A group forms randomly. The first 3 shots might be close together - or they might show the full size of a 10 shot group.
If 3 shot groups are sometimes small and sometimes big, it is the big ones that tell you the truth. Small groups are just anomalies.
A light hunting barel heats up and opens the group. Shoot very slowly on a cool day to get a 10 shot group. that group is a fair representation of your rifle.
If your barrel is not free floating, it may not shoot to the same place each time. Accuracy can be defined as hitting what you aim at or as average group size. Not the same thing. Hunting rifles need the former. Target rifles need the latter (we get free sighters).
Your rifle is what I like to see in my hunting rifles. I say "it want to shoot". That is, it is showing some promise for real accuracy. It already has enough to be useful, but it is teasing that there is more to be had.
The single most important thing you can do with a bolt action hunting rifle (I am assuming it is a bolt) is bed the action. This makes the rifle a bit more accurate and a bunch more consistant. Better chance of hitting what you aim at.
The second thing to do is to run a piece of broom handle wrapped in course sandpaper up and down the barrel channel and make sure nothing is close to touching the barrel.
The accuracy may not improve, but the zero will be rock solid.
If 3 shot groups are sometimes small and sometimes big, it is the big ones that tell you the truth. Small groups are just anomalies.
A light hunting barel heats up and opens the group. Shoot very slowly on a cool day to get a 10 shot group. that group is a fair representation of your rifle.
If your barrel is not free floating, it may not shoot to the same place each time. Accuracy can be defined as hitting what you aim at or as average group size. Not the same thing. Hunting rifles need the former. Target rifles need the latter (we get free sighters).
Your rifle is what I like to see in my hunting rifles. I say "it want to shoot". That is, it is showing some promise for real accuracy. It already has enough to be useful, but it is teasing that there is more to be had.
The single most important thing you can do with a bolt action hunting rifle (I am assuming it is a bolt) is bed the action. This makes the rifle a bit more accurate and a bunch more consistant. Better chance of hitting what you aim at.
The second thing to do is to run a piece of broom handle wrapped in course sandpaper up and down the barrel channel and make sure nothing is close to touching the barrel.
The accuracy may not improve, but the zero will be rock solid.
