Frustrating range trip with new rifle

[Smitty192]

I purchased a new to me 300 WM and took it to the range for the first time yesterday. I had 1 box of Federal 180 gr soft point and 1 box of Federal 190 gr GMM. I used the blue box to get on target and zero the scope. I then switched to the FGMM and the next 5 shots where all within an inch (shooting from 100 yards - bipod / prone with rear bag) after a small final adjustment. I took a break for a few minutes, came back and the next shots where high and left by almost 3". After some repositioning, I was back near the center of the targets for a round or two and then it was back high and left. The remaining ammo I had left was shot the same way. 1 or 2 dead on, others off to the left or high left.

I don't discount that it is me. This is my first high power rifle after shooting 308 and 6.5 CM for a few years. I just don't know enough about diagnosing this type of results. The rifle has 26" bull barrel (1:9 twist) with a little bastard brake, McMillan A3 (bedded by rifle builder). I can slide a piece of paper all the way to the end of the of the barrel near the lug. The scope is a US Optic ER25. I bought the scope and it was damaged on delivery. Sent it back to USO and they repaired it (new erector spring). This is the first time shooting with the scope since it was returned from USO. All of the adjustments to zero where working and accurate. I got home and rechecked all of the torque specs on the rings, scope base and action screws. Everything was as it was before. I didn't check the scope base before, but they appeared to tight when I took the base off.

Again, I don't discount the shooter being the issue. I was a little concerned about the recoil before shooting it, but I was very surprised at how little there was. I am hoping someone might be able to help with some suggestions or advise, or a starting point to for correction. Thanks in advance.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Focus on the fundamentals , for me , almost every time I jerk the trigger my shots land left or high left just as you are describing. I'm not a professional shooter and you probably aren't either , keep shooting and get a better feel for the new rifle.

Whenever I get a new rifle I generally get excited and shoot it like shit until I settle down and get back to the basics of breaking a clean shot .

 

[Smitty192]

I am definitely not a professional. As with most things, my default position is usually operator error. This just struck me as odd. I am trying to rule out any mechanical issues that could be the root cause. I have never had to send a scope back and that had me concerned. It very well could be the ammo too.

 

[kilerhamilton]

I Have been through a few rifles looking for a true MOA gun. They are tough to find and man let me preach optics, rings and bases are so important. Especially with a gun that recoils like a 300. Getting a trigger pull off and keeping the cross hairs on the dot is really tough with a crap trigger. Not that yours is. My scope usually bumps my safety glasses because I don't hardly hold onto my gun when I squeeze the shot. And it's only a 308. Heavy rifle. Let someone else shoot it and make sure.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kilerhamilton]

Also I recommend a scope level attachment. I notice swing in groups when I'm not holding level. Also I like a dirty bore until groups open up. Hopefully someone didn't sell you a gun with a burn barrel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SubOptimal]

I tend to blame myself on stuff like that, especially when moving to a rifle with more recoil and muzzle blast.
With me, it is all about trigger control and anticipation of the shot breaking. I have been a heavy smoker for 60 years and my natural breathing pause is pretty short. Tends to make me rush the shot and I wind up with similar results.
Sometimes, it is just a bad day or I'm a little off on my blood sugar or hydration as well. All of that stuff adds up and can mess with the concentration needed to shoot well.
When I'm not shooting well, I have found that just taking a break and leaving the line to go back to the truck for a drink of water and a little music to relax me will bring me back into the groove. If I'm still shooting bad, I just call it a day. If I have come with a buddy or see someone I know, I may ask him to watch me shoot and provide a little coaching.

 

[supercorndogs]

The noise from the brake on my 300wm made me flinch. Sometimes a little dry fire, or an empty case in the mag can help self diagnose a flinch. Recoil control was my initial thought, but with a brake on it, it probably doesn't kick very much, and therefore covers up poor recoil control better. Not that you have poor recoil control. I have just seen shots and zeros move from that. Parallax error is also a possibility.

 

[Threadcutter308]

If you have a smaller caliber (22LR, .223, etc), put the boomer in the rack for a while and shoot the little one. Work on trigger control. After you've started nailing it with the little one, put it away and pull the boomer back out. Decrease your magnification to around 15X (assuming you've got it cranked up to 25) and dry fire it a dozen times or so. Have you adjusted your parallax such that your reticle isn't bouncing around on the target ? There's a really great article/sticky on parallax over in the "Optics" thread on this site, check it out.

