Inability to shoot well with magnums

IdahoSpud

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Is there a big difference in skill between shooting magnums and smaller calibers such as .308/5.56?

I can shoot sub MOA groups with other calibers, but as soon as I pick up my 300WinMag I suddenly suck. Both the rifle and optic have been checked my mfg and are not defective. I've tried multiple match grade rounds, including the exact same one the mfg used to shoot 3 sub MOA groups. It's not the gear or ammunition. It's all been systematically checked.

I've tried shooting just about every way, including a sled, but I mainly shoot prone with a bipod and bag. My groups range from 1"(rare) to 3.5." I've noticed a lot of the time a 3 round group has 2 very close if not touching, and one outlier ruining the group. I don't understand why I can shoot sub MOA with a smaller caliber and then have that large of a difference when I shoot the WinMag. I've had friends film me shooting and everything looks normal. I've accidentally fired on an empty chamber a handful of times and didn't flinch. With other calibers I can tell when I throw a round. On this rifle I can shoot a group that feels like it should be great, but it isn't.

I've got around 500 rounds through it and it's been the same repeated target since day one.

I've been scratching my head for over a year and I don't understand how there can be that much of a difference in my shooting ability. Is this common? Am I missing something?
 
It's all about recoil management and technique

There is a big difference shooting a 5.56 semi-auto and 308 semis too,

Take a class, you are probably getting beat up because your position is flawed and you're compromised. Recoil follows the path of least resistance and will exploit bad shooting.

Hard to say what you are doing wrong, probably all of it, but this is common, 300WMs are a bad habit builder
 
Two things come to mind. Is it a factory hunting rifle? And are you anticipating the recoil?
Yes. As I mentioned I've accidentally shot on an empty chamber a few times and didn't flinch, so I don't think i'm anticipating?


It's all about recoil management and technique

There is a big difference shooting a 5.56 semi-auto and 308 semis too,

Take a class, you are probably getting beat up because your position is flawed and you're compromised. Recoil follows the path of least resistance and will exploit bad shooting.

Hard to say what you are doing wrong, probably all of it, but this is common, 300WMs are a bad habit builder

I asked my instructor(ex swat sniper) about a class. He said he thinks I know what I'm doing and made it sound like it would be a waste of money since I know the fundamentals of shooting. He said besides the fundamentals which I know, the rest of the class would just be gathering data. He said he wasn't experienced with magnums but didn't think it should be causing this much of a difference.

What kind of class are you suggesting I take? It seems like it should be something stupid simple in the fundamentals, but my instructor said he doesn't see anything wrong. I want to take a class I'm just not sure where to start. The very beginning of marksmanship fundamentals, but bring and use my 300WinMag?
 
Sporter contour bbls heat up quick and can start walking on you. If you are shooting strings of fire more than 3 rounds, with a typical off the shelf hunting rifle your groups will open up just from the barrel heating up.
Dry fire more, bring a .22 with you, pop 2-3 rounds off your .300wm then switch to .22lr for 15-20 minutes or until your bbl is no longer hot to touch.
Hope that helps...fundamentals are key.
 
Sporter contour bbls heat up quick and can start walking on you. If you are shooting strings of fire more than 3 rounds, with a typical off the shelf hunting rifle your groups will open up just from the barrel heating up.
Dry fire more, bring a .22 with you, pop 2-3 rounds off your .300wm then switch to .22lr for 15-20 minutes or until your bbl is no longer hot to touch.
Hope that helps...fundamentals are key.
It's a heavy barrel. I have shot strings of 3 quickly, and tried waiting 5 minutes in between each shot, with no difference.

I've also been shooting a ton of .22s
 
Is there a big difference in skill between shooting magnums and smaller calibers such as .308/5.56?

