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damadama

damadama

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Horsefly BC
Equipment: Sako TRG S 338 Lapua. Bushnell 6500 2.5-16x42 Mildot. Lapua Brass, F215 primers, Hornady BTHP 250 grain match bullets Moly coated (by me). Norma RP5 powder. All ammo loaded to match specs.
Situation At 100 yards working up load firing 3 shot test groups each 1/2 grain higher than previous 3. Two different shooters firing.
Problem Each group produces 2 shots in one hole and one shot 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches away. This "flyer" is not called, is not the same shot (1, 2 or 3) each time and the chronograph indicates NO anomoly! All bedding bolts and scope/mounts are checked and tight. No significant wind input.
Question Could this be caused because the bullet has not reached the "sleep" stage at 100 yards or is it something else that we are just not seeing?:redface::redface::redface: Suggestions and/or advice please?
 
Disclaimer: I am not a precision guru (and not even close).

Just thought I would throw this out there. I don't know what a ladder test is, it might be what I'm suggesting. What I would do is take five to ten shots and see where they are landing. Three shots is just too thin to figure things out in my opinion.

Just to make sure everyone knows, this is just my low level precision shooting insight. Set me straight if it doesn't sound right.
 
I aggree with stuckon308 that 3-round group is not enough. Five and even better ten round groups would give you better understanding of group pattern. I know that with price of 338 ammo it may seem execesive but it is realy a best way to learn capabilities of your rifle and ammo. Another question, do you have any muzzlebrake on this rifle?
 
i am new but I have been doing lots of research, so I don't know if i am totally off or could have some value

how is the crown? i am not sure if this will produce the same flying carictaristics but it is a thought

what about cleaning, are you cleaning the gun alot? If so I would hold off on the cleaning... some people will go 500-700 shots without cleaning.

and how about shot interaval... are you waiting a min in between each shot? or are they bang, bang, bang?

I get flyiers out of my 30-06 for the first 10-12 shots I take after I clean.and it is every 3-4 shot that flys

May be helpfull may not be...

NwG Dutchie
 
Is this a new, unknown rifle, or has it demonstrated better accuracy than this in the past (e.g. with factory ammo and now you're trying to develop handloads)? Is the ammo/bullets a known accurate quantity, or is it all new? (what's your muzzle velocity, and how far off the lands is the bullet?)

Do you have enough shooting experience with this kind of gear, to be confident that what you are seeing here is a real effect?

Since the rifle is _probably_ more accurate than this (Sakos are pretty darn good, but in the end they are factory rifles, so you never really know for sure), if you know that you aren't to blame for this, the first thing I would do is to try a different scope (or, try this scope on another rifle that you *know* will shoot 5-shot 1/2-MOA groups).

Firing more shots at a 3-shot group won't make it any smaller. It _might_ give you some hints at what the problem might be, but it won't produce a better group.
 
I'm experiencing the same thing with my newly acquired 6BR (with pencil-thin 0 contour barrel). First shot flyer, then 2-4 (4 shots group) in a close-knitted group. Since I'm still working up loads, I'm gonna agree with Ian and believe this is a load development in progress "problem".
 
I have a TG42 in the .338 Lapua cartridge.

I have looked at the burn rate charts at Hogdon and I am unable to find Norma RP5 powder, so I am not sure of the burn rate. If it is in fact Norma MRP powder, you may want to try Hogdons Retumbo and US869. Also Reloader 25. I have found that the slower powders REALLY excell in this cartridge. Mine loves Retumbo!!! 250 Scenars at 3120 fps and will shoot 1/4 MOA at 100 and 200 yards, and I have had it her all the way to 1500 yards !!!

One other thing to check for, and I know I had this happen before, make sure the muzzle break (if you have one) is indexed properly. In other words, make sure it is not loose and is staight up and down!! Sounds dumb but makes a difference!!


Definatley use bags or bipod wth rear rest!!!

Hope this helps
Paul
 
I have some RP5, I am not sure but I don't think it is MRP (though I suspect it's a very close cousin). I used RP5 in my 6.5-06 and 6.5-08, it is in the H4831SC/H1000 neighbourhood; it's a quicker powder than US869/Retumbo/WC872.
 
I would not consider a precision teszt at less than 300 yards and prefer 500. 100, inm my experience, does nothing excpet confirm trigger and extractor work.

3 shots is not a good preliminary sample. 5 will give you a hint of what works and what does not, and where the pressure starts. once you know that, you need 10 shot groups.
 
"...Two different shooters firing..." That'd be one issue. No two shooters will hold the rifle, pull the trigger, see the target, etc alike.
"...ammo loaded to match specs..." Define that.
Flyers can be caused by a host of things from a wee difference in the powder charge to the rifle just not liking that load, but they're usually the shooter. Especially with magnum cartridges. If you're trying to work up a load shooting off the bi-pod, that can do it too.
 
sunray said:
"...Two different shooters firing..." That'd be one issue. No two shooters will hold the rifle, pull the trigger, see the target, etc alike.
Click to expand...

I won't call "BS" to this, but I will say that I've never seen it. I've heard people talk about rifles shooting to substantially different (more than a minute) POI just by changing shooters, but I have never seen it (both with scopes, and with double aperture iron sights).
 
Is the flyer your first shot? If so it just my be your cold bore shot, which in my case are always a bit low.
 
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