box is a system of 4x4's and 2x4's planted in the ground so the wind cant move it.
It's kind of the same story with some of my other rifles...I have an old WWI 1903 with pits in the bore. It will shoot better off the bench with factory ammo than my 70 with a heavy Krieger barrel. 25 years ago, I shot a 1/2" group at 200 yards with the Model 70.
I am not afraid to admit I have changed, but it sure don't seem like it's all me. I use 1.25+ reading glasses. I cant see up close as good as I once did, but I don't qualify for Lasik's yet. I have also noticed a lot more parallax in today's scopes. I never used to much worry about it because although I knew what it was, I could never find it. Yesterday, at my range, I could adjust in parallax to every scope I shot. Two of them I had trouble getting it out of. I had to move the zoom ring back off of the stop at highest power to get the parallax out. I am starting to think everyone wants to get rich, but no one wants to give you your moneys worth!!! Thanks again for the replies so far!!!
Are the rifles that are NOT shooting , wood stocked ? If so age with do strange things to bedding and pressure points . Even if the bedding looks great , the wood under it could have changed density , shape etc , exerting pressure .
Good luck and for Gods sake , DONT GIVE UP .
Same boat , Gary
Good luck and for Gods sake , DONT GIVE UP .
Same boat , Gary
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
You reckon youre worried about the little things and using them newfangled gadgets that youre not seeing the bigger picture? Worried about runout but slapping the trigger? Worried about that round of bullets being sorted so bad your confidence has been shot?
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
You reckon those groups you coulda covered with a dime may have been kinda wishful thinking and 3 shot groups? Ive never got a partition to shoot a 3 shot dime size group. Sometimes our memory fades faster than our rifles. I had a guy bring in a custom mauser that used to put em in the same hole (30-06 with 150 core lokt factory ammo) back in the 70's now it wont hit a paper plate every shot. I cleaned the carbon out for a long time, remounted the old weaver target scope, worked up a 1/2 to 3/4" group and made the guy sad it wouldnt cut it anymore. Got a call a couple weeks later he found those one hole 3 shot 1.25" groups he saved years ago. Now he knows how to measure em so its a little different
Well, some of it could be memory...but I still have several of the groups I shot that I cut out of the target. It's a good thing I did because to see me shoot these days no one would have ever believed it, not even me. That old Savage 110V was the most accurate out of the box factory rifle I have ever known of, let alone owned. Between that rifle and my old 700 with the custom barrel it seems like I have been chasing a ghost. "Chasing them new fangled gadgets" could be some of the problem...they don't seem to help much anyways.
Rule number one, when you get a rifle that shoots lights out, do not get rid of it.
Rule number one, when you get a rifle that shoots lights out, do not get rid of it.
Mulligan
Silver $$ Contributor
I guess I will throw in my 2cents.
Doesn't matter how long you have been shooting, trigger-time is a good thing....... When the Mrs. Is watching dancing with the stars, I get an hour of uninterupted dry firing. Look forward to it twice a week, for several reasons.
Lots of things in this business have changed in the last 20 years....mostly good changes.
Powders and bullets are much better, cleaning processes have came a long way.
There is a lot better quality brass, stocks, triggers etc. available now, but you know all of that.
After you have another shooter who you know to be good, shoot your rifles and if they still don't shoot like you think they should, have a good smith take a quick peek at the crown.
Assume you have checked for loose accoutrements?
My Dad had this problem a few years ago, I scrubbed the barrel good had a new crown cut, threw out his old powder, bullets, and brass. 700 /7mag with a 40 year old Douglas barrel....it will do the job again. Not sure which of the changes made a difference and don't really care.
He sent me a letter with a target included a month later......all touching at 100. BTW, he is 79 and looking forward to another elk hunt with that rifle this year.
CW
Doesn't matter how long you have been shooting, trigger-time is a good thing....... When the Mrs. Is watching dancing with the stars, I get an hour of uninterupted dry firing. Look forward to it twice a week, for several reasons.
Lots of things in this business have changed in the last 20 years....mostly good changes.
Powders and bullets are much better, cleaning processes have came a long way.
There is a lot better quality brass, stocks, triggers etc. available now, but you know all of that.
After you have another shooter who you know to be good, shoot your rifles and if they still don't shoot like you think they should, have a good smith take a quick peek at the crown.
Assume you have checked for loose accoutrements?
My Dad had this problem a few years ago, I scrubbed the barrel good had a new crown cut, threw out his old powder, bullets, and brass. 700 /7mag with a 40 year old Douglas barrel....it will do the job again. Not sure which of the changes made a difference and don't really care.
He sent me a letter with a target included a month later......all touching at 100. BTW, he is 79 and looking forward to another elk hunt with that rifle this year.
CW
The old wear and tear does take its toll. I was quite successful in Hunter class some time back. Ran into some unexpected health problems on the time line. Wound up with severe cataracts, had them removed and got pretty good at times. One of the issues developing now is a come nd go double vision, which seems to be more mechanical than organic. But I can tell you it is a challenge to determine which crosshair to use on which target.!!?! When things are working I can shoot some 100yd groups with a handgun that are almost MOA, but more than a few at 12-15".
Its frustrating, MSINC. It leaves you unsure what or where the problem lies. You almost have to have an experienced, proven shooter on staff to verify your activities. Have a new prescription to pick up, hope the correction helps.
