dc.fireman
Sling & Irons!
I will split with the majority, and say that the thrown shot resembles inconsistent trigger finger.
What's Wrong With My Shooting
- Thread starter clunker
- Start date
My first thought was 4 shots in under a minute with a light barrel is heat. Always the 4th shot, heat.
Before I knew better I had a new to me ruger 77 in 22-250. I took it to the range and proceeded to shoot a box of ammo as you stated in proabbly about 5 minutes. Looked like a shotgun 6" pattern @100. Sold the rifle to my brother. Later after I learned a thing or two, I properly cleaned the barrel, I reloaded for it, shot slow and it was one of the most accurate factory barrels I've shot. Would shoot 1/4-1/2" groups on decent regularity with good conditions.
In many cases with a rifle that is assembled properly, using quality store bought ammo, if you can't get a constant 1" or better group with a newer rifle, the shooter is usually doing something wrong. Unless your barrel is toast.
Before I knew better I had a new to me ruger 77 in 22-250. I took it to the range and proceeded to shoot a box of ammo as you stated in proabbly about 5 minutes. Looked like a shotgun 6" pattern @100. Sold the rifle to my brother. Later after I learned a thing or two, I properly cleaned the barrel, I reloaded for it, shot slow and it was one of the most accurate factory barrels I've shot. Would shoot 1/4-1/2" groups on decent regularity with good conditions.
In many cases with a rifle that is assembled properly, using quality store bought ammo, if you can't get a constant 1" or better group with a newer rifle, the shooter is usually doing something wrong. Unless your barrel is toast.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. If the high temperatures ever dip below 90, I'll head out to the range and try some things. First, I'll take some time between shots without changing position. That should clear up any discussion of whether barrel temp is the issue. As Ggmac suggested, I'm ordering a new scope. In fact, I will be starting a new thread about one that I have in mind. The reviews seem too good to be true, so I'm hoping someone on this forum has some experience with Mueller scopes. When my Creedmoor gets back from Tikka, I'll pit the two rifles up against each other to see if it's a barrel issue, or if it's me.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
If you wait between shots then you let the conditions change which makes the group even worse.
I threw a Muller away once, Clunker are you using the factory rings on that Tikka?
My take.
1. Get off the broken ground, and lose the bipod if you're shooting groups.
2. Nothing about Nosler is match grade....
3. It ain't the gun getting hot, as I routinely shoot strings of as many as 10-12 shots in less than 6 mins in factory class Ghog matches with a Tikka superlite.
4. Skip the Mueller scope... save your money for a better ( even if it's used ) scope.
5. Learn to reload.
1. Get off the broken ground, and lose the bipod if you're shooting groups.
2. Nothing about Nosler is match grade....
3. It ain't the gun getting hot, as I routinely shoot strings of as many as 10-12 shots in less than 6 mins in factory class Ghog matches with a Tikka superlite.
4. Skip the Mueller scope... save your money for a better ( even if it's used ) scope.
5. Learn to reload.
<A few other points. Soil at the range is rock-hard and lumpy. It is difficult to find a comfortable prone position, and my elbows still hurt, but I don't expect that anyone is going to roll out some plush red carpet for me when I'm hunting either. Every grouping was taken from a different position with one exception.>
You may want to end up shooting under field conditions with sticks or a bipod, prone, sitting or standing...but if you want to learn about your rifle/scope/ammo and personal skills, you need to be shooting from a bench with front and rear rests. My $.02.
You may want to end up shooting under field conditions with sticks or a bipod, prone, sitting or standing...but if you want to learn about your rifle/scope/ammo and personal skills, you need to be shooting from a bench with front and rear rests. My $.02.
Clunker, Over the years I've up graded everything. From the muzzle to the buttplate and every single thing in between. Also my rest and bags. Also my reloading gear twice! Some years ago i was shooting fairly good groups if you threw out a couple of the fliers. Now I'm shooting much, much better groups if you throw out the very rare flier. Equipment shrunk my groups and LOTS and LOTS of trigger time has greatly reduced my fliers. Even if you don't upgrade your gear and just practice ALOT think how much better your groups would be without that flier. Buy gear little by little and ammo by LOTS. Cheers Mike
Damn it! Why can't anything be easy?
I am still using the factory rings, largely because I have not had a chance to research what rings to buy. Tikka no longer provides rings with their rifles, and there might be good reason for that. However, they feel solid and have a snug fit. I put the scope on my Creedmoor for its only shooting session with the same rings, and didn't even have to resight the scope to test the rifle. Easily within 2" of the original position on the .223. Maybe a coincidence or just dumb luck.
