Question for you rifle shooters.

[naturalelite]

I shot at 100 yards and I had two bullet holes touching each other but I was about a half inch to the left. I backed up to 250 yards and I was 10 inches left and about 4 inches low. The low I can live with but the 10inches left I can not.The wind was blowing pretty good right to left so instead of shooting more I backed off and going to try it again this week when the wind is calm. My question is would the wind make it that far off. Or would it be the distance magnifing the gun being off to the left. I am shooting 7mm ruger with federal vital shock 160 grain bullets.

[WBBP]

Not enough info to determine the problem. Shoot a group of three at the longer distance and then you can make some assumptions.

K

[naturalelite]

My bad I should have included. I shot a 3 shot group the average was 10 inches left and 4 inches low at 250. The 100 yard average was 1 inch left of center and half inch high. I always shoot 3 shot groups but I didn't want to go changing stuff with the wind blowing cause I was afraid I would screw it up.

[GSP]

My bad I should have included. I shot a 3 shot group the average was 10 inches left and 4 inches low at 250. The 100 yard average was 1 inch left of center and half inch high. I always shoot 3 shot groups but I didn't want to go changing stuff with the wind blowing cause I was afraid I would screw it up.

Yes, the wind can do what you 1st asked.

Don't change the scope on a windy day. BUT, learn what it will do on a windy day. Set it Dead Nuts on a calm day and then compare while the wind is blowing R/L or L/R.

[naturalelite]

Thanks I really didn't know how bad the wind could effect the shot. That's a great tip about learning what the bullet will do in the wind. I haven't taken but a few animals over 100 yards so I don't practice long range shooting much. Since I am going to Colorado in a few weeks I want to know what it will do at 250 and 300. 300 being my max and only if I can get dialed in before hand.

[GSP]

Go to a bench rest match. Those guys will have ribbons flying every 50 yds to see what the wind is doing. 10" is a BIG push, don't know the wind speed you were shooting in.

[naturalelite]

It wasn't blowing my hat off or anything I would say 10 mph steady with a little higher gust. It could be a combination of the gun being off and the wind blowing. I don't know if 1 inch left at 100, what it would be at 250 yards?

[Born to Hunt]

No way to tell w/out being there, but I'd guesstimate a combination of both the wind and the left hits @ 100.

[C.L.Button]

Are you left handed or right handed ? Are you pulling the gun when you pull the trigger ?

[naturalelite]

Are you left handed or right handed ? Are you pulling the gun when you pull the trigger ?
Right handed and no I am pretty sure I wasn't pulling the gun any. As the old saying goes "I never know when its going off".

[C.L.Button]

Right handed and no I am pretty sure I wasn't pulling the gun any. As the old saying goes "I never know when its going off".

Sounds to me like a combo of both the scope and the wind. The advice that GSP gave you is of great importance due to the fact that the wind always blows in Colorado. Learn that rifle like it is your third arm and you will be meat ahead ! Good Luck :D

[KYVarminthunter]

It's going to take a big wind gust to move a 160 gr bullet going 2940 fps 10 inches at 250 yards.

160 gr federal vital shock has a BC of .462, so it bucks the wind pretty good.

4.5 inches low at 250 yards is close to what my Ballistic calculator came up with, it gives -3.6 inches at 200 yards, so the bullet drop is right on.

If you going to be shooting out to 300 yards in Colorado, I would re-zero at 200 yards. I want Naturalelite to have a great time out there, there's nothing worse than not being able to hit anything after you've paid good money to be there.

Disclamier: I do not claim to be some long range precision rifle shooting expert, I'm just a country boy that likes to shoot long distances and if I'm lucky there's a varmint involved.

[watermelon3308]

My bad I should have included. I shot a 3 shot group the average was 10 inches left and 4 inches low at 250. The 100 yard average was 1 inch left of center and half inch high. I always shoot 3 shot groups but I didn't want to go changing stuff with the wind blowing cause I was afraid I would screw it up.i would shoot 3 shot groups at 100-150-200 and then move out to 250 yds and adjust your scope accordingly.if you are consistently shooting 1 inch left at 100 yds adjust your scope to where you are dead center.i had the same problem and it was due to me flinching.jmo.to help you out.best of luck on your hunting trip.

[daking]

Let's take another look at trigger control.

Does your finger contact the trigger on the pad that is on the back side of your finger nail? If so, good. That's exactly where it's supposed to be. If you're using the crook behind the first knuckle, you will have a tendancy to pull the shot left. I know that it doesn't seem possible that this small issue would make a ten inch difference, but we're talking about a very small miscue made over a very long distance.

Since you say that the group is pretty consistent even though it's way to the left, I wouldn't think that it's a rifle issue. If you had some loose screws, bad bedding, a barrel that was "unkinking" a bit or such, you'd be inaccurate but it most likely wouldn't be consistent. It would be a spray and pray pattern.