Its frustrating, MSINC. It leaves you unsure what or where the problem lies. You almost have to have an experienced, proven shooter on staff to verify your activities. Have a new prescription to pick up, hope the correction helps.
Downeast
Gold $$ Contributor
I know for a fact that my shooting has declined quite a bit in the last 5 years. My eyes have deteriorated a bit as has my muscle tone. I'm 64. Now when I plan to shoot I practice the same routine as when I see my doctor. Light meal before bedtime, no caffeine or breakfast in the morning, and maybe a few crackers and cheese with water while I'm shooting.
I wouldn't worry too much about old age. It doesn't last very long.
I wouldn't worry too much about old age. It doesn't last very long.
I am 81 and know I have slowed down. Trigger finger has a left angle from arthritis, I lock up an accutrigger. Have to buy better and better optics, I often see 2 vertical crosshairs. Brain says "apply pressure to trigger" but the finger does not respond and then jerks. Never was much good offhand, but now... forget it! Lose the low house double on station 2.
It's been a hell of a ride and I don't regret the horse wrecks and abuse I've given my body.....and mind.
I shot a deer this year and didn't have to wait for the kids to help me dress it, did it all by myself, even got it hung and skinned. What a huge victory for the "old guy". The bourbon tasted extra good that night!
Bill
It's been a hell of a ride and I don't regret the horse wrecks and abuse I've given my body.....and mind.
I shot a deer this year and didn't have to wait for the kids to help me dress it, did it all by myself, even got it hung and skinned. What a huge victory for the "old guy". The bourbon tasted extra good that night!
Bill
Did you realize that you were replying to a thread that was last discussed nearly 5 years ago?
D-4297
Gold $$ Contributor
Well ; the thread might be five years old , but it's still relevant today . I'm 71 , former NRA Jr. club shooter as a teen , who shot extremely well in my youth , and during a "vacation" in S.E. Asia . Must have . I'm still here . Did not touch a rifle for forty-five years , and began shooting F-TR for something to do about five years ago .
As stated ; vision does deteriorate with age , and there's that cataract thing that many have to deal with , along with the other parts of the aging process . I too ; am a smoker , and I don't remember anyone asking if I smoked when they put me on that aircraft headed for "The Nam" , but seems like everybody has their panties in a twist over it now . And I'm a heavy coffee drinker , too . Oh , For shame , for shame .....! Get over it . When I addressed these issues with my Doctor , a former Biathlon competitor , he told me that quitting smoking would be to my advantage , heart rate , respiration , etc. , but not to try quitting during the competition season . As far as the coffee goes , same thing . If you partake of these "terrible" vices , change your habits at some other time . As he said ; "You've been doing this for decades". Your not going to be competing in Marathons , or Biathlons , and your body is used to having these substances in you . Quitting both now would probably do your shooting more harm than good . I refuse to "Age" gracefully , and look forward to eventually raising my Master rating one more notch before being to feeble to carry my gear to the line . "You don't quit Skydiving because you get Old , You get Old because you quit Skydiving" !
Same goes for shooting , too !
As stated ; vision does deteriorate with age , and there's that cataract thing that many have to deal with , along with the other parts of the aging process . I too ; am a smoker , and I don't remember anyone asking if I smoked when they put me on that aircraft headed for "The Nam" , but seems like everybody has their panties in a twist over it now . And I'm a heavy coffee drinker , too . Oh , For shame , for shame .....! Get over it . When I addressed these issues with my Doctor , a former Biathlon competitor , he told me that quitting smoking would be to my advantage , heart rate , respiration , etc. , but not to try quitting during the competition season . As far as the coffee goes , same thing . If you partake of these "terrible" vices , change your habits at some other time . As he said ; "You've been doing this for decades". Your not going to be competing in Marathons , or Biathlons , and your body is used to having these substances in you . Quitting both now would probably do your shooting more harm than good . I refuse to "Age" gracefully , and look forward to eventually raising my Master rating one more notch before being to feeble to carry my gear to the line . "You don't quit Skydiving because you get Old , You get Old because you quit Skydiving" !
Same goes for shooting , too !
TheOtherZilla
Pull my finger
Don't remind me. I am 73 now and things dint get much better..
Think I need to try that. LOL. Age does make us have try harder when we are at the trigger.I know for a fact that my shooting has declined quite a bit in the last 5 years. My eyes have deteriorated a bit as has my muscle tone. I'm 64. Now when I plan to shoot I practice the same routine as when I see my doctor. Light meal before bedtime, no caffeine or breakfast in the morning, and maybe a few crackers and cheese with water while I'm shooting.
I wouldn't worry too much about old age. It doesn't last very long.
Downeast
Gold $$ Contributor
All I know is that my "vitals" are near normal when the doc checks me out. I usually have 2 or 3 cups of coffee before my bacon, eggs and grits (with lots of butter!).
skeeljc
Gold $$ Contributor
I am 76 and my rifle shooting is getting better every day. My eyesight is getting better too. I used to struggle with the DMV eye test without glasses but now I can pass it easily w/o glasses. I used to run the eyepiece all the way out but not now. My Skeet shooting has dropped off but that is because I no longer run Skeet every Sunday 52 weeks a year.
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