I'd like to spend a lot more time shooting, but even hand-loaded ammo is expensive (although, I have been saving all of my brass). The closest range is a 30 minute drive, and the closest public lands are more than an hour drive. After working all day in the blazing heat with no shade, the last thing I want to do is spend more time in the sun. I'm actually in the process of trying to sell my house and buy some land outside city limits where I can shoot any time I want and put up a 12-foot fence if I feel like it. The lifestyle change has more to do with paying off student loans than shooting, but I welcome the benefits of escaping city code. I wouldn't be surprised if they started making you buy a permit every time you want to use the toilet. Sorry . . . had to vent some frustration.
Someoldguy
I hope your plans work out for you. I just sold my rural home and property. I got tired of spending 3 hours a day behind a steering wheel. 3 hours on a lawn mower and an hour with a string trimmer at least once a week. And let's not even begin to talk about ice, snow and the unreliability of weather forecasts.
Not to rain on your picnic, but as you said, nothing is easy.
Clunker
Please google Tikka performance I use their rail with a built in pin that fits perfectly and stops any movement, Tikka rings are suspect at best and as I said previously try Federal gold metal match ammo in a medium weight.
Tikka rifles shoot quite well.
Can't hurt to Google!
J
Someoldguy, believe me, I have thought about the exact same issues you have described, but convenience does not equal simplicity of life. I would much rather spend more hours working my own land because it would be on MY terms. I am done with government and corporate interests telling me how they know what is better for me than I do. I'd much rather drink from a deep well than from the municipal supply, designed to save my teeth at the expense of my health. I have the tools, experience, skills, and intelligence to live off-the-grid tomorrow, but my desired path isn't for everyone. If you want to live in a low-crime city with a great education system, secure economy (even in a recession), clean streets, affluent neighbors, fantastic return on real estate investment, and a supporting community; I have a solid house for sale. Just don't be surprised if your property taxes double the following year because some fancy architect designed a new Taj Mahal high school that all of your new affluent neighbors voted for. In 8 years, I have accumulated over $100k in equity on a zero-down USDA loan, and I would trade it all for a chunk of land where I can't see a single neighbor. I wish you the best. Sorry for venting again. Maybe I should start a blog.
Jim, I've heard about Tikka performance and will take another look. My .223 does not seem to like Federal gold medal match ammo, but the only thing I can find locally is 69gr (a bit much for a 1/10" twist). The rifle definitely likes Nosler, but their Varmageddon shot better than their match ammo.
Jim, I've heard about Tikka performance and will take another look. My .223 does not seem to like Federal gold medal match ammo, but the only thing I can find locally is 69gr (a bit much for a 1/10" twist). The rifle definitely likes Nosler, but their Varmageddon shot better than their match ammo.
Someoldguy
I understand where you're coming from. I did it for 16 years. It finally wore me down. What you are wishing for sounds exactly like what I sold 3 months ago. Too bad the timing was off, maybe we could have played 'Let's make a deal'.
I sincerely hope things turn out well for you.
Sorry for the thread drift.
Sell out and head to Montana with us!
I have to add this, it's not about the groups but the journey to getting there - that's what I love so much about our sport in it's many entities. I am in the business of buying used rifles that I know the owner thinks won't shoot, cleaning them, floating them, bedding them to end up with a 1/2-3/4 minute "factory" rifle with very few mods. Of course that is adding the caveat of reloading. Find a mentor, learn the nuances of building an accurate cartridge and a whole new world will open up to you.
Why do I get the feeling that many of the people on this forum have the same frustrations? Pretty sure I need to start a new thread, or maybe run for office. Montana is a beautiful and gigantic state, but I need to be closer to the coast. It turns out that I love my job, but I don't love being a slave to the system. Just out of curiosity Jim, PM me on what's up in Montana.
Trust me, it's worth it all
It cost me at least 15yrs off my financial or "net worth" life but I can shoot 24-7 and blow up all the $#!t I want to.
And I DO, Thank You Very Much
Next couple weeks we'll enjoy blowing 3-ton rootwads left over from my recent logging of my 600yd range.....by SHOOTING THEM using Tannerite and ANfo....just something about feeling the ground shake and the wind pluck at'cher jeans
From 200yds away....
OOORahhhhhh Huhh HUhhH HUHHH!
Yeahh, we got's wicks and caps and dynamite and 'lectrical capacitators too but SHOOTING them just gives me a chubby
"Fire-in-the-hole" never felt so good......and I've walked down a lot of wicks in my time
My 2-son is our pyro, he was rating Home-Aid nitro by it's "headache factor" in his early teens.......
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