New Guy Questions

[privateer]

Hi. Been reading your forum to improve my shooting. I have been shooting a while but really only recently seriously and am trying to improve my technique.

Recently I have been practicing a lot with a rimfire,Anschutz 1903) and then mix in my centerfire rifles.

A few questions, if I may...,sorry if these are really basic.)

I usually shoot 5 shot groups to measure my consistency. When shooting rimfire, most of the group sizes are consistent and of similar sizes. I know if they vary, it is me. I shoot 5 sht groups at 50 yards.

When I shoot centerfire, I shoot 5 shop groups at 100 yards. I am still fairly consistent, but then a group will open up 2-3x the average group size. This usually after several groups have been shot. The last time it happened I checked the barrel and it was quite warm. ,I was shooting a 22-250 at the time.)

Was this because the barrel got too hot, or was this a coincidence and my inconsistency is just more visible with centerfire at 100 yards? If so, how long do you normally wait between shots or groups?

Another question is that at 100 yards, the effect of my pulse is pretty visible in the scope. How do you deal with that, ignore it? Time it? Or?

I noticed some bench shooters do not use their trigger hand to touch anything other than the trigger and maybe pinch the back of the trigger guard with their thumb. For other more general shooting techniques,hunting, general, etc.) How do you support the grip with the trigger hand? Can you just lay your thumb alongside the stock or? I just noticed that how I wrap my thumb along the grip and the pressure applied by my other fingers has a noticable effect on the results. Never mattered before, but it is noticable now. If I don't feel confortable just pinching the trigger guard and the trigger what other techniques do you recommend?

Last set of questions - Do you shoot with both eyes open? If so how do you focus? Do you focus on the target and just blur the crosshairs or dot or do you focus on the center of the crosshairs and blur the target?

Sorry if these are really basic.

 

[Chuckhunter]

privateer

You state that your groups start to open up after several groups have been fired. This is usually caused by fouling in the bore. A 22-250 is an overbore caliber, powder residue and jacket are building up in your barrel as you fire one group after another and letting your barrel get to hot will add to that condition. Get a bore guide and a good one piece coated cleaning rod and some good solvent like butches bore shine and brush your bore clean after three to four groups. I believe you'll see your accuracy return. If your rifle has a standard hunting type stock,thinner forend), keep the front rest positioned a little farther back toward the action, generally around where the scope bell is. Also use some wind flags and at least try to shoot when the wind is running in the same approx. direction and intensity. Free recoil generally doesn't work to well with a hunting rifle, so take a light hold,no deathgrip) and squeeze your shots off the same way each time. You can shoot small groups even if your falling off your stool, as long as you fall off your stool exactly the same way each time.

 

[privateer]

Thanks for the advice CH. It was pretty dirty when I finished. I'll be sure to try cleaning every 3rd or 4th group at the range next time.

 

[Preacher]

Is your 22/250 a standard weight barrel ???
Sounds like a getting warm problem to me..
To many folks clean their barrels a LOT more than is usually needed...
Even 4 groups of 5 each shouldn't cause a barrel to stop shooting tiny groups because it's fouled to bad...
Not saying it can't happen but it is unusual especially with a custom barrel......
Leaving one eye open helps see the flags, just keep em both open and have at it...
Some rifles like a death grip while other like a softer hold, and your the only one that can find out what your rifle likes, it's all part of the fun of shooting............

 

[Woodman]

As the barrel gets hot, it could be expanding and touching the stock forearm. I would check the clearance when it is hot by sliding a piece of paper between the stock and barrel. George

 

[privateer]

It is a stock Remington varmint barrel set in a Choate stock. Lots of clearance between the stock and barrel.

I will try your suggestions the next time I shoot the 22-250 at the range.