I think a lot of people would be shocked to see how differently some rifles shoot off the bench on a nice late summer day compared to leaning against a tree for 3-4 hours in minus double digits.
I moved from Nova Scotia to Alberta a lifetime ago and brought with me several hunting rifles that were older, well looked after and above average accurate. I loved to shoot rifles back then, ammunition was cheap and I lived near a very nice range. I had shot a ton of deer back east but only a couple were beyond 100 yards. In Alberta I was humbled by making a few poor shots on deer under 200 yards.
I use to drive a freezer truck in those days and I got to thinking about cold barrel vs hot barrel . I tried many rifles frozen solid vs hot and first shot frozen was out to lunch on every rifle I tried except for my 760 which was just acceptable. It boiled down to pressure points and bedding.
I still have a bunch of rifles but when the weather turns foul I take a free floated rifle in a synthetic stock. It will put the first shot where aimed every time which is rarer than one might think.
One common theme at the range was "that was the fouling shot". Was it though? And how many "fouling shots" do you get in the bush while hunting?
Anyway, I don't shoot my main hunting rifle much at the range. I have a bunch I tinker with and like to shoot much more. My main rig is a 30-06 in a very light rifle and I have no interest in beating myself up with it. I keep one target separate down range and shoot the dreaded one shot group at that target a few times over the afternoon. I usually shoot 25 to 100 rounds out of other rifles but only 3 or 4 out of my hunting rig. A week before season I fire one 3 shot group at 100 yards and go hunting.
I have no interest in 10, 5 or even 3 shot groups with my hunting rifles. Light barrels in light rifles, I want the first shot exactly where I am aiming and second one within an inch, after that group size means nothing.
I moved from Nova Scotia to Alberta a lifetime ago and brought with me several hunting rifles that were older, well looked after and above average accurate. I loved to shoot rifles back then, ammunition was cheap and I lived near a very nice range. I had shot a ton of deer back east but only a couple were beyond 100 yards. In Alberta I was humbled by making a few poor shots on deer under 200 yards.
I use to drive a freezer truck in those days and I got to thinking about cold barrel vs hot barrel . I tried many rifles frozen solid vs hot and first shot frozen was out to lunch on every rifle I tried except for my 760 which was just acceptable. It boiled down to pressure points and bedding.
I still have a bunch of rifles but when the weather turns foul I take a free floated rifle in a synthetic stock. It will put the first shot where aimed every time which is rarer than one might think.
One common theme at the range was "that was the fouling shot". Was it though? And how many "fouling shots" do you get in the bush while hunting?
Anyway, I don't shoot my main hunting rifle much at the range. I have a bunch I tinker with and like to shoot much more. My main rig is a 30-06 in a very light rifle and I have no interest in beating myself up with it. I keep one target separate down range and shoot the dreaded one shot group at that target a few times over the afternoon. I usually shoot 25 to 100 rounds out of other rifles but only 3 or 4 out of my hunting rig. A week before season I fire one 3 shot group at 100 yards and go hunting.
I have no interest in 10, 5 or even 3 shot groups with my hunting rifles. Light barrels in light rifles, I want the first shot exactly where I am aiming and second one within an inch, after that group size means nothing.
