Elevation problems with Palma rifle

[Mark C]

OK you had two 9-ring fliers out of 15 shots fired, with the rest being 10s or better (and half of those being Vs/Xs, which is about the right proportion).

When you shot, did all fifteen shots fired look good to you, sight-picture wise?

• If no, then your bad-looking shots are likely the ones that landed outside the 10-ring and the solution is to work on firing more shots that look good - yes this is much easier to say than to do!! Most likely once you figure out how to shoot almost all shots so that they look reasonably good, they'll almost all be in the 10-ring.
• If yes all fifteen shots looked good to you but two landed outside the 10-ring, then things are much more difficult to diagnose, especially if you don't have shot-to-shot feedback.

You know what I always get a few shots that don't look good or at least look different . What causes that ? They seem to look like they are centered but yet look different . No as crisp I guess is what I'm trying to say .

 

[Mark C]

OK you had two 9-ring fliers out of 15 shots fired, with the rest being 10s or better (and half of those being Vs/Xs, which is about the right proportion).

When you shot, did all fifteen shots fired look good to you, sight-picture wise?

• If no, then your bad-looking shots are likely the ones that landed outside the 10-ring and the solution is to work on firing more shots that look good - yes this is much easier to say than to do!! Most likely once you figure out how to shoot almost all shots so that they look reasonably good, they'll almost all be in the 10-ring.
• If yes all fifteen shots looked good to you but two landed outside the 10-ring, then things are much more difficult to diagnose, especially if you don't have shot-to-shot feedback.

I always get a few shots that never look the same !

 

[Fast14riot]

Eye fatigue can be another issue, especially if you're over 40. Sometimes a +.75 diopter added to either your glasses or your sight can help as well. The hardest part is stopping and resetting a position if it doesn't feel right.

Sounds like you're really close though, 2 9's isnt bad. Sometimes when I am getting frustrated with my shooting I'll shoot a SR1 target in slow prone at 100 yards just to prove to myself that I can still keep them in the 10 ring, or see if I am having any real fundamental issues. Cleaning a target can be a big mental help.

 

[Mark C]

Eye fatigue can be another issue, especially if you're over 40. Sometimes a +.75 diopter added to either your glasses or your sight can help as well. The hardest part is stopping and resetting a position if it doesn't feel right.

Sounds like you're really close though, 2 9's isnt bad. Sometimes when I am getting frustrated with my shooting I'll shoot a SR1 target in slow prone at 100 yards just to prove to myself that I can still keep them in the 10 ring, or see if I am having any real fundamental issues. Cleaning a target can be a big mental help.

Thank you ! You all have been such a big help I absolutely appreciate all of this !

 

[Mark C]

Eye fatigue can be another issue, especially if you're over 40. Sometimes a +.75 diopter added to either your glasses or your sight can help as well. The hardest part is stopping and resetting a position if it doesn't feel right.

Sounds like you're really close though, 2 9's isnt bad. Sometimes when I am getting frustrated with my shooting I'll shoot a SR1 target in slow prone at 100 yards just to prove to myself that I can still keep them in the 10 ring, or see if I am having any real fundamental issues. Cleaning a target can be a big mental help.

Eye fatigue can be another issue, especially if you're over 40. Sometimes a +.75 diopter added to either your glasses or your sight can help as well. The hardest part is stopping and resetting a position if it doesn't feel right.

Sounds like you're really close though, 2 9's isnt bad. Sometimes when I am getting frustrated with my shooting I'll shoot a SR1 target in slow prone at 100 yards just to prove to myself that I can still keep them in the 10 ring, or see if I am having any real fundamental issues. Cleaning a target can be a big mental help.

What type of diopter do you recommend i just have the old type iris with the little lever on it to close and open the iris .i was wondering about those with all the colours on them do you have any experience with those ?

 

[Fast14riot]

I shoot service rifle (AR15) so I don't have personal experience with them, and I wear prescription shooting glasses anyways, but Gehmann makes a +1.5 rear iris with -4.5 to +4.5 correction for about $120. Color filters help with contrast and glare a bit.

 

[Mark C]

I shoot service rifle (AR15) so I don't have personal experience with them, and I wear prescription shooting glasses anyways, but Gehmann makes a +1.5 rear iris with -4.5 to +4.5 correction for about $120. Color filters help with contrast and glare a bit.

Ok I'll check that out thanks !

 

[Hengehold]

If you feel you're holding good elevation and breaking shots clean, try opening your front iris. I've found a larger front iris setting holds better elevation. Takes a little getting used to.

Great point about the front iris. If the front aperture is too tight to the the target (I.e. A very thin line of white between bull and front aperture) it will cause light to bend as it comes through the sight and result in a "false ring of white" around the bull when in reality the bull is not centered in the sight.

I found my ideal aperture size by opening the aperture up all the way and shooting a group (6-8 rds) at 100yds. I then reduced the aperture size incrementally as I shot additional groups. I saw the groups get smaller as I reduced the aperture size until a certain point and after that reducing the aperture size resulted in the group opening back up. Once you find the sweet spot, you can convert the data to find out what aperture size you will probably want to go with at different yard lines.

You may want to try a drill like that in a short range practice (100-300yds) to see if you are using an appropriate size aperture.

-Trevor

 

[Mark C]

Great point about the front iris. If the front aperture is too tight to the the target (I.e. A very thin line of white between bull and front aperture) it will cause light to bend as it comes through the sight and result in a "false ring of white" around the bull when in reality the bull is not centered in the sight.

I found my ideal aperture size by opening the aperture up all the way and shooting a group (6-8 rds) at 100yds. I then reduced the aperture size incrementally as I shot additional groups. I saw the groups get smaller as I reduced the aperture size until a certain point and after that reducing the aperture size resulted in the group opening back up. Once you find the sweet spot, you can convert the data to find out what aperture size you will probably want to go with at different yard lines.

You may want to try a drill like that in a short range practice (100-300yds) to see if you are using an appropriate size aperture.

-Trevor

Thanks again Trevor I've been using your advise and it helped a lot .....less flyers thank you !

 

[Hengehold]

Thanks again Trevor I've been using your advise and it helped a lot .....less flyers thank you !

Great, glad to hear you are making progress