I can shoot sub MOA groups with other calibers, but as soon as I pick up my 300WinMag I suddenly suck. Both the rifle and optic have been checked my mfg and are not defective. I've tried multiple match grade rounds, including the exact same one the mfg used to shoot 3 sub MOA groups. It's not the gear or ammunition. It's all been systematically checked.

I've tried shooting just about every way, including a sled, but I mainly shoot prone with a bipod and bag. My groups range from 1"(rare) to 3.5." I've noticed a lot of the time a 3 round group has 2 very close if not touching, and one outlier ruining the group. I don't understand why I can shoot sub MOA with a smaller caliber and then have that large of a difference when I shoot the WinMag. I've had friends film me shooting and everything looks normal. I've accidentally fired on an empty chamber a handful of times and didn't flinch. With other calibers I can tell when I throw a round. On this rifle I can shoot a group that feels like it should be great, but it isn't.

I've got around 500 rounds through it and it's been the same repeated target since day one.

I've been scratching my head for over a year and I don't understand how there can be that much of a difference in my shooting ability. Is this common? Am I missing something?
As @lowlight stated, there is a BIG difference with respect to proper recoil management. Are you shooting prone off of a mat or or are you shooting off a hard surface? I found shooting off a concrete bench like at my club was more difficult to control as well. It took me about 100 rounds and some videos taken by my wife to show me what I was doing wrong when I first got my AXMC in 338 LM. I shot my AT in both 6.5 CM/7.62 x51 with absolutely no issue. Now I shot the magnum as well.

Keep at it and I would definitely take some videos. You will be surprised at what you see. I certainly was
 
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Prone in the dirt. 500 rounds and I'm still shooting the same. The videos friends have taken seem fine. I sent one to my instructor and he didn't see anything wrong.



At least it sounds like I'm not the only one that's had trouble switching to magnums.
 
Prone in the dirt. 500 rounds and I'm still shooting the same. The videos friends have taken seem fine. I sent one to my instructor and he didn't see anything wrong.



At least it sounds like I'm not the only one that's had trouble switching to magnums.
Sounds like you have something else going on versus me. Did the videos capture the follow through phase? Have you let anyone else shoot the stick? Someone with a demonstrated ability to shoot a magnum well?
 
Sounds like you have something else going on versus me. Did the videos capture the follow through phase? Have you let anyone else shoot the stick? Someone with a demonstrated ability to shoot a magnum well?

Unfortunately I don't know anyone with proven ability to shoot a magnum. My instructor said he doesn't have much experience with them. The only other person was an army sniper. He shot 3 rounds and the group sucked too, but he hadn't shot in a while, and his groups with his AR weren't impressive either.



After you break your shot are you still on target? If you have a swivel harris, are you using a podloc? If you have notched legs, are you shooting off the lowest setting?

Not really, but I am using 32x so I can hold right on a tiny dot. I took the rotopod doohickey off and attached it to the sling stud. Yes notched legs, no not the lowest setting all the time. It depends on the terrain and target heigh where I am.





I just spoke to an ELR instructor on the phone who said I shouldn't have my groups jump to that size when switching to a magnum. He suspects something else is going on. He said he could get behind it and give it a try but he isn't available for another month.

NightForce said they thought the scope was moving in the rings. I looked close and didn't see any signs of that. I've remounted and leveled it a couple times using a torque wrench set to their specs. I even bought a different optic and rings and had the same problem.
 
How about posting a video of you shooting prone on YouTube. Post link on here and let’s see what’s going one. Never seen or meet a shooter that could not improve on form. Even the greats video their practice sessions and review their performance.

Precision shooting is a long journey that never ends. You never get to perfection. All you can shoot for is better than yesterday. Hope this helps.
 
Is everybody you shoot with some sort of sniper? Sorry, I hear that crap all of the time and am usually doubtful unless I know their credentials. I cannot count the number of “snipers” I’ve met at the range once they see my rifle. You would think that they’d know better.

