Grouping Questions

[Dnk9444]

I have a savage 110 tactical in a B/C stock. It shot 44.0 Varget and 165sst consistently in a ragged hole. Then recently the groups blew out over 1in. Always 2 in a hole with one high and left. I did have a lot of copper buildup I cleaned and groups went back down. Then after 20shots out again. I cleaned again with sweets and fist group was .3in. Yesterday I shot fist group was a cloverleaf at .9in. I then had 4loads to try with SW Precision powder. All 4 were .75-.9. But all were 2 touching and one high to the left. Each group Look almost identical. I do know on at least one the groups it was the second shot that was off. Is this type of group telling me something I'm missing?

 

[User4302021]

Three shot groups tell you nothing. Your rifles true accuracy is better represented by what it will do at a single point of aim over 20 shots. What you are seeing could be the result of random grouping within your combo's actual dispersion.

 

[Jud96]

How many rounds are down the barrel? When I see two touch and one flyer, to me there's a few things it could be. It could be a pulled shot from the shooter, if you feel it was a good shot and the results are consistent then it's not the shooter. Check to see if your barrel is touching the stock anywhere. Check your action screws and make sure they're tight and torqued down correctly. Check your scope rings and scope base screws and torque them down to the correct specs. If all of that is in check, then it's time to look at your ammo. When everything checks out and I'm getting a flyer like you're describing, then I'll adjust the seating depth. Try seating bullets .005 longer, .010 longer, and then do .005 shorter and .010 shorter.

 

[BallisticsGuy]

^^^ that.

 

[Dnk9444]

I have about 300rounds down it. I run the seating depth out to my magazine length. I just thought it odd that it was shooting all groups the same. I'm shooting 165sst 168 eld-m and 178 eld-x.

 

[Jud96]

Have you adjusted the seating depth on any of your loads from when you first got the rifle?

 

[Dnk9444]

Not really. But I've had some loads the ended up being shorter and they all shot the same pattern.

 

[Jud96]

Loads with the same bullets were tried at shorter lengths? I really would work on tweaking your loads some more. You could just have an erratic load that shoots great one day and then opens up the next.

 

[Dnk9444]

Yea I have tried different seating depths. I appreciate the input.

 

[Rick Richard]

Might be worth running a bore scope down to tube and see if you can see anything out of the ordinary. Just a thought.

 

[Dnk9444]

Ok. I had a lot of copper fouling When the groups opened up before. and I cleaned it with sweets. But it's odd that when i cleaned it both times the groups tightened back for a few rounds then back to the same group. Different powder different bullet same group 2 touching one high to the left.

 

[Reloader222]

+1 for Jud96. It is a good start to eliminate the problem.

 

[T3ninja]

Im not sure if you're having anything like I had. But from what the responses to my particular problem was switching between bullets. I'm still going to do some experimenting but I'd say like others, clean it up and stick with one Bullet for a 30-50 rounds and see if it continues gets better. Then clean and switch bullets and repeat.

 

[new2mud]

Over 300 rounds the barrel likely sped up. You didn't mention velocities between recent shots and initial ones with great groups. You may be beyond the initial velocity node that originally gave you good groups. Try backing powder down .2-.5 grains and see if that recaptures your smaller groups.