Learning from shots

[mad_angler]

I am just starting to take shooting seriously.

I noticed some things at the range this weekend. They probably mean something to experts but I don't know what...

First, I shot a group with a good up-down spread (~1inch) but a poor side-to-side spread (about 3"). What does that mean?

Next, I tried to stay on target. But I noticed that my barrel would jump up and to the right when I shot. It was very consistent. I assume that means that something was wrong with my hold. What was I doing wrong?


And now, the general question... how do I learn these things? Do I need to come back to Rokslide every Monday? Is there a "troubleshooting guide"?

 

[mad_angler]

Wide group

Sent from my SM-S731U using Tapatalk

 

[Harvey_NW]

First, I shot a group with a good up-down spread (~1inch) but a poor side-to-side spread (about 3"). What does that mean?

Wind can effect it, but that seems pretty wide for it to just be wind at 100 yards. Often times it's a parallax or recoil management issue, need more info about the equipment and circumstances to conclude anything.
- How were the conditions? Windy, calm, cold, precip, etc?
- What brand/model of scope?
- If adjustable, do you understand parallax, and did you fine tune it before shooting the group?
- What brand/caliber of rifle?
- Is the barrel free floated and the rifle assembled and torqued properly?
- What brand/type of ammo?
- How was the group shot, bipod, bags, rested on pack, lead sled, etc?

Next, I tried to stay on target. But I noticed that my barrel with jump up and to the right when I shot. It was very consistent. I assume that means that something was wrong with my hold. What was I doing wrong?

Again, need to know what you're dealing with. Could be a positional thing, could just be the nature of recoil if you're shooting a 308 off a bipod.

And now, the general question... how do I learn these things? Do I need to come back to Rokslide every Monday? Is there a "troubleshooting guide"?

Asking here will usually get you answers and you can go put it in play to understand yourself. Otherwise just research, understanding, and practice is how you learn by yourself, signing up for a S2H course is how you can be taught directly.

 

[mt terry d]

S2H class is geared towards killing but all the basics apply

I'd love to see the online version created but realize that
is a bit difficult and labor intensive to create. ( Maybe the basics of like the first day or two?)

THLR.NO has some good stuff on youtube

THLR.NO

Shooting skill and hunting. If something isn't explained well enough, make a post and I'll try to sort it out. I try to capture everything as authenthic/ close to real life as possible and as I experience it, but sometimes hardware limits me.

www.youtube.com

 

[nm.otter]

What cartridge, what kind of stock, and how are you supporting it (front & rear)?

 

[mad_angler]

What cartridge, what kind of stock, and how are you supporting it (front & rear)?

Tikka
16" barrel
223
shooting Frontier 556 ammo - 55 grain FMJ

No real wind that day.

Back was resting on bags.
Front was resting on a rest like this:

 

[nm.otter]

See if you can find someone to spot you and watch how the stock moves under recoil. Could be as simple as missing the shoulder pocket and/or misalignment of your body.

 

[hoooogan]

When I started a couple years ago, I worked a lot on holding steady and dry firing without the reticle moving. It's very common for a newer shooter to flinch while anticipating recoil. This helped me tremendously in both rifle and pistol shooting. After you can consistently do that, then you recheck/retorque action and scope. Then you buy a few different ammo to confirm it is or isn't the ammo.

The first two steps are free.

 

[mad_angler]

See if you can find someone to spot you and watch how the stock moves under recoil. Could be as simple as missing the shoulder pocket and/or misalignment of your body.

Is there an exercise or technique to get the rifle into the shoulder pocket?

 

[Blake C]

Barbour creek shooting school puts a ton of helpful videos on YouTube. As well as many others like modern sniper, snipers hide....

 

[nm.otter]

Is there an exercise or technique to get the rifle into the shoulder pocket?

The angled toe line of a sporter stock causes the stock butt to drive downward under recoil when it's resting on a rear bag. Downward motion will often turn into rotational torque, depending on the shape of the recoil pad, where it hits you, and the shape of your body.

 

[RockAndSage]

OP, this would be a good thread to take a look at, in understanding how to establish what you and your gun are capable of, that also blows up some fudd-lore. Definitely worth reading from the beginning.

Regarding the "jumping to the right", it's what happens when a right-handed shooter is having their body moved by recoil. There's an old myth that you should have as little of your body touching the rifle as possible, everything relaxed, etc - it's complete BS for hunting realities. But that's how you get the excessive recoiling off to the right/upper-right. Instead, you want to create a firmer and consistent foundation - roll your shooting shoulder forward to create a consistent pocket, pull the stock back to your shoulder with your shooting hand on the grip, and between that pull and the push of the shoulder you should be applying about 8-12lbs of force with into that stock (about the weight of the rifle). This is another really good thread that covers some of this, also good to read from the beginning.