Consistent flyers in 5-round group

[AM_Hunter]

I didn’t have to even read your post. From the title I figured you had a Christensen arms.

I wanna believe in it, dont wanna give up yet.

 

[Lawnboi]

I wanna believe in it, dont wanna give up yet.

Just don’t waste any extra money modifying it.

 

[wind gypsy]

L

Thread 'Christensen MPR 7 PRC rebarrel or abort and buy something else'

Thursday at 8:00 PM

so I'm about 80 rounds through this MPR in 7 PRC and the thing seems to heat up after 2-3 shots with a minute or 2 gap between them. i zerod it at 200 and 2 shots at a time walked it out to 800 all good went to 1k good then 2nd shot-4 misses walked it back to 700 all misses then 1 shot at a time only to confirm 200 zero was off. re-zero'd one shot 3-500 every 100 went home.
next range outing zero was off again.... trying different ammo next range trip (going federal premium 175g eldx vs the outlander 160cx initially)

if this doesn't go well the question is am i better off punting the...

• LPS_gabe
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Long Range Hunting

T

Post in thread 'Christensen Arms MPR accuracy'

Jul 13, 2025

Just got my 2022 CHRISTENSEN 300 win. MPR. Qdter the recommended break i am concerned. I would shoot a 3rd group at 100 sub moa and immediately shoot another 3 that would walk away from center.

Should I be concerned. How can I fix it

Thank u
You
Kyle Miller

Dear Kyle,

wondering if you were able to get your accuracy issues resolved. I have 2022 MPR w/ a carbo fiber barrel chambered in 300 WM and with about 300 rounds through it, and just can't this rifle to shoot consistently. I also have an MPR chambered in 300 Norma w/ a Carbon Barrel and it shoots like a dream, sub-half...

• Team2

 

[elsb0048]

I'm certainly going to try the method on the next load development that I do. As far as the two current loads I'm testing, I feel like it isn't an issue with the load itself. If it was I would being seeing a more consistent spread on my "cone of fire" right? I feel like statistically its not likely for me to be stacking 3/5 rounds in the same hole and then two shots that bring that group to a 2 MOA size. If the load was in fact a 2 MOA load it should be sitting relatively consistently spread throughout that 2 MOA cone correct? This is why I was leaning towards the issue being flinching or scope. I have an Arken scope on order for a cheaper fun build I'm working on that I may swap onto the rifle to test as well. I know its not a high end trusted optic but it may tell me my scope is the issue.

If you're into podcasts at all you should check out a few Hornady ones: "your groups are too small" #1&2 and "is your zero wandering"

The takeaway I have from them is there is not necessarily anything significant about the fliers you're showing here. If you have a 2MOA cone of fire (or larger) they can show up anywhere in that cone with no pattern and some will coincidentally stack on top of each other in small groups.

 

[AM_Hunter]

Just don’t waste any extra money modifying it.

No money will be wasted modifying it. If I cant get it to shoot well and its not the scope or the loads ill probably send it to CA and see what they say or ill sell it off

 

[Lawnboi]

Also if your shooting 2-3moa in 5 rounds don’t waste more rounds on seeing your actual cone

 

[BBob]

I've personally never had a problem shooting lots of magnum rounds in a day as far as concussion/headache symptoms.

The boomers I referenced in my post are much much more boom than your PRC or your average magnum. 100gn or more more powder, 300-320gn bullets and more velocity than a 300 PRC. I probably wouldn't notice a 300 PRC so much but these guys have been hammering me. That said at some point any magnum or even more so a braked magnum could be affecting you more than a standard cartridge wether you really notice it or not.