When @lowlight said to take a class, he didn’t mean a class by some barely capable self-proclaimed sniper. He meant take a class from someone who is well known to be able to shoot at distance themselves, using equipment that actual snipers use. There are many solid training classes available that will show you what you are doing wrong and/or maybe determine if your system has an issue.

While it is very true that having the proper form to control the recoil of a magnum is necessary, it is also remotely possible that there are issues with your system. Somebody who has actual experience instructing people in the proper form and techniques to shoot a rifle will be able to help you out. Your biggest problem is the “experts” that are around you.
 
Is everybody you shoot with some sort of sniper? Sorry, I hear that crap all of the time and am usually doubtful unless I know their credentials. I cannot count the number of “snipers” I’ve met at the range once they see my rifle. You would think that they’d know better.

When @lowlight said to take a class, he didn’t mean a class by some barely capable self-proclaimed sniper. He meant take a class from someone who is well known to be able to shoot at distance themselves, using equipment that actual snipers use. There are many solid training classes available that will show you what you are doing wrong and/or maybe determine if your system has an issue.

While it is very true that having the proper form to control the recoil of a magnum is necessary, it is also remotely possible that there are issues with your system. Somebody who has actual experience instructing people in the proper form and techniques to shoot a rifle will be able to help you out. Your biggest problem is the “experts” that are around you.
2 people is everybody? Kyle Gentry, retired Sac county SWAT. The other guy is a friend who was in the 82nd and went to sniper school. Is that really that far fetched? :LOL: I mean of course I tried to find the 2 most capable people I knew for help....


How about posting a video of you shooting prone on YouTube. Post link on here and let’s see what’s going one. Never seen or meet a shooter that could not improve on form. Even the greats video their practice sessions and review their performance.

Precision shooting is a long journey that never ends. You never get to perfection. All you can shoot for is better than yesterday. Hope this helps.

Good idea. Next time I go out I'll make sure I record a couple angles and put it up. Is there a way to upload it here without going through Youtube or Facebook?

Thanks.
 
If an instructor is saying there should be no difference between a magnum and something short action, I would question who you are talking too.

Magnums are a different animal, the last group I shot with a 300NM looked like this,
IMG_0869.jpeg


5 shots, 230gr Bergers at 2990fps,

Shooting a magnum is all about recoil management, as well as rifle set up, to me it sounds like every route you are exploring is looking at the equipment to blame vs the shooter. In my mind, this is a big red flag, it's one thing to start off shooting the system with no issues then have issues appear, that tends to point to equipment failure. But with such a low round count and the repeated, "everyone says it's not me", bothers me.

When I see Police shooters in my class, issues tend to appear and I ask them, how long in your training would you shoot this many rounds and they usually say, Months. Months of slow fire shooting hides a lot of bad habits.

The world is full of good, bad shooters, people with terrible form who have learned to adapt, and through repetition have become "better" shooters within their limits. Change one variable and they often fall apart.

As far as your chuckle above, never heard of them, and Big Green is not much better.
 
If an instructor is saying there should be no difference between a magnum and something short action, I would question who you are talking too.

Magnums are a different animal, the last group I shot with a 300NM looked like this,
View attachment 7379365

5 shots, 230gr Bergers at 2990fps,

Shooting a magnum is all about recoil management, as well as rifle set up, to me it sounds like every route you are exploring is looking at the equipment to blame vs the shooter. In my mind, this is a big red flag, it's one thing to start off shooting the system with no issues then have issues appear, that tends to point to equipment failure. But with such a low round count and the repeated, "everyone says it's not me", bothers me.

When I see Police shooters in my class, issues tend to appear and I ask them, how long in your training would you shoot this many rounds and they usually say, Months. Months of slow fire shooting hides a lot of bad habits.

The world is full of good, bad shooters, people with terrible form who have learned to adapt, and through repetition have become "better" shooters within their limits. Change one variable and they often fall apart.