 

[Screach]

I had a similar issue with my .300 before I threw the APA fat bastard brake on it. I was anticipating the recoild so much after the first two shots that I would flinch almost 4 to five inches left at 100 yards. I then added the brake and doubled up on hearing pro and it solved my problem completely. Best group went from 1.5 moa off of the left corner to .4 something moa almost directly on poa. Still working on my flinching though so not perfect yet.

 

[Smitty192]

Thanks a bunch for the feed back. I had not thought about the noise. The recoil is fine (APA little Bastard helps). But the noise blast is something. I didn't have my good ears with me either. We also found some things with the bedding that could be a problem. I found out that the bolt handle is hitting the stock in 2 places. The stock needs some fitting.

 

[BoltRunner]

Thanks a bunch for the feed back. I had not thought about the noise. The recoil is fine (APA little Bastard helps). But the noise blast is something. I didn't have my good ears with me either. We also found some things with the bedding that could be a problem. I found out that the bolt handle is hitting the stock in 2 places. The stock needs some fitting.

I would agree with a couple things stated and everyone has opinions on how to fix but first I would go through everything with a Fat Wrench and check all torque and blue loctite everything I mean everything. I also agree with Kilerhamilton and let someone else who you know can shoot put some rounds on it to see if they put a good 5 shot together before you start pulling the rifle apart, see if its something simple. I also agree with Supercorndogs I used to notice some noise/concussion flinch so I started doubling up on my ear protection with ear plugs under my ear protection years ago until I fixed my problem. Anyone who says it doesn't help I would say go shoot suppressed all day then shoot a magnum with a brake.

 

[BoltRunner]

Thanks a bunch for the feed back. I had not thought about the noise. The recoil is fine (APA little Bastard helps). But the noise blast is something. I didn't have my good ears with me either. We also found some things with the bedding that could be a problem. I found out that the bolt handle is hitting the stock in 2 places. The stock needs some fitting.

Just realized this is almost a month old so with that being said have you diagnosed what was wrong with the range trip yet?

 

[Smitty192]

Not really. Sold the stock and shot the barreled action in another stock. It was just OK. A friend of a friend bought it for a project. Maybe it was just the nut behind the trigger.

 

[Rogerthatout]

Focus on the fundamentals , for me , almost every time I jerk the trigger my shots land left or high left just as you are describing. I'm not a professional shooter and you probably aren't either , keep shooting and get a better feel for the new rifle.

Whenever I get a new rifle I generally get excited and shoot it like shit until I settle down and get back to the basics of breaking a clean shot .

Took me 10 boxes of shells before I can shoot well with my new rifle, but I would throw a regular old scope on her to eliminate the scope as a possibilty. Do you have a scope with some history?

 

[Greg Langelius *]

When everything checks out mechanically, I look to the ammunition. It's very hard to fault FGMM (I won't), I just suggest that factory loads are optimized for particular barrel lengths and rifling twists, and even the best generic ammo may not be a good match for your particular barrel, especially if its dimensions fall outside the more common values (I really can't comment to this more directly since I am not a 300WM shooter). I would suggest some load development, or at least a test sequence using a wider variety of bullet weights and loads.

Honestly, shooting left, high left would not suggest a flinch to me. For a righty, left, down left might.

I don't shoot the 300WM because I have a (2X) surgically reconstructed sternum, and cannot tolerate recoil on a sustained fire basis greater than that resulting from the .30-'06. Forty rounds of 300wm would likely do me in. I'm in my 70's now, and I used to shoot N/M Highpower with my Garand in my 40's and 50's; although those days are now gone forever.

But realistically, I'm guessing it would possibly do most people in. I believe, personally, that it may take an iron man to sustain peak marksmanship performance through the recoil from 40 or more rounds of that chambering (or worse). That's a personal opinion, but I suspect it's more common than many may be inclined to think.

If you agree with this assessment, maybe you might want to trade that chambering in for a .30-'06, or even a .260/6.5CM. Same trajectories, and unless you're counting on the 300WM's terminal performance, the same (maybe a bit better) satisfaction.

Greg