Consistent first round flier

[ShtrRdy]

@ShtrRdy No I'm not able to do that, I'll see if I can get a wrench for the barrel nut and I'll try that

I should have told you where I got this idea from. I have an AI AT rifle that allows me to change barrels. A few years ago i changed the barrel when ambient temperatures were on the hot side. Then when ambient temperatures turned colder i was experiencing the same thing you described. So when the temp was colder i loosen the barrel and re-tighten it. That fixed the problem.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Stupid answer time.
Have you hunted with the rifle recently prior to the trouble starting?
I have a really lightweight Kimber in 25-06 that started doing a similar thing. Right after a hunting trip it decided to print the first shot way off POA, subsequent shots went into the group at POA.
Tearing down the rifle after checking rings, bases etc, I found a twig had lodged itself between the barrel and fore-end.
After it was removed, no more POI shift or fliers.
Sometimes things shift also, so a tear down and re-torque on the action screws may help.

Cheers.

 

[Backcountry sports]

I have a Savage model 25 having issues with first round fliers. First shot from every group will hit about the same place. Every shot after the first one goes low right and will group about MOA with shots 2-5 or however many I decide to shoot. I can let the gun set for 15 minutes, shoot another group and it does the same exact thing again. It's a 17 hornet with around 800 rounds down the pipe, it use to shoot 5 shoot groups 3/4 moa consistently. I've cleaned the barrel really good since the issues started, thinking it was just dirty but that didn't help. I've checked the rings, mounts, and stock torque. I bedded the action and that didn't help. My bore scope won't fit in the 17 cal barrel so I can't check it out.
Picture is of two groups shot about 20 minutes apart.
View attachment 268620

Took 10 rounds for mt model 10 to start grouping so I leave it dirty then its fine

 

[waveslayer]

Try taking some dry fire shots. This usually helps with getting the jitters out. I have even had a friend load the rifle without me knowing will dry firing, should be a surprised break. You'd be surprised how much some people anticipate the recoil. Try it out and report back

 

[Radman]

Is the barrel to clean? Some barrels shoot better dirty.
Different lot of powder, primer, brass?
Set the case aside that throws the flier.

Saying that some barrels shoot better dirty than clean sounds a little whacked - but it IS true, you are absolutely correct.

 

[CoachChris]

I have a 300WM that has cold bore shift like this. It didn't matter whether it was clean or fouled.
I clean it after shooting and run a few patches through it coated in Lock Ese after cleaning.
That cured it.

 

[twister]

did you check the action screws? a loose screw will get ya.

 

[Radman]

@DJ Fergus the barrel is slightly warm after the first shot, barely enough to tell. I didn't think it was a barrel temp issue because I use to be able to shoot it 5 shots total within about 2 minutes and they all had the same POI. I have shot it over the LabRadar, kinda got erratic velocitys with handloads and factory ammo, and it seemed like the LabRadar had issues with accurately reading the small 17 cal bullets. I'll try shooting it over the chronograph again.

I had a rifle that was super sensitive as to the cleanliness of the bolt face & the mating surface itself. Took a while to figure that one out.

 

[esshup]

While this doesn't help you at all, I have one rifle that shoots 2 moa higher for the first shot from a clean, cold bore. I chrono'd the gun and it was 200 fps faster for that shot too. Dirty bore, cold or warm the first shot is in the group though.

I have a Savage .22lr that is set up with a Lilja barrel, faster twist to shoot the 60g Aguila 60g SSS ammo. First shot is always not in the group, I have to spend some time figuring out why too. Happens with a dirty bore, not sure what it does with a clean bore.

So, you aren't the only one with issues!

 

[floyd kittrell]

Listen to Mr. L Sherm Before you start tinkering . I had a barrel that would scatter like h**l then shoot less thsn 3/8 after 10-12 rounds down the tube.

 

[wolffo]

if I like how a gun is shooting and I like where the last shot went - I will not clean it

 

[TheLongRanger83702]

I have a Savage model 25 having issues with first round fliers. First shot from every group will hit about the same place. Every shot after the first one goes low right and will group about MOA with shots 2-5 or however many I decide to shoot. I can let the gun set for 15 minutes, shoot another group and it does the same exact thing again. It's a 17 hornet with around 800 rounds down the pipe, it use to shoot 5 shoot groups 3/4 moa consistently. I've cleaned the barrel really good since the issues started, thinking it was just dirty but that didn't help. I've checked the rings, mounts, and stock torque. I bedded the action and that didn't help. My bore scope won't fit in the 17 cal barrel so I can't check it out.
Picture is of two groups shot about 20 minutes apart.
View attachment 268620

Sounds like a scope issue. I had that issue with my air rifle until I bought a better quality scope. How I would deal with it was to drop the rifle on the ground butt first a few times before aiming at the target and firing. This seemed to settle the internals mimicking a first shot. I saved a lot of ammo doing this. However i finally tired of this "cure" and finally bit the bullet... bought a better scope. Now it shoots like it supposed to all the time. Good luck.

 

[pony doctor]

I have a Savage model 25 having issues with first round fliers. First shot from every group will hit about the same place. Every shot after the first one goes low right and will group about MOA with shots 2-5 or however many I decide to shoot. I can let the gun set for 15 minutes, shoot another group and it does the same exact thing again. It's a 17 hornet with around 800 rounds down the pipe, it use to shoot 5 shoot groups 3/4 moa consistently. I've cleaned the barrel really good since the issues started, thinking it was just dirty but that didn't help. I've checked the rings, mounts, and stock torque. I bedded the action and that didn't help. My bore scope won't fit in the 17 cal barrel so I can't check it out.
Picture is of two groups shot about 20 minutes apart.
View attachment 268620Just thinking: Is your barrel twist rate 1 in 10 or faster? Most rifles require 1-2 fouling rounds but that does not appear to be your case. Have you tried different bullets to confirm maybe this is your problem? Run some velocity checks as well while trying to get to the cause.

 

[Stgraves260]

I have a Savage model 25 having issues with first round fliers. First shot from every group will hit about the same place. Every shot after the first one goes low right and will group about MOA with shots 2-5 or however many I decide to shoot. I can let the gun set for 15 minutes, shoot another group and it does the same exact thing again. It's a 17 hornet with around 800 rounds down the pipe, it use to shoot 5 shoot groups 3/4 moa consistently. I've cleaned the barrel really good since the issues started, thinking it was just dirty but that didn't help. I've checked the rings, mounts, and stock torque. I bedded the action and that didn't help. My bore scope won't fit in the 17 cal barrel so I can't check it out.
Picture is of two groups shot about 20 minutes apart.
View attachment 268620

Its hard to help someone without being there to see what they are doing. In my experience most people are not as focused on their first shot as they are the rest. When people see their first shot on how far they missed their target they automatically get more focused. I have a suggestion. When you get behind your rifle. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. It's ok to take more than one deep breath. Take as many as you need to get Relaxed and get focused. You know you are relaxed and focused because you will feel your own heart beat. Now open your eyes fully relaxed and fully focused. ( Tip, make sure your thumb is on the same side as your shooting finger. This will keep you from tweaking the gun. ) now just squeeze the trigger and your set. Hope this helps.