As far as your chuckle above, never heard of them, and Big Green is not much better.
What about this guy? Because he's the one that said there shouldn't be THAT big of a difference in groups between .308 and 300WM



I'm not sure where you're getting that I'm looking to blame equipment at every turn. The title of the thread is Inability to shoot magnums well. Sounds like I'm blaming myself just fine haha... I even admitted I bought another optic and rings and had the same problem. I'm trying to understand what exactly I'm doing wrong with one rifle and not the other. The only reason I threw in others saying that is to show that I do know the fundamentals and can shoot. Just not this one for some reason.

So it sounds like I'm screwing something up with recoil management and follow through. Noted.
 
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What about this guy? Because he's the one that said there shouldn't be THAT big of a difference in groups between .308 and 300WM


Hi,

Has either one of those guys seen you shoot?

Also purely as a "Note".....the entire gallery of images on that website looks to show only 1 picture of a magnum. From images they specialize more in gas gun precision training than magnums.

Sincerely,
Theis
 
Honestly never heard of them,
So it's Meaningless as neither of those Ultra guys are precision rifle instructors according to my reading of their site.

Nothing in those images screams precision to me, but then again, maybe I am being overly harsh.

my students look like clones on the line, there is a reason we do a fundamental eval with every student before they receive the first word of instruction.
 
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Honestly never heard of them,
So it's Meaningless as neither of those Ultra guys are precision rifle instructors according to my reading of their site.

Nothing in those images screams precision to me, but then again, maybe I am being overly harsh.

my students look like clones on the line, there is a reason we do a fundamental eval with every student before they receive the first word of instruction.
Damn. Is that how it is? Even with SOF backgrounds and sniper training instructors can still be sub-par? The last one I posted was supposed to be the go to guy for long range precision training up to a mile.

How am I supposed to vet someone as acceptable if their background doesn't mean shit? Any recommendations on a legit training around Idaho or the neighboring states?
 
Damn. Is that how it is? Even with SOF backgrounds and sniper training instructors can still be sub-par? The last one I posted was supposed to be the go to guy for long range precision training up to a mile.

How am I supposed to vet someone as acceptable if their background doesn't mean shit? Any recommendations on a legit training around Idaho or the neighboring states?
Doing and teaching are a far different animal.
 
Not all LEO/mil guys are ‘gun guys’ per se.
How are you controlling cant on your bipod?
Do your groups look as bad off a lead sled, where all you are doing is manipulating the trigger?
 
Host the video, we dont have an option to post it here without you hosting it,

Just put the raw video up, dont' make a new one I want to see the one you sent, post it on a host, and link it here,

I want to see what you look like, these guys maybe very good, I never heard of them or their training, so take it for what it is worth. They may be very good and figure you're a civilian so just phone it in. They may teach the military guys one way, and you another

If we see what you are doing the answer might be a bit more clear, we are just guessing right now
 
Not all LEO/mil guys are ‘gun guys’ per se.
How are you controlling cant on your bipod?
Do your groups look as bad off a lead sled, where all you are doing is manipulating the trigger?
With the lock on it. The lead sled looked just as bad.


Host the video, we dont have an option to post it here without you hosting it,

Just put the raw video up, dont' make a new one I want to see the one you sent, post it on a host, and link it here,

I want to see what you look like, these guys maybe very good, I never heard of them or their training, so take it for what it is worth. They may be very good and figure you're a civilian so just phone it in. They may teach the military guys one way, and you another

If we see what you are doing the answer might be a bit more clear, we are just guessing right now

I'd have to create a Youtube account and I don't have Facebook. I'll try and post them up tomorrow. You're right, without seeing it's just a WAG. I'm sure there will be plenty to critique.

Anyone know of a legit precision rifle class around here, or a way for me to find one?



You’re not shooting 300 win mag out of a 300 weatherby by any chance, are you?

No:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
I try to impress, Relaxation no matter what,

I use Tom Cruise in Last Samurai, No Mind...



