Serious question for semi-auto hunting rifle owners

[Brutus]

In all seriousness I wish some feedback from honest users of various big game calibre non-restricted semi-automatic rifle owners.

My experience is this:

I own a Voere 2185, half stock sporter rifle in 30-06. I've only used it once before to take a small doe at 55 yards.

Recently while sighting it I noticed a trend. I let other shooters fire it at the rifle range to confirm my small problem.

It has been confirmed that out of three shots at 100 yards from the bench, this rifle places the first two shots close, (1-2 inches apart or so) then for some unexplained reason throws the third shot very low. (average about 6 inches) If I wait about 15-20 minutes for the barrel to cool down this rifle predictably does the same thing for three shot groups.

Now I call this a small problem for me because this is a deer rifle, and if I cannot connect with two shots I dont deserve to get the critter anyways.

Has any other semi-auto rifle owners run into this problem?
I don't plan to do anything drastic with this rifle, as I can live with this issue.

I just wonder IF anyone has had similar problems with thier sporter weight semi-auto deer rifles? Looking for informed insight.

Cheers!

PS: This rifle's barrelled action has been bedded.
These handloads are not hot, a duplication of Garand pressure handload with the 150 grain Remington Bronze Points.
Using 48.0 grains of IMR 4064. The scope is a Leupold 2.5-8 power with B-Square rings.

I find this a little frustrating, because I know I can shoot just about twenty full power handloads, in one short sitting, through my 458 X 2inch American Mauser before it "acts up" from barrel heat.

 

[MiG25]

does the first shot from the cold barrel always go where it is supposed to?

many rifles groups open up when the rifle gets warm, this is one reason why varmint rifles and target rifles have heavy barrels.

 

[hunter5425]

Almost sounds like the barrel is warping away form the stock as it heats. There may be a point in the stock where you would see some rub marks where the barrel contacts the stock channel, if the barrel channel were relieved at this point the flyers might disappear but as you said its a hunting gun and if it doesn't bother you then leave it alone.

 

[Brutus]

does the first shot from the cold barrel always go where it is supposed to?

many rifles groups open up when the rifle gets warm, this is one reason why varmint rifles and target rifles have heavy barrels.

Yes the very first & second shots go where they are supposed to go........

In regards to Hunter's responce, the barrel channel is hogged out already as it comes from the factory.
There is a generous gap in the barrel channel of the forestock.

 

[Dogleg]

I've got a Browning BAR that does about the same thing. Starting with a cold gun it will group 3 nicely. After that, all bets are off, but fliers 3 inches low are about par, sometimes alternateing between back in the group and low. Let it cool right off, dead cold, not cool, not "warmish" not "can hold your hand on it comfortably" and you're good for another 3 great shots, 4 if you're lucky.
It took awhile to figure out, since I was trying to work up handloads at the same time. It wouldn't be a problem for hunting, if I had any interest in carrying a 10 pound 30-06 around.
For what it's worth, I've had light bolt actions that were only good for three shot groups too. It's aggravateing for working up loads, but doesn't make any difference for big game hunting. Strangely, those barrels don't hang around long. Why fight with one, when so many pipes are so easy to get along with?

 

[Brutus]

I've got a Browning BAR that does about the same thing. Starting with a cold gun it will group 3 nicely. After that, all bets are off, but fliers 3 inches low are about par, sometimes alternateing between back in the group and low. Let it cool right off, dead cold, not cool, not "warmish" not "can hold your hand on it comfortably" and you're good for another 3 great shots, 4 if you're lucky.
It took awhile to figure out, since I was trying to work up handloads at the same time. It wouldn't be a problem for hunting, if I had any interest in carrying a 10 pound 30-06 around.
For what it's worth, I've had light bolt actions that were only good for three shot groups too. It's aggravateing for working up loads, but doesn't make any difference for big game hunting. Strangely, those barrels don't hang around long. Why fight with one, when so many pipes are so easy to get along with?

Thanks for your personal experience Dogleg!
It's interesting that this is not often talked about around shooters/hunters.
This rifle I have had for a few years, but did not get really wrung out until recently.
It's also very interesting to note, I also waited to let the barrel totally cool off before continuing.
That was the only way I could add any predicatability to the problem.

I appreciate your honesty.

Cheers!

 

[Wrong Way]

A free floated barrel is not always a good thing....believe it or not. Some up-pressure makes certain rifles shoot remarkably better, even though it is counter intuitive to think so.

Just for kicks, next time you are at the range, stack a few business cards in the barel channel of the stock abolut 1" from the end, then tighten up the action bolts, and fire a group. If it improves, from there you can adjust it further by adding/removing shims, and shifting their location forward/back 1/2" at a time.

Give it a try, you might just be surprised

 

[Brutus]

A free floated barrel is not always a good thing....believe it or not. Some up-pressure makes certain rifles shoot remarkably better, even though it is counter intuitive to think so.

Just for kicks, next time you are at the range, stack a few business cards in the barel channel of the stock abolut 1" from the end, then tighten up the action bolts, and fire a group. If it improves, from there you can adjust it further by adding/removing shims, and shifting their location forward/back 1/2" at a time.

Give it a try, you might just be surprised

When I have spare time this fall, I plan to do exactly as you say Wrong Way.

Thanks for the advice!

Cheers............