That damn 5th shot!

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blueoval56

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Well I thought I would contribute a bit after seeing a couple other CGN'ers post about how well their Savage F/TR's are shooting. I bought mine quite a while ago and it sat for a long time and I even almost sold it. After a short range session the other day I'm glad I didn't! I think this one has promise. The rifle is completely factory with the exception of a cheek rest and bolt lift kit.

Here's a couple pics of the rifle and how the day went. As well as the group that was ALMOST the best group of my life if it hadn't been for me screwing up the last shot. I think I know why I did it though, I lifted my head after the forth shot to re-adjust my cheek weld and I think that was the cause.










-This group including the 5th shot was .772 MOA


-And the first 4 was .158 MOA!


-this is 5 shots at 100 for .784 MOA

There is one other pic that I just realised didn't upload to photobucket for some reason, but it was a 4 shot 200 yard group that was .490 MOA. I'll upload later when I find it.
This was all with factory 175gn FGMM. In the pics I accidentally wrote 178gn.

I also did a ladder test that day with 175 Berger BT LR and hopefully I found a decent load for those as well.
 
Makes me want to know WHERE you are shooting =) I'll accept a invite whenever =)

Good shooting though. I've become satisiftied with .75 MOA. I don't have to skills to get it less more often. Still needs work.

Nice looking rifle too. I love gray wood grain.
 
Shibby! said:
Makes me want to know WHERE you are shooting =) I'll accept a invite whenever =)

Good shooting though. I've become satisiftied with .75 MOA. I don't have to skills to get it less more often. Still needs work.

Nice looking rifle too. I love gray wood grain.
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Hahaha maybe we can talk about it. It's a family ranch. Just over 1200 yards worth of room if I really stretch it.
Next range session will be testing the berger 175's a little more and a ladder test with 200SMK's in my 300WM.
 
Use a bigger piece of paper and try square aiming marks at the bottom of the paper. Crank your scope up 10 MOA and shoot your group. Pick a corner of the square and shoot at it. Your group will be 10 inches high, but that way the big 5hit eating grin on your face won't change the cheek pressure on the stock and throw that 5th shot out.
 
I always thought for myself that the 5th shoot is always the operator error, when i shoot, it seem that once in a while, one shot will be out of the cluster, not necessairely the 5th one, a rifle is a immuable entity ( this is shooting with a nornally hot barrel ), the ammo if reloaded carefully is an almost immuable entity, if the condition are bad, windy, that could be an excuse... At the end the only part of shooting that's not an immuable entity is the.... Shooter, this is not scientific, its just the way i see things... JP.
 
In Silhouette, after knocking down the first three, there was always the problem of counting "5" with two shots remaining.
When my 11 year old grandson had a .83 c-c group (as measured later), I asked if he wanted to try making it a 5 shot group
"No" was the smart answer. While five's are the norm with heavy barreled rifles, 3 is my standard with hunting rifles.
Sometimes it is simply a matter of blaming the "Nut that holds the gun or the Jerk that pulled the trigger".
 
blueoval56 said:
Hahaha maybe we can talk about it. It's a family ranch. Just over 1200 yards worth of room if I really stretch it.
Next range session will be testing the berger 175's a little more and a ladder test with 200SMK's in my 300WM.
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It looks amazing.

I have a location thats out to 1400+, but the wind conditions are often very difficult. Makes for fustrating shooting when it's near impossible to call wind.
 
maynard said:
Use a bigger piece of paper and try square aiming marks at the bottom of the paper. Crank your scope up 10 MOA and shoot your group. Pick a corner of the square and shoot at it. Your group will be 10 inches high, but that way the big 5hit eating grin on your face won't change the cheek pressure on the stock and throw that 5th shot out.
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Bingo! So that's what it is! :)
 
caramel said:
I always thought for myself that the 5th shoot is always the operator error, when i shoot, it seem that once in a while, one shot will be out of the cluster, not necessairely the 5th one, a rifle is a immuable entity ( this is shooting with a nornally hot barrel ), the ammo if reloaded carefully is an almost immuable entity, if the condition are bad, windy, that could be an excuse... At the end the only part of shooting that's not an immuable entity is the.... Shooter, this is not scientific, its just the way i see things... JP.
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Oh I'm fully aware that it's shooter error haha. Just thought I'd share anyways.

horseman2 said:
In Silhouette, after knocking down the first three, there was always the problem of counting "5" with two shots remaining.
When my 11 year old grandson had a .83 c-c group (as measured later), I asked if he wanted to try making it a 5 shot group
"No" was the smart answer. While five's are the norm with heavy barreled rifles, 3 is my standard with hunting rifles.
Sometimes it is simply a matter of blaming the "Nut that holds the gun or the Jerk that pulled the trigger".
Click to expand...

I thought about calling it quits after 4. BUT knowing full well that I would never hear the end of it here on CGN ;) , as well as I wouldn't be able to sleep well knowing I decided to take the easier route. I agree with you though, for my hunting rigs I usually only go for 3 shot groups.

Gunslinger said:
Bingo! So that's what it is! :)
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My thoughts exactly! Haha
 
Shibby! said:
It looks amazing.

I have a location thats out to 1400+, but the wind conditions are often very difficult. Makes for fustrating shooting when it's near impossible to call wind.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing it's out in forestry with some nasty valleys for wind to come at you every which way.

This spot is either calm or windy as all hell. Most of the time it's calm in the morning and picks up around 10-11 ish.
The day I shot was a steady 5mph from the left(there abouts, I don't own a kestrel yet) and 19 degrees Celsius. It warmed up to 28 later on while I shooting my ladder and was getting some nasty mirage. Good practice though. Still saving pennies for better glass :)
 
blueoval56 said:
I'm guessing it's out in forestry with some nasty valleys for wind to come at you every which way.

This spot is either calm or windy as all hell. Most of the time it's calm in the morning and picks up around 10-11 ish.
The day I shot was a steady 5mph from the left(there abouts, I don't own a kestrel yet) and 19 degrees Celsius. It warmed up to 28 later on while I shooting my ladder and was getting some nasty mirage. Good practice though. Still saving pennies for better glass :)
Click to expand...

I wish I had access to such place. Unfortunately unless you know somebody around calgary, you are out of luck.
 
I have had the same thing happen to me on many occasions. You get 4 in a tight cluster and the 5th opens the group considerably.

I think what happens is the shooter after the 3rd shot is still relaxed and after the 4th shot starts getting excited because he now sees the potential for an amazing 5 shot group (one to hang on the wall). The heart rate goes up, palms sweat, mind races and the 5th shot is blown - not bad, but enough to open up the group substantially. This is my theory (shooter phycology 101);)

For some reason 5 shots is the accepted statistical standard in the rifle shooting world for group size. No one pays attention to tight 3 shot groups.
 
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