Flyers???

[Raptor]

Guys, I am stumped. I am getting a single flyer with my groups at 600yds. I am shooting a 284 with a light varmint Bartlien barrel. My load is 52.5grs of H4350 with a 162 AMAX. This load was shooting 1" to 1.3" 5shot groups at 300yds. This is a tactical rifle and not a BR rifle. I also do not shoot off of a bench with rests. I use bags or bipods. My groups at 600 for 4 shots are all 2.2 to 3" but I will have one damn flyer that puts it out to a 4.5 to 5" group for the 5 shot group. I have sorted brass, annealed it and changed seating depth and played with the load.

My flyers are usually high or low but at times may be left or right but I also never have a calm day. I would really appreciate and advice on what to try or what direction to go. Thanks Guys!!!!

 

[Hoier]

I had a dasher barrel that did the same thing, after messing with it for 1500 rounds or so I decided to get a new barrel. Life has been good ever since.

 

[Lapua40X]

Raptor - meaning no disrespect (you're obviously a capable shooter) but I assume it's not always the same round in the group that slips away. I don't shoot bench rest any more. Like you, I shoot tactical with bipod and light rear bag. When I had (and sometimes still have) that problem it is usually a rear bag and/or shoulder contact inconsistency. The slightest change in the way the butt rides that rear bag or the amount of unintended lateral pressure from the bag to the butt can really put Xxxx in your mess kit. ???

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3876060.0

 

[Joe Salt]

Raptor is it the first shot or the last, If its the first leave the bolt closed on your last sighter, this will get you in a rhythm with your record string. see it all the time in 1000 yard shooting! If it's the last shot it's you. Your slacking off or putting too much shoulder into it.

Joe Salt

 

[Raptor]

Thanks for the replies!!No idea which shot it is. First off guys you need to remember that this is NOT BR shooting. I don't use front rests or heavy sand solid rear bags. My bags have to be light and I have to carry them and then drop down and shoot off of them or a bipod and a rear bag. In fact I don't even shoot off of a bench. I shoot off the hood of my PU. My range is out in the country where I have steel set up out to 1000yds.

What I normally try to do is get my load and gun so the will shoot 1" to 1.5"s @ 300yds on a calm day. I then want it to shoot around .5MOA @ 600yds for 5 shots. Then when I miss I know its me. My last 284 would actually shoot better than the above stated goal.

I am sure it could be something that I am doing and maybe I am just overlooking it. What really bugs me is that I have a 6SLR and it will usually shoot around the .5MOA at these distances while I am load testing with the 284. I shot 4 groups last night and all 4 groups had 4 where they needed to be and a damn flyer!! High, low and left...

 

[22BRGUY]

How long or short a time are you waiting between shot Raptor?

 

[John from MN]

Possibly a foolish question, but have you experimented with different seating depths at 600 yds?

 

[Drop Port]

I shoot the same way, long range tactical and look for similar standards from my rifles. What I have found is there are three factors,
1 load development
2 rifle capability
3 technique
I eliminate 1 and 2 from a cement bench with a BR set up then go to the ground and everything else is technique. Without eliminating 1and 2 you can be chasing three different angles. My last build eliminated flyers with more neck tension which I found at the bench. From the ground I eliminated a flyer by less loading of the pod.

You also stated you don't get calm conditions so that isn't going to help. I like to load test early morning or evenings with dead calm eliminating as many factors as possible.

 

[Raptor]

I shoot one right after the other. I shoot 5 then go down and check the target. yes I have played with seating depth. I don't really have anywhere that I can shoot off of a solid bench at any distance other than to 100yds. I have always done my load development like this and have not had any problems in the past. I really appreciate the replies and I have been around enough to know this is kind of like walking up to someone an saying, "I am sick, what's wrong with me??" I think I will put it aside until I go out to my son in laws. He has a bench set up and we can shoot to 1000yds if need be. Thanks again Guys!!

 

[hogan]

I shoot the same way, long range tactical and look for similar standards from my rifles. What I have found is there are three factors,
1 load development
2 rifle capability
3 technique
I eliminate 1 and 2 from a cement bench with a BR set up then go to the ground and everything else is technique. Without eliminating 1and 2 you can be chasing three different angles. My last build eliminated flyers with more neck tension which I found at the bench. From the ground I eliminated a flyer by less loading of the pod.

You also stated you don't get calm conditions so that isn't going to help. I like to load test early morning or evenings with dead calm eliminating as many factors as possible.

Congrats on your fine shooting rifle! Drop Port has your ticket. +100...

Really need to isolate your variables. Good thought too on the varying tension on first or last round fired.
Why not shoot 10rd groups? See if you get 2 flyers??? Might setup a video camera focused on your target and tape the bullet impacts, see if that gives you a clue about which round is varying.

Could it be something as simple as conditions? Forcing the 5 shots like in a time constrained situation? Sounds like you are very capable, but maybe impatient and unwilling to consider all the variables. Shooting from any better rest or other location won't solve those issues.

 

[Raptor]

Thanks for all the replies!! You guys gave me some things to think about. (And try). I spent this week sorting, trimming and annealing my brass. I will give it one more try and see what happens. Like a couple of you have said it may just be a crappy barrel. I sure hope not. I will keep you guys posted when I get a day when I don't have a damn wind. Might be a while!!! Ha

 

[4xforfun]

Thanks for all the replies!! You guys gave me some things to think about. (And try). I spent this week sorting, trimming and annealing my brass. I will give it one more try and see what happens. Like a couple of you have said it may just be a crappy barrel. I sure hope not. I will keep you guys posted when I get a day when I don't have a damn wind. Might be a while!!! Ha

If you need to know which shot went where, color the tips of your bullets....all a different color, and all fired in a specific order....every time.

My string...
red
blue
green
yellow
black

Also, I shoot at night when the wind is at or near zero. Simply set up a pencil beam spotlight about 30 yards from the target hooked to a car battery. Set up a wind flag somewhere between the target and the light so you can see both the flag and the target through the scope. Set up another wind flag at your firing point with a small flashlight lighting it up so you can see it with your off eye. You can simply use the rear cyclops light above the cab, or, if you have one on your truck, a cargo light. It doesn't take much light at the firing point.

Also, I cover my target in white freezer paper and use small black dots as my aim points. It makes the cross hairs really stand out.