 

[AM_Hunter]

The boomers I referenced in my post are much much more boom than your PRC or your average magnum. 100gn or more more powder, 300-320gn bullets and more velocity than a 300 PRC. I probably wouldn't notice a 300 PRC so much but these guys have been hammering me. That said at some point any magnum or even more so a braked magnum could be affecting you more than a standard cartridge wether you really notice it or not.

oh you talkin about them big big boom booms

 

[AM_Hunter]

Also if your shooting 2-3moa in 5 rounds don’t waste more rounds on seeing your actual cone

I guess what im trying to figure out then is my cone actually 2-3 moa or is flinching or a scope issue causing it to be 2-3 moa. The three rounds stacked on top of each is whats making me hesitant that my cone is actually 2-3 moa and theres another issue, but sounds like youre more convinced thats just what my cone is? Am I wrong to think that the three stacked rounds mean anything?

 

[BBob]

Am I wrong to think that the three stacked rounds mean anything?

No, not at all. Your cone might be closer to those stacked three but unless you figure it out you're stuck with 2-3 moa is your cone at the moment. Case in point. I've been tutoring a newer shooter. His cone is probably 3-4 moa (mby bigger), his rifles cone with me shooting is ~1moa or mby less. I have not shot a 3-5 shot group at or over 1 moa with his rifle but I haven't shot it a lot, only as a reference helping him testing factory ammunition. Another note: If it were up to him solely to test ammunition he couldn't tell you which one was better than any of the others. I can get a bit better read on what might be working or not if I hop in to shoot a little and see.

 

[Lawnboi]

I guess what im trying to figure out then is my cone actually 2-3 moa or is flinching or a scope issue causing it to be 2-3 moa. The three rounds stacked on top of each is whats making me hesitant that my cone is actually 2-3 moa and theres another issue, but sounds like youre more convinced thats just what my cone is? Am I wrong to think that the three stacked rounds mean anything?

Whatever it is it’s not normal. I wouldn’t consider three stacked with one or two out to be anything but a terrible group. For what they charge for those rifles you can and should have a rifle that shoots much better.

Scope, sure could be as well.

Flinch, I would consider that as much an issue as anything else. If your clinching st the bench or flat range it’s only going to be magnified in the field. If you’re that sensitive to this, and don’t take that as a dig; dropping down in recoil and noise might benefit you.

Good luck. I dealt with this with a mesa long ago. Learned a lot since then and regret spending so much effort on that rifle.

 

[alexnelon]

looks like a barrel that wasn’t properly stress-relieved

 

[Vern400]

I typically dont come off the gun when I shoot groups, at least not fully. Right hand works the bolt and loads a new round from my ammo box, I usually single feed when im testing loads. Left hand stays snug under my shoulder manipulating my rear bag. I'm fairly consistent with my shooting process so I do not believe the fliers are due to changes in my body position or unknown pressures on the gun.

I wish those were the group sizes lol, thats the distance off the lands the load was at. 79gr at .043" off the lands and 80gr at .033" off the lands.

That's great. Recently I had a rifle built on a current stock. My gunsmith asked me to drop the new action into the stock and just see if it had any wiggle. No screws. He said if there is any wiggle at all he would have to rework the stock as well as build rifle. He wanted it to be very snug. He's a pretty smart guy and he builds PRS rifles for a number of competitive shooters.

It seems like a quick and easy check to just loosen the screws most of the way or remove them and see if there's any wiggle or whether the action is completely rigid in the stock when you press it in there.

You probably already know this but I like going after the easy fixes first. If you're consistently getting "two different groups" that often indicates that something's moving from The recoil. Action? Barrel?mounts? Reticle? (I've had reticle move myself)

Good luck, and thanks for not taking offense at my simple suggestions. I've learned everything the hard way and I've done lots of dumb stuff.

 

[Choupique]

Shoot a minimum of a ten round group, better yet, twenty rounds and even better than that a thirty round group. Adjust to the center of ALL arounds fired.

Do any of those cool apps yall use to measure groups allow you to overlay several separate groups into one composite group?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Do any of those cool apps yall use to measure groups allow you to overlay several separate groups into one composite group?

Yes.