It's really about lining up straight to absorb the recoil, managing the recoil by properly loading the bipod, and then executing the fundamentals to the NTH Degree.

Super old video, but applies, 20" 338LM here, the recoil is key.

 
what is weird, before I closed that Ultra Training tab, I looked again at the Gallery, a lot of the images the shooters are canted, you can see it, big time.

I dont' want to hotlink or grab their images, but fuck ya, their students are all leaning over canted.

IMG_5674.jpg

Ultra1.jpg

Even the ones with levels, cool terrain the place looks awesome to shoot at, lots of angles.
 
I've had plenty of people come through the 7 day class with decent results downrange, but using poor form. Try as we might, some people insist on doing things their way, no matter what we tell them. Then they take XLR and wonder why they have a hard time. You get away with a lot of bad habits with a light gun and think it's all good. Position behind the gun, NPOA and relaxation are all fundamental elements that must be perfected before you get on the big guns.

Do you shoot military prone or Olympic? If military, are your spine and bore line parallel? Turn down your magnification, it only help you see, not shoot. On 14 x at 100y, you should not come off a sheet of 8x11 paper with a center dot when you shoot. If you muscle the gun at all to get on target you are going to have a problem.
 
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2 people is everybody? Kyle Gentry, retired Sac county SWAT. The other guy is a friend who was in the 82nd and went to sniper school. Is that really that far fetched? :LOL: I mean of course I tried to find the 2 most capable people I knew for help....




Good idea. Next time I go out I'll make sure I record a couple angles and put it up. Is there a way to upload it here without going through Youtube or Facebook?

Thanks.
I've got no dog in this fight. I'm really just hear to learn about magnums since I don't shoot them. However, as others have said, anytime I hear that someone knows how to shoot because they're a SWAT guy or Ranger, a little piece of my soul dies. I can assure you that most LE guys are average shooters at best and fewer still know how to teach or coach. I'm not pointing this at your experts, because I don't know them and it's not fair to make that assessment from a distance, but its more of a generalization. Don't get upset if someone doubts another's credentials when the only credentials presented are "SWAT" or "Special Forces". I've been doing the cop game long enough to know that counts for nothing.
 
If the groups suck with a lead sled, which is almost like shooting from a mechanical fixture, that would rule out marksmanship in my opinion. You have to really be doing something wrong to not have that work out.
Based off that I would check all the typical gunsmithy stuff first, is your muzzle jacked up, burr on the crown, is the bbl free floated, can you slide a dollar bill under the barrel all the way to the receiver, are your action bolts tight, etc. Are you cleaning the barrel after every trip to the range and not letting it foul up, is your scope/rings/mount good to go...
check all the boxes are good to completely rule out the hardware. Mechanical issues are the easiest to diagnose and address. If you said your lead sled groups were good but prone or bench was bad, yeah fundamentals all day. It sounds to me like something else is going on though.
 
It could very well not like the ammo,

A lot could be at play here beyond the shooter, or a combination of all, errors are cumulative.

We had a new Remington 700 in 300WM in my last class, after 3 rounds the rifle got hot and the bolt refused to be opened unless beaten or left to cool. It shot well, but only for 3 rounds at a time. Lots of variables at play
 
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It might be the rifle and ammo.

But, there is a probability its form with you, like so many of us. One way to get an idea, is if you can't control the rifle to spot shots, or you are way off the sight picture after firing, then is likely you could benefit from improved form.

I couldn't "understand" recoil management. Watched all the videos, did the online training, and heard what was said, but couldn't apply it myself

Watching Lowlight shoot, over and over in the videos, it slowly worked its way into my head as I practiced little bits. I also saw others like Phil, Caylen, etc. in videos talking about it. I shot with a couple snipers who had been instructors, not just "snipers" but guys dedicated to the shooting aspect of the craft.

