bladeracer wrote:Gwion wrote:RifleTargetProblems.jpg
That's a great reference Gwion, one that should be printed and put on the wall methinks
Yeah. Someone posted it on another forum years ago and i found it very helpful. Of course i had lost the link but a quick google search returned the goods.
Strikey has a very good point, re: allowing a new batch to foul the barrel. I tend to allow an entire box of ammo for testing. I shoot about 20 to foul and then at least 4 groups of 5 to test. I also test in manufacturer batches as my theory is that most manufacturers would be using the same lube on different brands but then, who knows!?!
I used to dry patch between brands and then foul with a full 10 round mag but i got lazy and just shoot more rounds through now.
Still, those groups are showing some fairly consistent variation of stringing right to left. To me, that screams technique issues.
I don't think it is bedding because the groups would generally be far more random but you know me, if you question the bedding: bed it!
Also test your action torque. Use the Velocitors, as they look the best from the groups above. First, thoroughly foul the barrel with what ever brand you are going to use. Start with both screws at 10 inch pounds ("lb), fire a group of 10. Increase the front screw by 5"lb, another group of 10. Increase the rear screw by 5"lb and another group of 10... and so on until both are at 25"lb. I would NOT go any higher than this on a rimfire. The continue by loosening the front screw by 5"lb, a group of ten. The loosen the rear, a group of 10... and so on. Mark you targets clearly in advance and stick with the order. If you mark them after the fact you may forget which is which and then your data is useless.
This gives you a print out of how the rifle reacts with torque even on bother screws, torque higher on the front and torque higher on the back, all the way through the range. Now. Pick which ever one works best; i usually find it is somewhere around 15"lb rear and 20"lb front; and then tweak the torque up and down by a couple of inch pounds on each screw, shooting groups in between. Seems like a lot of work, and it is but then you get to shoot about 200 rounds once you go through the process and shoot another bunch of groups to confirm and shooting is fun!
One of my 22 likes it around 13"lb rear and 17"lb front while the other likes it more like 15 rear and 22 front. My Sportco went from 50yd groups well over an inch to groups well under an inch through this process. While you do it, concentrate on your technique. It doesn't matter if you are doing something wrong, as long as you are doing it wrong consistently for accurate data.
You can also go through similar processes for technique training. Shoot 10 shot groups with different finger positions. 10 shot groups with slightly different hand positions.... and so on. Every thing must be done exactly the same for every round of a group. Forget about wind, the new gun you want or what your significant other wants you to do when you get home; just concentrate for one shot, ten times in a row. Have a little break and try something else but do it THE SAME for ten shots in a row.....
Anyway, good luck with it. After all that, I might have to get my own 22 out and plug some targets for practice today (weather permitting)!!!