 

[TaperPin]

As a practical matter it saves a lot of ammo to remember more shots will never shrink a big group. If your first two shots are 2 MOA the problem hasn’t been fixed so there’s no reason to keep putting holes in the paper. With anything you try, as soon as the group is unacceptable stop, and try something else. If you’ve fixed everything save the time and money to put toward a new barrel.

If I shoot other rifles ok with similar recoil, a known good scope is swapped, base is tight, the bedding is tight, the bolt is clean, the firing pin is healthy, the barrel isn’t touching the stock, the bore is clean and the crown doesn’t have a burr, I’ll get rid of it or rebarrel the first time it creates a bad group and that usually doesn’t take 10 shots. I don’t think I’ve ever had to shoot 10 to know a dog is a dog. I’ve often shot more than that, but well before the first ten it was obvious.

 

[AM_Hunter]

Whatever it is it’s not normal. I wouldn’t consider three stacked with one or two out to be anything but a terrible group. For what they charge for those rifles you can and should have a rifle that shoots much better.

Scope, sure could be as well.

Flinch, I would consider that as much an issue as anything else. If your clinching st the bench or flat range it’s only going to be magnified in the field. If you’re that sensitive to this, and don’t take that as a dig; dropping down in recoil and noise might benefit you.

Good luck. I dealt with this with a mesa long ago. Learned a lot since then and regret spending so much effort on that rifle.

Ill have to pay close attention next time I shoot, its been a few months since Ive even shot the rifle. I should be going out again after the season is over.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

looks like a barrel that wasn’t properly stress-relieved

Agreed.

OP, if allowing the rifle to cool down between 3-shot groups keeps the overall POI and group size the same as the first three shots in the pictures you showed, then this is the probable diagnosis.

Firing four to ten 3-shot groups at the same target with 10-15 minute breaks every three shots, should answer that question. Obviously, if your first 3-shot group measures 2-4 MOA, you can stop right there! Or you can stop as soon as it becomes clear that your rifle’s cone of fire isn’t acceptable to you.

But, if you get a beautiful little group with 12-30 shots touching, then the barrel isn’t properly stress-relieved, but it is capable of good accuracy for 3-shot groups.

There are a ton of people in the world who would be happy to shoot repeated 3-shot groups like that and accept the rifle’s limitations. If you read some of the old gun magazines or talk with older shooters, that used to be “normal.” A lot of older barrels just weren’t that great.

If doing this test of 3-shot groups gives you a larger group (i.e., the shots measure 2-4 inches), then that is just how you shoot this rifle.

 

[AM_Hunter]

Agreed.

OP, if allowing the rifle to cool down between 3-shot groups keeps the overall POI and group size the same as the first three shots in the pictures you showed, then this is the probable diagnosis.

Firing four to ten 3-shot groups at the same target with 10-15 minute breaks every three shots, should answer that question. Obviously, if your first 3-shot group measures 2-4 MOA, you can stop right there! Or you can stop as soon as it becomes clear that your rifle’s cone of fire isn’t acceptable to you.

But, if you get a beautiful little group with 12-30 shots touching, then the barrel isn’t properly stress-relieved, but it is capable of good accuracy for 3-shot groups.

There are a ton of people in the world who would be happy to shoot repeated 3-shot groups like that and accept the rifle’s limitations. If you read some of the old gun magazines or talk with older shooters, that used to be “normal.” A lot of older barrels just weren’t that great.

If doing this test of 3-shot groups gives you a larger group (i.e., the shots measure 2-4 inches), then that is just how you shoot this rifle.

The only issue with this is that the groups weren't 3 stacked shots and then two fliers, the first two shots stacked, then the third shot was up to the left, then the 4th shot stacked again, and then the 5th shot went low left.

If the first three had stacked and then 4 and 5 were off I would lean more towards barrel heat up, shooter fatigue, or some other issue but since the 3rd shot was off and then the 4th landed back in the stack thats why I had been leaning towards flinch or scope issue.