At the range yesterd and I was shooting a .17WSM that I use for Prairie Dogs and had something odd happen that I've never experienced before.
Anyone ever have groups SHRINK with a warm barrel?
I've had them open up to hot barrels all the time. But to shrink down?!
Let me explain:
So I just put a new scope on the 17wsm. So I knew what ammo it liked: Winchester High Energy (HE)
Last year when I was load testing I had the HE and the High Velocity (HV). The HE grouped better.
But yesterday, I had probably 20 rounds of left over HV ammo from last year, and when I usually sight in my rifles I usually do this to save $$ on ammo:
Pull the bolt, line up the barrel on a target at 50 yds, and then click the scope as best as I can to line up the bore to the scope.
Then I shoot 1-2 rounds of the cheapest ammo I can find (in this case yesterday, the left over HV rounds) at 50 yds
Then as Im looking thru the scope, I hold the rifle as much as possible and have someone click the scope to where the bullets are landing. I then fire 1 remaining round just to verify its basically "on" at 50 yds.
Then I go to 100 and shoot my 100 yds strings and see what ammo groups best. When I shoot at 100. I DONT adjust my scope. I shoot groups first to determine which ammo shoots best, and THEN adjust the scope.
Well, I did that last year when load testing the HV vs HE rounds.
The HE rounds were most accurate and I bought a case of them last year for p-dogs and was shooting dogs at 300 yds with it, so I know what the gun/ammo combo can do.
Well yesterday after putting a new scope on, I shot the HV rounds at 100 to just verify that I'm on paper and "close" at 100 to begin shooting groups. "Well shit. They were within an inch." I was like "Huh?!"
I then flipped to the HE's and was shooting like 2.5" groups.
Rock solid rest, Armegeddon bags, and I know what the gun/ammo can do.
So I fling another group with the HEs. Same thing: 2.5" groups.
The majority are high and left by 3-4 inches but the group itself is a 2.5" to 3" group. And they're kinda all over....."What?!
"
This just aint right....
Again, I know what this gun can do with this ammo.
Flip back to the HV, shoot a group and "S.O.B!!" I toss a 1 inch group.
FYI at this point, I still haven't adjusted the scope since leaving the 50 yd target. Again, I was JUST shooting groups. And then after finding what ammo groups best, only then going to adjust the scope to my groups.
So its not like my clicks were off, or I was chasing flies, or pulling shots.
I look at my father-in-law whos my spotter, and go, "WTF? These HV rounds are grouping better than the HE stuff... But I have a case of this HE stuff! Lets just sight it in for the HE ammo."
So I adjust my scope dials to the center of the 2.5" HE group (3-4 inches high and left.)
And shoot a group.
Bang--all rounds in a 1 inch box. Right where I want them, dead center.
What?!
Hmm....lets trust, but verify.
So I load up another group. Same thing. Bang. All rounds right where they need to be. And I now have two separate HE groups all in a 1 inch box and both groups dead center, right where I want em!
"Well shit. Maybe the barrel needs to be a little warm?!"
Anyone ever experience this?
For the record, the gun is a heavy barrel, 17WSM, Savage B-Mag. A gun that--minus yesterdays little hiccup--is A TON of fun, and has been VERY accurate. My buddies who dabble in some competition rim fire courses were tickled last yr when I brought it out and was consistently hitting 4" gongs at 300 yds, and could go 50-50 at 6" gongs at 350 yds.
Anyway, a gun shooting BETTER after a warm(er) barrel?
Anyone ever have groups SHRINK with a warm barrel?
I've had them open up to hot barrels all the time. But to shrink down?!
Let me explain:
So I just put a new scope on the 17wsm. So I knew what ammo it liked: Winchester High Energy (HE)
Last year when I was load testing I had the HE and the High Velocity (HV). The HE grouped better.
But yesterday, I had probably 20 rounds of left over HV ammo from last year, and when I usually sight in my rifles I usually do this to save $$ on ammo:
Pull the bolt, line up the barrel on a target at 50 yds, and then click the scope as best as I can to line up the bore to the scope.
Then I shoot 1-2 rounds of the cheapest ammo I can find (in this case yesterday, the left over HV rounds) at 50 yds
Then as Im looking thru the scope, I hold the rifle as much as possible and have someone click the scope to where the bullets are landing. I then fire 1 remaining round just to verify its basically "on" at 50 yds.
Then I go to 100 and shoot my 100 yds strings and see what ammo groups best. When I shoot at 100. I DONT adjust my scope. I shoot groups first to determine which ammo shoots best, and THEN adjust the scope.
Well, I did that last year when load testing the HV vs HE rounds.
The HE rounds were most accurate and I bought a case of them last year for p-dogs and was shooting dogs at 300 yds with it, so I know what the gun/ammo combo can do.
Well yesterday after putting a new scope on, I shot the HV rounds at 100 to just verify that I'm on paper and "close" at 100 to begin shooting groups. "Well shit. They were within an inch." I was like "Huh?!"
I then flipped to the HE's and was shooting like 2.5" groups.
Rock solid rest, Armegeddon bags, and I know what the gun/ammo can do.
So I fling another group with the HEs. Same thing: 2.5" groups.
The majority are high and left by 3-4 inches but the group itself is a 2.5" to 3" group. And they're kinda all over....."What?!
"This just aint right....
Again, I know what this gun can do with this ammo.
Flip back to the HV, shoot a group and "S.O.B!!" I toss a 1 inch group.
FYI at this point, I still haven't adjusted the scope since leaving the 50 yd target. Again, I was JUST shooting groups. And then after finding what ammo groups best, only then going to adjust the scope to my groups.
So its not like my clicks were off, or I was chasing flies, or pulling shots.
I look at my father-in-law whos my spotter, and go, "WTF? These HV rounds are grouping better than the HE stuff... But I have a case of this HE stuff! Lets just sight it in for the HE ammo."
So I adjust my scope dials to the center of the 2.5" HE group (3-4 inches high and left.)
And shoot a group.
Bang--all rounds in a 1 inch box. Right where I want them, dead center.
What?!
Hmm....lets trust, but verify.
So I load up another group. Same thing. Bang. All rounds right where they need to be. And I now have two separate HE groups all in a 1 inch box and both groups dead center, right where I want em!
"Well shit. Maybe the barrel needs to be a little warm?!"
Anyone ever experience this?
For the record, the gun is a heavy barrel, 17WSM, Savage B-Mag. A gun that--minus yesterdays little hiccup--is A TON of fun, and has been VERY accurate. My buddies who dabble in some competition rim fire courses were tickled last yr when I brought it out and was consistently hitting 4" gongs at 300 yds, and could go 50-50 at 6" gongs at 350 yds.
Anyway, a gun shooting BETTER after a warm(er) barrel?
