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Loads can be so frustrating!

I have a dialed in load for my 6.5 Grendel and it's been shooting great when I shoot it. However I wanted to go to a local 300yd match this weekend and take that gun so I got it out and loaded up about 20 more plus the 15 I had left from last time and none of it shot worth a diddly! The last time I shot the gun at 300 yards it grouped 10 shots in about 1 1/4 inches and would hold that pretty reliably, last night was a disaster with nothing grouping less that about 3 1/2 inches! This whole shooting this is making me old fast and thinking of a new hobby,... maybe growing mushrooms...
 
Not likely, scope it top quality piece and only 4 months old. Checked mounts and action screws at the range. Going back to test again tonight if no-go may rethink my hobby selection.
 
Windflags Try golf, you can always kick the ball to a better lie. Golf and outdoor archery. Did them both, got disgusted with the cheating. Quit both. Its not easy to be competitive in the shooting game. Takes time and effort. Yes it takes money but so does everything else. Its not for everyone but the payoff to me is that as a competiitivee person in my 70s I can still compete with the young bucks. I notice on here you have tried a bunch of different cartridges and perhaps different guns. My advice would get a good rig put together and stick ith it. Beware of the man with one gun. You show lots of enthusism, I hope you stick it out. Shoot a box at 100 yds with your scope of 3 shots each. Should indicate a POA problem.
 
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LT, I've noticed the same thing.
You are asking about a few different calibers, not that's bad, but work on one at a time.
You might be in a very small node and thus causing issues, with barrel count, temp. change
your load or any other conditions. It's not always easy getting a rifle dialed it and getting it to
shoot the same day after day. After a while, you'll know what to look for and it will get easier.
If it was easy, then there wouldn't be a need for this forum.
 
LT, I've noticed the same thing.
You are asking about a few different calibers, not that's bad, but work on one at a time.
You might be in a very small node and thus causing issues, with barrel count, temp. change
your load or any other conditions. It's not always easy getting a rifle dialed it and getting it to
shoot the same day after day. After a while, you'll know what to look for and it will get easier.
If it was easy, then there wouldn't be a need for this forum.
Yeah I have many, normally I get one dialed in and keep that load with that gun ready to go. I really like shooting the Grendel as its a small powder capacity round and does really well for me. I had a load for it and now it wont shoot for shit! That kinda stuff ticks me off to no end, wont even do well with loads that DID well a week ago, temp and humidity are really about the same so what gives? I'm going back again today after work and see if its gonna shoot.
 
Not likely, scope it top quality piece and only 4 months old. Checked mounts and action screws at the range. Going back to test again tonight if no-go may rethink my hobby selection.
Most days I suck.. Hey you could take up fishing:p
 
Most days I suck.. Hey you could take up fishing:p
Damn boat cost alot more than a rifle and you still got to feed it.The last one I had ,had a 175 gallon gas tank and could suck down 30 gallons an hour.
But then again,I worked on stuff that ate 200 gallons of diesel fuel an hour.
 

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In 300 yd Fclass the X ring is about 1.4", and 10 ring 2.8". For Ftr (308 and 223) I have never seen a perfect 20 shot score in the X ring, and maybe 10-30% perfect in the 10 ring at a match. And one's performance varies match to match. So I don't consider you are much different in this regard.
 
Damn boat cost alot more than a rifle and you still got to feed it.The last one I had ,had a 175 gallon gas tank and could suck down 30 gallons an hour.
But then again,I worked on stuff that ate 200 gallons of diesel fuel an hour.
That tub will melt yer credit card
 
That is a significant change and not likely to be the load. The fact that the 15 rounds left over from last time when it was shooting well did not shoot well this time is a strong clue that the change is not load related.

There is something first order going on. Start with thinking about any changes you may have made to the gun since it was shooting well but especially the scope.
 
Where's your bore scope pictures? Last time out you may have built up some fouling of some sort. While it was still warm from shooting it wasn't a problem. The next time out it is right there, hard as a rock and causing fliers. I'm not a competitive shooter, but all rifles do this from time to time. I was surprised at just how hard it is to get a carbon ring out once it's formed. My bore scope has become my best friend and worst enemy; very unforgiving when it comes to the truth about cleaning effectiveness.
 
Where's your bore scope pictures? Last time out you may have built up some fouling of some sort. While it was still warm from shooting it wasn't a problem. The next time out it is right there, hard as a rock and causing fliers. I'm not a competitive shooter, but all rifles do this from time to time. I was surprised at just how hard it is to get a carbon ring out once it's formed. My bore scope has become my best friend and worst enemy; very unforgiving when it comes to the truth about cleaning effectiveness.
All you say is true but it sounds like this was a significant change from one outing to the next and not some subtle thing that built up over time.
 
Some things to consider based on my experiences:

1. When things start to go bad sometimes the shooter will compound them by getting stressed out. Not saying that's an issue with you but it has happened to me - more than once.

Case in point, at the range on Monday shooting my very reliable and accurate Rem 700 heavy varmint rifle - a sub 1/2 moa rifle. Same load - same lot of powder / primers / bullets. First 5 shots at 100 yards off the sticks I push two bad shots out - one 2" off the mark and the other 2.25" off the mark - one right, the other left. Rarely do I push that far off at 100 yards - even more rare is to push two shots off in a string - really angry - really frustrated - really rattled - I hate to miss - especially that poorly - shakes your confidence for sure.

I move the target out to 200 yards - take a long break - calm down. Give my self a pep talk - I know this rifle is capable - I know I'm capable IF I concentrate of the fundamentals and can forget about the bad string at 100 yards. I reset my mind that I'm starting fresh. Shoot a 5 shot string at 200 yards. 5 of 5 good shots in the desired target area - my "red zone" for varmints. The problem was between my ears - nothing new there.

2. In essences, shooting is an athletic endeavor subject to bio-rhythm variation in the physical and mental state. Some days when I'm in the zone I shoot really good - other days I just don't have it meaning the ability to concentration and focus on the fundamentals. I've missed more ground hogs due to neglecting a fundamental than due to any environmental / equipment factors.

3. There are other issues of course - fouling build up - environmental changes - equipment / ammo changes but if you're an experienced shooter which it sounds like you are then you've ruled those factor out. The only remaining factor is you.

Treat the experience as a challenge - reset you mind and try again - never surrender.

Last year I had trouble at the range shooting my Rem 7 off the sticks - averaging only about 85% in the red zone - Normally I'm in the 90 and above %. Yet in the field I made kills shots on 98% of the ground hogs I attempted in more challenging conditions than on the range. Go figure? A change in venture maybe made the difference?

Try to avoid the temptation of changing a bunch of things all at once. Go out to the range a couple of more times to make sure something needs changed before you change it. If you don't chaos will ensue. Good luck and keep shooting.
 
STEP AWAY TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND REALIZE THAT SOMETIME IT'S THE ONE PULLING THE TRIGGER WE ALL HAVE THOSE DAYS BUT GETTING FRUSTRADED ONLY SIMS TO MAKE IT WORSE OR IT DOES FOR ME HANG IN THERE YOU'LL GET IT
 
Yeah I have many, normally I get one dialed in and keep that load with that gun ready to go. I really like shooting the Grendel as its a small powder capacity round and does really well for me. I had a load for it and now it wont shoot for shit! That kinda stuff ticks me off to no end, wont even do well with loads that DID well a week ago, temp and humidity are really about the same so what gives? I'm going back again today after work and see if its gonna shoot.
Is it factory barrel ? Or Krieger ? I have solved the same issue by replacing factory barrels.
 

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