Cause of reticle hop with some rifles?

[Twinsen]

Fellas,

I have access to three Savage rifles. Dryfiring, when I break the trigger on all three, the reticle hops about an MOA. I have rifles with better and worse feeling triggers, all with more pull weight, and both lighter and heavier rifles that do not do this.

Is this in my head? I am assuming it is me and not the rifles. Is it because of finger placement on a different shape of trigger? Is it a follow through issue, or loading/recoil management issue?

I have one Savage that shoots well, but I have a feeling that whatever I am doing will lead to a zero that wanders a bit vertically because of whatever I'm doing.

TIA

 

[vh20]

Does the bolt handle jump when you trip the trigger?

 

[L.R.Novice]

When I shoot groups, I dry fire until the reticle remains constant. If the reticle moves on dry fire I rebuild my position and try again. The typical cause for me is uneven pressure on the rifle because I'm not at my natural point of aim and I'm forcing the rifle on target. Since it's very difficult to hold a constant force you almost always push the stock further in the direction you were forcing it on target when the trigger breaks. If it's moving 1 MOA it's going to have some effect on your impacts. If your problem is similar I would try altering your position until it improves. Reading up on natural point of aim might provide some help too.

 

[bogeybrown]

In addition to your position itself, verify that you are truly following through on the trigger. Slow steady pressure till it breaks, mental 1-2 count or so as continue to hold the trigger to the rear. imagine recoil and remain focus on target and then come off the trigger and cycle the bolt (while maintaining position and stock weld).

 

[Twinsen]

Does the bolt handle jump when you trip the trigger?

Yes. The Savages' bolt handles jump up and back down quickly. The other rifles' bolt handles all raise slightly.

When I shoot groups, I dry fire until the reticle remains constant. If the reticle moves on dry fire I rebuild my position and try again. The typical cause for me is uneven pressure on the rifle because I'm not at my natural point of aim and I'm forcing the rifle on target. Since it's very difficult to hold a constant force you almost always push the stock further in the direction you were forcing it on target when the trigger breaks. If it's moving 1 MOA it's going to have some effect on your impacts. If your problem is similar I would try altering your position until it improves. Reading up on natural point of aim might provide some help too.

I am sure of my NPA. I was using irons before scopes for this stuff, so that's one thing I had to be anal about all along.

In addition to your position itself, verify that you are truly following through on the trigger. Slow steady pressure till it breaks, mental 1-2 count or so as continue to hold the trigger to the rear. imagine recoil and remain focus on target and then come off the trigger and cycle the bolt (while maintaining position and stock weld).

I'll pay attention to my follow-through. If this is all there is to it, I'll make sure I'm still doing it. Could be I don't when I'm using the Savages.

 

[Chris Melink]

...

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Concentrate on the basics and ignore the hop. Dry fire is not live fire. Don't overthink the process. Let the target be your diagnostic tool.

Greg