Rifle starts to climb after a 4 shot warm-up?

[WVBrent]

Situation: rifle (1991 A-Bolt) sighting in, shoots sub moa 3 to 4 shot group at 100yds then starts to gradually climb the target (windage is always good) with each shot afterwards. Up to an inch to an inch and ½ per shot. Let it cool (sporter barrel) 15 to 20 mins it's back to zero on paper. Any suggestions on what may be happening. Purchased this firearm used and it does have an Aftermarket stock, that info may or may not be important on solving this issue?
Appreciate any help solving this issue

 

[Clancy]

That’s totally normally for a lightweight barrel, especially a factory barrel, which was likely not stress relieved.

It cannot be fixed, but I don’t see that as an issue in a light hunting rifle.

The best “remedy” is to take another rifle or two to the range so that you’ve got something to do during those 20 minute waits.

 

[WVBrent]

Thanks for taking the time Clancy. I just never had a hunting rifle go so far off the reservation like this. I've seen it go as high as 5 or 6 inches on the 7th or 8th shot. Let cool and it's back, it just doesn't right with me I guess. Thanks again and safe shooting

 

[Stumpy1]

Depending on what you want to do, you might consider Cryo-treatment. I know lots of folks on here don't buy into it, but I have had good luck with it, taking a barrel that 'walked' and removing its yearning to wander.

CryoPlus Inc | Gun Barrels

CryoPlus performs cryogenic treatment, also known as cryogenic processing, cryo-processing, or deep cryogenic tempering.

cryoplus.com

 

[Conaso]

I found in factory 22LRs that after a thorough barrel cleaning the next firing, aka 'fouling,' the hits will rise and settle in to be consistent after 5 - 10 rounds.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

I agree that this is not a problem. In a typical deer hunting rifle this is completely acceptable imo.

 

[RSchatz]

Excessive upward pressure from the fore end of the stock could be the culprit.
Try free floating the barrel before you spend any money on other magic potions.

 

[Turkeytider]

Situation: rifle (1991 A-Bolt) sighting in, shoots sub moa 3 to 4 shot group at 100yds then starts to gradually climb the target (windage is always good) with each shot afterwards. Up to an inch to an inch and ½ per shot. Let it cool (sporter barrel) 15 to 20 mins it's back to zero on paper. Any suggestions on what may be happening. Purchased this firearm used and it does have an Aftermarket stock, that info may or may not be important on solving this issue?
Appreciate any help solving this issue

The shot I pay the most attention to in a hunting rifle is the very first.

 

[drop_point]

Situation: rifle (1991 A-Bolt) sighting in, shoots sub moa 3 to 4 shot group at 100yds then starts to gradually climb the target (windage is always good) with each shot afterwards. Up to an inch to an inch and ½ per shot. Let it cool (sporter barrel) 15 to 20 mins it's back to zero on paper. Any suggestions on what may be happening. Purchased this firearm used and it does have an Aftermarket stock, that info may or may not be important on solving this issue?
Appreciate any help solving this issue

Completely normal. That's a hunting rifle, not a target rifle. I have a Tikka Superlite that does fine for three, but four starts to drift and five is nowhere near where you want it, but it hammers again for three rounds when you let it cool. My X-Bolts, my M77s, and sporter 700s are all this way, too.

 

[Teknys]

I had a 243 REM 700 CDL that did exactly this. Mine would walk the shots right up the target on the centerline.
3 scopes and 3 different stocks. When removing an aluminum bedded stock I noticed rubbing on one side of action only. The action threads were not centered to the action.
I shimmed the action screws to relieve the stress from the action to stock and it corrected the vertical walking of the shots. That one had me scratching my head for awhile.
As posted above - hunting guns good for 3 shot groups and I’m happy.

 

[K22]

My A Bolt (2007 circa) is factory free-floated, and factory bedded so if yours is the same, then I believe you can rule out a mechanical rifle issue.

You didn't state the caliber, but if it is a deer rifle caliber with a sporter weight barrel such as a 270, 30 06, 308, etc. Shooting sustained fire sequences can and usually does cause vertical drift. A 3-4 shot moa deer rifle at desire POI is more than adequate for a big game rifle. If you need to shoot more than 3 shots at a deer, then you need to take up another hobby or spend more time at range practice in field shooting position.

 

[WVBrent]

My A Bolt (2007 circa) is factory free-floated, and factory bedded so if yours is the same, then I believe you can rule out a mechanical rifle issue.

You didn't state the caliber, but if it is a deer rifle caliber with a sporter weight barrel such as a 270, 30 06, 308, etc. Shooting sustained fire sequences can and usually does cause vertical drift. A 3-4 shot moa deer rifle at desire POI is more than adequate for a big game rifle. If you need to shoot more than 3 shots at a deer, then you need to take up another hobby or spend more time at range practice in field shooting position.

Definitely agree with that last statement k22, this one just seems to walk a little further more quickly. I felt there was a serious problem. Working up a new hunting load will be a challenge or at the very least time consuming at the range; however, in my case the back yard .

 

[WVBrent]

My A Bolt (2007 circa) is factory free-floated, and factory bedded so if yours is the same, then I believe you can rule out a mechanical rifle issue.

You didn't state the caliber, but if it is a deer rifle caliber with a sporter weight barrel such as a 270, 30 06, 308, etc. Shooting sustained fire sequences can and usually does cause vertical drift. A 3-4 shot moa deer rifle at desire POI is more than adequate for a big game rifle. If you need to shoot more than 3 shots at a deer, then you need to take up another hobby or spend more time at range practice in field shooting position.

280 rem and I have an 88 model now for 30 years that doesn't have a wondering problem for at least 7 or 8 shots. Maybe I'm getting old and more particular

 

[WVBrent]

Thanks everyone for putting my mind somewhat at ease and safe shooting for all

 

[Old Navy]

Five to six inches is not normal after 7 or 8 shots.

 

[JSH]

When I work up loads for a big game rifle, I take a lot of time. The first shot I want to know 100% where it impacts. I will do a second shot later in development.
3,4,5,6,7,8………in a short amount of time, a waste of time and components imho.

I have little interest in 3 shot groups and zero in a 5.

Always cracks me up before deer season. Guys come out and burn through several boxes of ammo “sighting in” never figured that out myself.

 

[misser]

I had a encore barrel that would climb . fix'ed it by replacing the scope mount with something different

 

[K22]

280 rem and I have an 88 model now for 30 years that doesn't have a wondering problem for at least 7 or 8 shots. Maybe I'm getting old and more particular

The fellow who was my "practical" shooting mentor, many years ago taught me, as a hunter, to focus on the cold barrel shot. When I first started training under his tutorship, he had me place a clean target behind my practice target. I would fire the cold barrel shot then retrieve the back target then proceed to shoot my practice string.

I did this for 30 practice firing sessions, and it revealed the true field capability of the rifle / load - I had record of 30 cold barrel shots on one target. Over the years I continued the practice until I was confident that I had a useful assessment of the rifle / load and me.