One time, it just sorta clicked and I started feeling the gun and my body. I still suck, and am inconsistent, but my groups shrank about 1/4 moa over all. I went from a solid .75 moa shooter best day to .5 moa best day. Same guns, different me.

But, I got far more improvement with a 10 lb 7 magnum than the 16 lb 6mm. I could spot shots with the 7 after, which I couldn't do before.

I realized all the prep happens setting up the shot. Body position, natural point of aim, bipod "load", pressing rifle rearward with three fingers, relaxed shoulders, 90 trigger finger, etc. Its all in Lowlights videos.

Your body just absorbs the recoil without bouncing or rebounding the gun. My bad form would bounce the rifle unpredictably before. But, after, it would return because I controlled it, but not with any amount of force. It is kinda ninja like to absorb massive recoil. That's when I understood why bipods don't hop.

The weight of the rifle and reduced recoil of a 6mm hid my problems with the magnum.

I have also shot with enough people to realize that the true skills aren't widely dispersed. Some people are good shooters but can't teach what they don't understand what they are doing.

That's my experience with it. It has been said before, but maybe hearing one more person can help it click for you.

Its also a pitch for the online training and a few recent threads on recoil management in this sub forum. There are three awesome videos about mechanics of recoil in one or more thread that are helpful to visualize if that sort of thing helps you.
 
This year I've won two 1 mile matches... and then some 1000yd benchrest relays with 5" groups with a 300PRC...but my fundamentals suck right now. I know what to do....and sometimes I fail to get it in my head to do it. I need to go to one of Franks' classes and have him beat it in to my head until it finally sinks in. What's worse than not knowing what you are doing wrong? Knowing exactly what you are doing wrong...and still doing it...over and over...wrongly.

When I go to the line like IDGAF I shoot tiny groups on target...when I'm in a shootoff...I can't hit the side of a barn from inside the barn. So...I'm with ya man...I want to get better too...and this is a great site to listen and learn...
 
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There are three awesome videos about mechanics of recoil in one or more thread that are helpful to visualize if that sort of thing helps you.
 
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anyone try a big piece of foam behind the rifle? this might reveal the setup behind the rifle being the cause, as it should reduce feedback from the shooter.
i just thought it would be something easy to try.
 
Short answer is YES, shooting a magnum is different.

If youre shooting prone try different rear bags and bipod heights along with cheeck weld heights.

I recently started shooting a 300PRC and for me position, rifle setup, and overall ergonomics is more critical than my 6.5cm. I can see it in the scope jump and feel it in my shoulder.

I even had to go with higher rings so i didnt have to tilt my neck as much.
 
Post your video and let the experts here give you some critique. Try to be objective and remember to leave your ego at the door. Often the language used could ruffle your feathers but the advice is as good as you will find.

I've taken a couple of different trainings and learned something from everybody. Different approaches and techniques which are all tools in the toolbox but by far the best info to be had has always been right here. Online training is an excellent way to get started even before taking training courses.

Relax, enjoy. We'll get you there!
 
Long day of schoolwork finishing up the semester. I went out and filmed a couple lore groups to throw in with the old one. Should have it up tonight or tomorrow morning.

After looking at the videos on a better camera and angle my muzzle definitely isn’t recoiling straight back and sometimes the bipod is jumping.

I can’t believe there’s such a difference.Here are my two 3 round groups with the mag today next to a 3 round group confirming my zero on my 14.5” m4 clone with a 3.5x acog using 62 grn green tip. I’m sure you guys will see the video and it’ll be stupid obvious but damn. I thought I could shoot.
 

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Ok, here it is. Ruffle away.

It looks like the muzzle is jumping a lot, and not symmetrically. How do I stop this? I feel like I have a good NPA. I close my eyes at least twice before each show and when I open I'm still on target. I'm pulling the gun into my should with about the same weight as the gun. I'm loading the bipod by digging my toes in and pushing my whole body forward into it.


 
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