Rifle shoots two groups

[Grimstod]

I was shooting my 6.5x47 and noticed that I was getting two separate groups. Rifle seamed to switch from shooting in one group then the other randomly. Groups were 1.25 inch apart from center to center. The groups were arranged at a 45d angle to plumb.

At home I took my rifle apart and the only lose thing on it was my bubble level. Would that really cause that much spread? Picture of my bubble level.

 

[XBBR Shooter]

Would that really cause that much spread? Picture of my bubble level?

No, look elsewhere.

 

[LHSmith]

Load a tad too hot.

 

[Comrade Terry]

Groups were 1.25 inch apart from center to center. The groups were arranged at a 45d angle to plumb.

At what distance? I'm not so sure it isn't related to a loose level.

 

[savagedasher]

Your load is not tuned . Larry

 

[Ggmac]

Bolt handle hitting stock , screws too long ( scope base ) , receiver screws hitting barrel or bolt , trigger blade hitting guard or stock . Or load , ignition issues .
Need more info , new gun ? Any changes to load or rifle . Brass , bullets , powder or primer lot # change . Dies change ?
Wood or other , aluminum , glass , etc stock material .
Base , rings lapped marked caps ?
Good luck it can be a bear . A good article in the old NRA book ,
Pm me if you want the book and page
Gary

Forgot to mention bedding and a way to check with a indicator .

 

[Grimstod]

At what distance? I'm not so sure it isn't related to a loose level.

100 yards. Started 5 shot groups.

 

[MarkS]

100

yards. Started 5 shot groups.

What type stock and gun is it. It could be gun handling. I have problem with round bottom stock and gun handling myself, it is very easy to upset the bags with a round bottom gun. 1.5" is a long ways apart. How far are you shooting? What rest are you using?

Mark

 

[Loggins J]

Try seating you bullets deeper

 

[savagedasher]

I agree with MR Smith seating the bullet deeper will increase pressure if you're jumping. If your in the lands it will decrease pressure. Good luck tune the load Larry

 

[Grimstod]

What type stock and gun is it. It could be gun handling. I have problem with round bottom stock and gun handling myself, it is very easy to upset the bags with a round bottom gun. 1.5" is a long ways apart. How far are you shooting? What rest are you using?

Mark

Its a Savage. Has a round bottom stock. Using a Bald Eagle rest with a sand bag to match the round shape. This is 100yards.
I wonder if its action screw tension. When I first started load development I was getting no larger then .5moa at 100. Would different tension on the action screws cause that much of a running change? I know savage actions tend to be sensitive to that.

 

[Grimstod]

Bolt handle hitting stock , screws too long ( scope base ) , receiver screws hitting barrel or bolt , trigger blade hitting guard or stock . Or load , ignition issues .
Need more info , new gun ? Any changes to load or rifle . Brass , bullets , powder or primer lot # change . Dies change ?
Wood or other , aluminum , glass , etc stock material .
Base , rings lapped marked caps ?
Good luck it can be a bear . A good article in the old NRA book ,
Pm me if you want the book and page
Gary

Forgot to mention bedding and a way to check with a indicator .

Ill try checking some of these out. It has been a while since I had it totally apart.

 

[Ggmac]

Yes . I forgot to mention firing pin protrusion , spring tension , clearance at front of bolt to barrel .
You say 2 groups , at what shot does it start to walk , in other words is shots 1-4 together then 5 is out or 1st shot out with the others in a group or is it not centered group just a diag line .
There's a way to determine if bedding is an issue ( or screw torque ) using some c clamps and a dial gauge .
Gary

 

[Ggmac]

Are these your old loads in the same gun ? If the loads are over 6 months old it MAY be cold welding . But it's a long shot .

 

[/VH]

Add parallax to list of things to rule out.

 

[msinc]

Add parallax to list of things to rule out.

This...and maybe mirage????

 

[WyleWD]

I was shooting my 6.5x47 and noticed that I was getting two separate groups. Rifle seamed to switch from shooting in one group then the other randomly. Groups were 1.25 inch apart from center to center. The groups were arranged at a 45d angle to plumb.

At home I took my rifle apart and the only lose thing on it was my bubble level. Would that really cause that much spread? Picture of my bubble level.

I had the same thing happen to me during load work up. Split groups, in my case it was caused by seating the bullets too deep.

So my advice would be to change your seating depth both deeper and more shallow and try it again. JME.WD

 

[Grimstod]

Are these your old loads in the same gun ? If the loads are over 6 months old it MAY be cold welding . But it's a long shot .

No these are pretty fresh. I went back to square one with load development about 3 months ago so temperatures have been pretty much the same.

 

[Grimstod]

Yes . I forgot to mention firing pin protrusion , spring tension , clearance at front of bolt to barrel .
You say 2 groups , at what shot does it start to walk , in other words is shots 1-4 together then 5 is out or 1st shot out with the others in a group or is it not centered group just a diag line .
There's a way to determine if bedding is an issue ( or screw torque ) using some c clamps and a dial gauge .
Gary

Tell me more about the c clamp and dial gauge. I have a sneaky suspicion this could be it. This problem started up after I bedded the action and restarted load development.

 

[Riesel]

Put the level back on tightly and shoot it again tomorrow.