1st shot a flyer always in a group

B

BernieL

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Location
Lethbridge
Bolt action gun
Groups of ten shot.
50yard target
Barrel cold. First shot always 1 inch high.
The remaining nine are within a 1/2 inch group. But 1 inch lower than the first
Barrel is free floated
Stock need a pillar and bedding job?
Let me know your opinions
 
Always start shooting with the second shot. Avoid first shot at all cost. :d
OK, seriously.... I think it's a common problem. As the barrel heats up, it changes the point of impact.
 
Is it a clean cold barrel or just a dirty cold barrel?
Is it so consistent that you can adjust for the first shot.
Opinions from other shooters with the same rifle would mean more that what my stable might.
That being said . . . you can send it to me if I don't already have one!
 
Have not seen it as a result of a cold bore in my Savage. However, with a clean bore, and a slight oil residual, a flyer on the first shot is common. I like to shoot at least a couple of shots to foul up the bore before I shoot a target for group.
 
I had a couple friends that found the same thing and they shot it was the cold bore thing, but after talking to a metallurgist that worked for a well known barrel manufacturer we started to see it in a different way. He was an experienced extreme long rang shooter and put on somewhat of a clinic for us. The upshot was that the whole "cold bore shot" thing was mostly an excuse for poor fundamentals on the first shot. That we tend to not really dig in until after that first round. You can see it yourself if you watch others.
We were somewhat skeptical until he used the same rifles we were having the issues with and showed decisively that, at least with our rifles, it was operator error.
 
Probably related to cleanliness of the bore. If this is happening from a clean barrel it is typical to have the first shot (or several) out from where the group settles into as bullet lube gets distributed through the barrel and velocities stabilize. A dirty barrel could have a carbon ring significant enough to compress a bullet then warms and softens with shooting to have a lesser or more consistent effect on the bullets. It may just be one of those mysterious rifles nobody knows why they throw cold bore fliers whether clean or dirty.

Give the chamber area a thorough cleaning preferably with JB bore paste or an aggressive solvent and brush till your arm falls off. Observe how the groups pattern as you fire the first few shots from this clean state, let it cool 30 min and test again as you'll now have a clean but seasoned barrel which should have enough lube down the bore to shoot all the bullets consistently and no significant fouling buildup to have funky cold/warm effects on your shots. If still getting the cold bore flier... it's just "one of those" and nobody really knows how to cure it.
 
fortis risk said:
I had a couple friends that found the same thing and they shot it was the cold bore thing, but after talking to a metallurgist that worked for a well known barrel manufacturer we started to see it in a different way. He was an experienced extreme long rang shooter and put on somewhat of a clinic for us. The upshot was that the whole "cold bore shot" thing was mostly an excuse for poor fundamentals on the first shot. That we tend to not really dig in until after that first round. You can see it yourself if you watch others.
We were somewhat skeptical until he used the same rifles we were having the issues with and showed decisively that, at least with our rifles, it was operator error.
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This is why it's suggested to bring a rimfire to the rifle range to warm up with before shewt'in awff the big ker-pows.
Git the mind werk'in in the proper order.
 
SUPER TENERE said:
Best advise. Do not clean a .22 barrel. Problem solved. Always use the same ammo. The one that works best in your rifle and stick with it.
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That advice doesn't always work. My new anschutz MPR, s accuracy drops off quickly after about 400 rounds .After a good cleaning it tightens the group's right back.
As far as the cold bore flyer.I always shoot 1 or 2 warm up shots before shooting groups. In cold weather even after a brief break I shoot another warm up round.
 
fortis risk said:
I had a couple friends that found the same thing and they shot it was the cold bore thing, but after talking to a metallurgist that worked for a well known barrel manufacturer we started to see it in a different way. He was an experienced extreme long rang shooter and put on somewhat of a clinic for us. The upshot was that the whole "cold bore shot" thing was mostly an excuse for poor fundamentals on the first shot. That we tend to not really dig in until after that first round. You can see it yourself if you watch others.
We were somewhat skeptical until he used the same rifles we were having the issues with and showed decisively that, at least with our rifles, it was operator error.
Click to expand...

I agree. This is probably what happens the vast majority of times. I know this from my own experience. It's either that or I get those "cold bore fliers" on a variety of rifles, not all the time, but often enough that it's my shooting that is at issue. That first shot is a bugger to get down cold, the very first time.

It is unlikely to be anything relating to a barrel "heating" up as this just doesn't happen between the first and second (or third, fourth, and fifth) shots. These are not CF rifles, after all.
 
I've never had a rifle that didn't have a variation in the cold bore shot. But the variation is always the same, so my scope is zeroed for the non cold bore shot and I know the adjustment for the cold bore. I can still shoot groups from a cold bore because of this. The moral of the story... know your gear.
 
FrankieT said:
I've never had a rifle that didn't have a variation in the cold bore shot. But the variation is always the same, so my scope is zeroed for the non cold bore shot and I know the adjustment for the cold bore. I can still shoot groups from a cold bore because of this. The moral of the story... know your gear.
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^^^ I agree.
 
CZs are noted for this, some are worse than others. I have a 452 Varmint that consistently throws the first shot between .5 and .75 inches low at 4 to 5 o'clock at 50 yds.
Fire the first couple rounds in the dirt if you're target shooting. If it's a hunting gun, sight in accordingly.
 
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