Consistency issues

[Droc585]

Let me preface by saying I'm a rookie with beginner experience but I feel as though I am using good fundamentals with a slow consistent trigger squeeze....

Weapon: remington 700, 24 in barrel police model .308
Scope: luepold Mark 4 LR/T w/ luepold rings
Harris bipod
Round: federal gold medal match 168 grain

I am trying to find a true 100 yd zero from a prone position and I am really struggling. I am consistently inconsistent as I routinely have flyers as far as 4 to 5 inches in all directions from my point of aim. My body position, breathing, eye relief, cheek weld, and trigger pull all feel good. I'm using a good rear rest. But I don't know what mistakes I am making. Occasionally (around every 10 rounds or so I'll occasionally have one right on target). What boggles my mind is that my flyers are not consistently going in one direction. Any suggestions?

 

[Sterling Shooter]

You could have a multitude of problems/errors; yet, since all error originates from inconsistency, quick correction is possible by focusing on what needs to be accomplished, i.e. sight alignment and trigger control. As a beginner, however, you may not know how to get the job done. Folks here undoubtedly will tell you what you need to do, but "getting-it" or being able to put it together from such advice is questionable. I'd suggest you enter an M1 Garand Clinic in your area, or, if it's not sold out, sign up for the USAMU's Small Arms Firing School (rifle phase) July15-17 at Camp Perry. This sort of beginning instruction will get you off to a productive start.

For now, plot your calls and shots. This will reveal whether the cause of error is associated with perspective of aim, rifle movement, and/or broken/defective equipment/ammunition. For example, a shot going on call but going someplace other than where desired means rifle movement, possibly poor trigger control. Shots going somewhere other than where called indicates inconsistent perspective of aim or sight setting not adjusted properly for distance, slope, wind and weather conditions.

BTW, most beginning shooters, shooting with aid of scope and bipod, are distracted by the scope and bipod. Without adjusting NPA they will steer to get a sight picture and thereafter maintain the picture with muscle, not understanding how to integrate the artificial support. Since the bipod only serves these shooters as a rest, these shooters loose control over the rifle as the bullet moves through the bore. In addition, without an understanding for the need to be able to rest the full weight of their heads on the stock, or have a consistent butt to shoulder relationship, inconsistent arc of movement and unpredictable recoil resistance will assure a poor result. Simply put, these shooters do not understand how to create a steady position from bone/artificial support.

 

[cjohn11]

I in no way am trying to belittle any of your knowledge. You stated you were just getting into long range precision, so here's a few places to start. First check your gear. Ensure you have a properly torqued down optic. Starting at the rings and working to the base. Ensue you are loading your optic forward. Check for proper eye relief on your optic. If you don't know what that means do some research on parallax. Check your bipod and ensure that there is not to much play in it. Do dry fire exercises and make sure you are not anticipating recoil and ensure you are breaking your shot at the intended point of aim. Ensure you are loading your bipod's with a forward consistent load/tension. And then go back to the other baseline fundamentals such as trigger squeeze and breathing control.

 

[Sterling Shooter]

I in no way am trying to belittle any of your knowledge. You stated you were just getting into long range precision, so here's a few places to start. First check your gear. Ensure you have a properly torqued down optic. Starting at the rings and working to the base. Ensue you are loading your optic forward. Check for proper eye relief on your optic. If you don't know what that means do some research on parallax. Check your bipod and ensure that there is not to much play in it. Do dry fire exercises and make sure you are not anticipating recoil and ensure you are breaking your shot at the intended point of aim. Ensure you are loading your bipod's with a forward consistent load/tension. And then go back to the other baseline fundamentals such as trigger squeeze and breathing control.

Today's basic marksmanship breaks down the fundamentals to: the principles of marksmanship, which is about sight alignment and trigger control, and the elements and factors of a steady position. What you want from trigger control is best described as SMOOTH, not squeeze. Also, breathing is not usually mentioned as a factor anymore since the natural breathing pause is indeed natural and therefore does not need to be learned. Making a novice shooter aware of the need to pause brings conscious thought about breathing; and thereafter, no longer being natural, the concept complicates compliance to pause while executing the second firing task.

BTW, I looked at your profile and saw your slogan, "if you can't group, you can't shoot". That is just too true. I like it. I like it a lot. Interestingly, I often refer to groupings as simply a bunch of misplaced shots, since unless all shots are in one hole where the bullet path and line of sight intersect, the shots are indeed misplaced.

 

[cjohn11]

That's a much better way to describe it, "smooth." I like it

 

[Droc585]

Thank you very much for the feedback. I certainly don't feel as though my knowledge is belittled by either of you. I appreciate all of the help I can get. I'm a slow learner but hopefully with more range time and a ton more dry fire practice I can start to actually understand how to accomplish this. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

A quick check to make sure you don't have some kind of action/optic problem is put an experienced shooter behind the rifle. If they don't have the same problems with POI, then you know it's technique on your part.

Dry fire is your friend. Do it at home, and on the range.

Definitely learn about natural point of aim (NPOA). Getting the rifle in tune to your body will go a long way in helping you make shots consistently.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I had the same problem a year and a half ago. I got the first DVD from Rifles Only and that step by step instruction has made me much more consistent, (along with a lot of dry fire practice) Now when my shots are a little off it's more like 0.5".

 

[PlinkIt]

Lowlights training videos here are not a bad resource in my opinion.. I just recently joined and am pleased with the coverage of the principles..

Another thing we tend to do to one another is load a small cap in the mag and not let you know where it is.. Sometimes you see how bad you mess up when you realize how much you move without a live round..