Shooting Sling and POI

Chuck

Chuck

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I did a little bit of shooting today with my .270 while using a military style shooting sling. The accuracy was great but the group was about 2" low at 100 yards.

The rifle is pressure bedded at the tip of the forend because this particular rifle shoots far better this way than free floated.

Is it fairly certain that the rifle was shooting low because it isn't free floated and that a free floated rifle with a stiffer stock wouldn't show the same tendency? Or, is this the effect of the sling holding the rifle from moving up under recoil?
 
Could be a bit of both. It isn't unsusual for a rifle to hit a little differently from different positions but I suspect the forend tip pressure may have a bit of an effect as well. Regards, Bill.
 
I am assuming you haven't shot off a bench since applying forend pressure. I would suggest resighting off a solid bench and then try with your sling to check for changes. Good luck.
 
Free floating reduced the effect of a tight sling a lot in the one rifle I have used to experiment both ways, but the POI still changed a bit with a sling. At the ranges I will use a sling as opposed to a real rest or shooting sticks, I decided I just didn't care about the small change in POI.

Two inches, however, is a lot of change.
 
Thanks for the replies. Part of why I'm asking the question is that I'm debating whether I might replace the rifle or not. It shoots quite accurately. The group I shot yesterday that landed two inches lower than expected was 1.75" for five shots but 4 shots landed in a group of 0.81". Sighting is usually done from prone with a bipod and a rear bag.

It has been pressure bedded for years but it is only recently that I'm starting to play with the sling on this rifle. The rifle was only free floated briefly as it was obvious how badly it was affecting accuracy.

The rifle being pressure bedded and having a two piece stock (Ruger #1B) is likely always going to show this habit is my guess. My other consideration is to use a donor 700 action I have a on hand and a stainless custom barrel (also on hand) and bed it into a Bell and Carlson Medallist or something like it with an aluminum bedding block. This would hopefully produce the same POI with or without the bipod or sling as I am confident shooting out to 400 yards or a bit more but to do that the group needs to stay on a consistent POI.

Having said that, I'd hate to spend the time and money on this project and not have something better than what I'm already using and enjoying. Bt
 
Chuck, I discovered what you are talking about, something like thirty-five years ago!
I had a great shooting 270 Sako, bedded like yours with pressure point, which is the ideal way to have it. Was preparing for a match shoot, from prone position. The day before I tweakedd the scope by shooting over the bench rest.
Long sory short, next day at the match I made a beautiful ten shot group on the target, while wrapped up in my big sling. Only problem was my group was low enough to put me into the "also ran," crowd.
Moral of the story, always sight in by the same mode you will be shooting in.
 
Now that I see you are shooting a Ruger Number one, I am not surprised by the fact that (a) it shoots better with forend pressure, or (b) that it shoots to different point of impact when using the sling. Number Ones are a bit sensitive to the hold. I discovered this with the first one I bought thirty nine years ago. Regards, Bill
 
I shot with the military style sling for years and the morale of the story is to always site in using the position that you will use most often. If you sling up while hunting, then site in that way. This style of shooting puts a lot of pressure on the stock and can even put pressure on a free floating barrel. It's just one of those things with this style of shooting. Best of luck!
 
There is a hanger float modification that really helps with this...Guntech did one of mine.

I have never been able to get a #1 to hold PO Aim as well as a bolt action....Accurate yes.
Perfectly consistent no.
Certainly within more than acceptable hunting accuracy.

I am surprised it shoots well off a bi-pod, but not slung?....Up force compared to side force?

Good luck with it.
 
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