Spotting your shot, most import factors.

[hereinaz]

That’s cool. Yeah I think you’re right about it being a perishable skill. lol

It’s sounds weird, but once in position I normally dry fire a few times before every shot and visualize what the recoil would be. It seems to help my brain with recoil, maybe not shot for shot as good as burning powder, but enough I can tell a difference by the end of a good range session.

Did a bit more investigation into my reflexive blinking - shot a few mags through the gas gun, the 22 lever action and a 9mm pistol (guns I haven’t fired in a long time) while taking some video and found that on the first shot of any of these I get a full blink under recoil, but that if I continue with follow up shots in quick(ish) but not rushed succession, the blink subsides/goes away to a very slight twitch of the eye lids visible only on slow motion. If I pause in firing for a bit I get a full blink on the first round again. Makes me think I just need more rounds down range with set ups I can go blink free on and it will fade in time. It also seems like a quickly perishable skill and I imagine a hiatus will bring the reaction back. The gas gun has a muzzle break so the muzzle blast is decent - more so than the 6cm with the suppressor - but the recoil is still a bit less.

IMO, this partially explains the cold bore myth…

 

[TaperPin]

IMO, this partially explains the cold bore myth…

The myth that the cold bore is less accurate because of the rifle? I agree. This brain settling down thing, inconsistency in first shot hand placements, inconsistency in first shot pressures imparted into the pistol grip/cheek/shoulder, and probably uneven muscle tensions that can’t be seen.

 

[hereinaz]

The myth that the cold bore is less accurate because of the rifle? I agree. This brain settling down thing, inconsistency in first shot hand placements, inconsistency in first shot pressures imparted into the pistol grip/cheek/shoulder, and probably uneven muscle tensions that can’t be seen.

Cold bore is largely a myth. Clean bore, of course that is a thing, follow up shots are in a different condition.

If cold bore is mechanical, it is the rifle getting jostled so that something gets out of place and then upon the first shot it returns to its neutral position. It could be bedding, scope movement, barrel movement relative to stock if it touches, internals of the scope moving, etc.

But, the common element is always the human that is not well practiced and did not build a solid position for the first shot.

Once a shooter settles in, it is much easier to shoot small groups.

Test it by doing build and break practice. Pick up right rifle, do the Hokey Pokey, reset the rifle to low power, load the magazine again, then try to build the same position.

I guarantee that groups shot during build and break practice will not look like groups when you get settled in and fire them without breaking position.

After firing, there is often slack taken out of the human/rifle connection, fill in bags settle, eyes blink less, the rifle butt slips to a position it rests more easily in, etc.

 

[TaperPin]

Cold bore is largely a myth. Clean bore, of course that is a thing, follow up shots are in a different condition.

If cold bore is mechanical, it is the rifle getting jostled so that something gets out of place and then upon the first shot it returns to its neutral position. It could be bedding, scope movement, barrel movement relative to stock if it touches, internals of the scope moving, etc.

But, the common element is always the human that is not well practiced and did not build a solid position for the first shot.

Once a shooter settles in, it is much easier to shoot small groups.

Test it by doing build and break practice. Pick up right rifle, do the Hokey Pokey, reset the rifle to low power, load the magazine again, then try to build the same position.

I guarantee that groups shot during build and break practice will not look like groups when you get settled in and fire them without breaking position.

After firing, there is often slack taken out of the human/rifle connection, fill in bags settle, eyes blink less, the rifle butt slips to a position it rests more easily in, etc.

Yes good advice.

Definitely no substitute for repetition.