I'd zero at a hundred, using a solid rest, proper breath and trigger control. Then, I'd fire a few rounds from a solid position without a rest (prone, sitting or from a shooting stick or such). Once I was satisfied with where I was hitting from a real-life shooting situation, I'd try it at the longer distances. Then you gotta consult your drop tables and come up with a zero that will accomodate the distances you'd likely shoot.


I use a 180 grain spitzer in my 30/06. I zero 3" high at a hundred. Without too much effort I've had good success at any range I wanted to shoot....but I've never been out west and faced with those distance challenges.

[TJay]

Don't forget to say "Hey ya'll, watch this!"

[quackrstackr]

If my math skills aren't failing me, you should only be about 2 1/2" left at 250 if it was purely the scope being off.

[30WCF]

Yep, seems like at 2 1/2 times the distance and the shots will be 2 1/2 times farther off target not counting any wind push.

[naturalelite]

I don't know if it was the wind or me or what but I went back today and had much better results. Today I started off with the gun vice and me in the prone postition at 100 yards. I had to adjust my scope 1/2 to the right and raised it 2 inchs so I would be high at 100. At 250 I was 2 inches low. The group of course was spread a little wider at 250 covering 6 and a 1/2 inches but no shot farther than 3 and a half inches from center. I can't do any better I am satisfied. But what really tickes me off is my dad layed down after I was done shooting and having never shot this gun before and had a 2 and a half group at 250 yards.Then stands up and says boy you should have went to the army so you could learn how to shoot.:rolleyes:

[quackrstackr]

a 6 1/2" group with a gun vise?

You must be flinching pretty bad or have a death grip on that gun. :D

[naturalelite]

a 6 1/2" group with a gun vise?

You must be flinching pretty bad or have a death grip on that gun. :D
I just can't shoot good. That's why I like bowhunting so much. I can't shoot a rifle worth a crap..

[GSP]

I just can't shoot good. That's why I like bowhunting so much. I can't shoot a rifle worth a crap..

'taint no different!

Breathing, form, concentration, release/triggerpull, follow through and PRACTICE!

Boy, you should have gone to the army and learned to shoot!:D

[C.L.Button]

But what really tickes me off is my dad layed down after I was done shooting and having never shot this gun before and had a 2 and a half group at 250 yards.Then stands up and says boy you should have went to the army so you could learn how to shoot.:rolleyes:

LMAO,,, Did you ask your Dad why he didn't teach you how to shoot when you were young ? :D
That statement would make me practice for 4 hours a day until I could out shoot him !

[naturalelite]

That's always been my problem time for practice. With my bow I could always shoot in the back yard or the basement. With a gun its a little different. I probably haven't shot 500 rounds in a rifle or shot gun in my life. With my bow I will do that in less than a month. I have always had the mind set of getting 100 yards or in because of the type of areas I hunt(thickets).
I went 3 years with the same box of shells and tagged out all 3 years with my bow and ML. If I took long shots I would have to practice more I just don't take them.Out of 40+ deer, elk,and mule deer only 5 have been over 100 yards.
C.L.Button I can't tell you how many times he asked me to go shoot with him when I was in grade school and high school. I just always has baseball or football practice or chasing the ladies. He did make me learn to shoot either handed and with both eyes open. He just didnt' teach me the little tricks like spreading your feet when your shooting from the prone postition to steady your gun and holding your breath while you shoot I learned those on the discovery channel watching army sniper training:D

[C.L.Button]

That's always been my problem time for practice. With my bow I could always shoot in the back yard or the basement. With a gun its a little different. I probably haven't shot 500 rounds in a rifle or shot gun in my life. With my bow I will do that in less than a month. I have always had the mind set of getting 100 yards or in because of the type of areas I hunt(thickets).
I went 3 years with the same box of shells and tagged out all 3 years with my bow and ML. If I took long shots I would have to practice more I just don't take them.Out of 40+ deer, elk,and mule deer only 5 have been over 100 yards.
C.L.Button I can't tell you how many times he asked me to go shoot with him when I was in grade school and high school. I just always has baseball or football practice or chasing the ladies. He did make me learn to shoot either handed and with both eyes open. He just didnt' teach me the little tricks like spreading your feet when your shooting from the prone postition to steady your gun and holding your breath while you shoot I learned those on the discovery channel watching army sniper training:D

I understand. I only got to shoot with my Dad for 2 weeks every year. We would shoot Rats at the dump near camp in Maine. When we ran out of Rats we would switch to shooting empty 22 hulls at 50 yds. I try every chance I get to take my 8 yr old out even if it is with a BB gun and shoot 15 or 20 water filled bottles. He loves it and is now chasing me to shoot 22's instead of BB's. I bought him 2 spinner targets for his birthday.
My point,,, take the time. The clock stops for no man. Good Luck ! :D

[30WCF]

Then stands up and says boy you should have went to the army so you could learn how to shoot.:rolleyes:
What you need to tell him is since you didnt and he is so good HE needs to teach you.:D