Dissappointing range outing

huntingfish

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Quebec City
Howdy!
I went to the range this morning and I was getting larger groups than what I had hoped for. The rifle is brand new as well as the scope. I do not claim MOA capabilities, but I expect to be able to do minute of moose ;-)

The range I went to had 2 distances: 42 and 100 yd. I was supported by front and near bags. I set the parallax to match the distance at which I was shooting. Full zoom 16x.

I took a shot at 42 yards and the shot was bull's eye . I then moved to 100 yards and I shot 3+" groups. I have to admit I'm used to a timney in my swedish mauser and this ain't no timney, but the trigger was adequate. I let the shot surprise me.

Today was *hot* in Québec and the barrel was a bit hot. I could touch it and leave my hand on it, but it was pretty unpleasant. It would take a long time to cool off, so I didn't let it cool off completely between shots. I wonder if that could be causing my problems?

I was shooting 180gr Remington Core-lokt in 300 win mag. The range's owner was saying that I'd be hard pressed to get tighter groups with those Core-lokts, but they were fine in my 30-06. Maybe this rifle doesn't like them?

David
 
Could be your bullet, or maybe not. Try another load.
I have a new to me 300 wm that I’ve been shooting. I used some 180 corelocts that I bought bulk 25 years ago to sight in with . The damn things are shooting into 1/2” at 100 yards, my “good” bullets are double the group size. Pizzes me off.
 
How long has it been since your previous range outing? I know I went out last week for the first time since the Pandemic started. And I was quite rusty.

I took a shot at 42 yards and the shot was bull's eye . I then moved to 100 yards and I shot 3+" groups. I have to admit I'm used to a timney in my swedish mauser and this ain't no timney, but the trigger was adequate. I let the shot surprise me.

Today was *hot* in Québec and the barrel was a bit hot. I could touch it and leave my hand on it, but it was pretty unpleasant. It would take a long time to cool off, so I didn't let it cool off completely between shots. I wonder if that could be causing my problems?

Anticipating the recoil and sounds like the forearm may be touching the barrel.
 
I would find if counter productive to shoot on a very hot day. Wait until it cool's off and I'm sure you will find a difference...........you may also have a case of flinch-itus.
 
Best to go out there as early as possible.
No heat waves to mess wid yer mind.
Lots of java in the system shure don't help grewps.

Oh, bring a 22 to git dem jewses flow'in.
 
Who mounted the scope?

Gunsmith mounted the scope and boresighted the thing.

As for someone else's question:
The rifle is a Zastava LK m70 in 300 win mag, leupold rings and bases (steel) with a Nikon Prostaff5 (4-16x42mm).

I had my 12 ga with me...but that didn't go as planned either (see other thread lol)

David
 
Give it another try but make sure you bring a variety of ammo. I tend to bring at least 3 options, you never really know what a rifle likes to eat. Hell with 22s I'll bring 6+ different boxes of ammo to try.
 
I would find if counter productive to shoot on a very hot day. Wait until it cool's off and I'm sure you will find a difference...........you may also have a case of flinch-itus.

Will have to go back for sure. But with work, university, the kids, the wifey...when I can fit a range day in my schedule: I go no matter what the weather is lol

David
 
I’ve found with my Rem 700 based .300 win mag that my groups are much tighter at 200m than 100m. See if you can’t shoot somewhere farther.
 
Free Floated barrel. Can you run a sheet of paper along the barrel channel without it binding? If it binds this will be magnified when shooting out of a hot barrel.
Silly question but I've seen this happen several times: Are you resting the barrel on the front rest or for-end? I had a guy ask me what he was doing wrong because his group sizes were 3" plus at 100yds. His rig should have been capable of 1" or less at 100yds. He was resting his barrel on the front rest instead of the for-end. He didn't realize he was doing it. Groups got way smaller when he rested it properly.
Try as others have suggested as well.
 
Also try dialing back the magnification. I have no explanation but my groups open up when I am zoomed into 16x. Try 8 or 10 x. I know 100% is me and not the gun/scope.
 
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