Today was the first day I shot my new 6.5x284! It took 3 shots to go from 4" low and 1" to the right then adjust to dead on @ a100yds and then 13" high @ a 100 to prepare me for the 600yds. Went out to 600 my vertical was dead on but 8-10" to the right cause of the wind. Shot that twice and then my third shot was 10" low @ 600 but still to the right. Shot again and still low. Adjusted the scope up and then down a click. Moved the gun to adjust for the wind two more shots and in the orange. Went to take one more shot and have been all over the board since. Any pointers. Still fairly new to the long range stuff. Thanks.
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Tyler Kemp
Well-Known Member
What load were you using, what scope, what was the wind like, what were you shooting off of? Lots of unknown variables!
Savage 112, 26" barrel shooting 142 SGK Match loaded by HSM out of Montana. Not sure what FPS there shooting, grains or ETC. Ordered new brass bullets primers and powder waiting on that. Shooting south east wind out of the east 6-8 MPH off of bags 10' up shooting level out to 600 yds. Havent have time to try new loads or any of that. Just got the gun last night and bullets also. Last second trying to get ready for a 600 and 880 yd shoot this saturday.
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
More info please. What is the rifle, scope, etc. The right and left are easily wind but 10" up and down is a bit much. The most likely is probably scope but before that, check and make sure your bedding screws are properly torqued and the stock is not contacting the sides of the barrel. If everything looks good there, check the scope mounting and make sure everything is properly tightened. If that seems good, try zeroing at 100, check your group and if it looks good, do a square: i.e. 12 clicks up, 12 clicks left, 12 clicks down and 12 clicks right. Is the group moving as it should be and are you back to 100 yd. zero? How does the rifle group at 100? If it isn't under 1 1/2 MOA, you could be off 10" at 600 yds without ANYTHING being wrong. Shoot some more and let us know. Good luck/Rich
Moman
Well-Known Member
Good advice so far. Did you do a break in with this? Is there any chance the barrel is fouled out?
johnnyk
Well-Known Member
Sounds like the erector system in your scope is going out or has gone out. I'd say give another known good scope a try. JohnnyK.
Ridge Runner
Well-Known Member
How much have you shot at 600 yards? From your desription I'd say it was a combination of small shooting errors and light conditions?
Do you have a level on your scope? what was the weather like? partialy cloudy?
It takes a few hundred rounds to start to get proficient at longer ranges.
I've took alot of new shooters out, and I've discoverd that to 600 yards anyone can do pretty good, AT 600 the beginners first round hits percentages drop like a rock. This is a new shooter shooting my rifle so that eliminates everything but the shooter.
RR
Do you have a level on your scope? what was the weather like? partialy cloudy?
It takes a few hundred rounds to start to get proficient at longer ranges.
I've took alot of new shooters out, and I've discoverd that to 600 yards anyone can do pretty good, AT 600 the beginners first round hits percentages drop like a rock. This is a new shooter shooting my rifle so that eliminates everything but the shooter.
RR
6.5x61Super
Well-Known Member
..scope...lightbulb
...inconsistent hold....shooter on rifle...lightbulb
....wind....lightbulb
....reloads....lightbulb
....there are A LOT of things working against you at that range...gun)
...inconsistent hold....shooter on rifle...lightbulb
....wind....lightbulb
....reloads....lightbulb
....there are A LOT of things working against you at that range...gun)
RMulhern
Well-Known Member
100, 200, 600, or 1000 yards.....MARKSMANSHIP consist of FOUR BASIC THINGS:
POSITION
SIGHT ALIGNMENT
TRIGGER CONTROL
MENTAL ATTITUDE
The frickin rifle doesn't know whether it's shooting 50'.....or 1200 yards so if you've got the right 'dope' on and pay attention to detail your results should be good...provided you aren't shooting JUNK for a rifle!!lightbulb
POSITION
SIGHT ALIGNMENT
TRIGGER CONTROL
MENTAL ATTITUDE
The frickin rifle doesn't know whether it's shooting 50'.....or 1200 yards so if you've got the right 'dope' on and pay attention to detail your results should be good...provided you aren't shooting JUNK for a rifle!!lightbulb
I'm shooting a brand new VX-3 8.5 X 25 X 50 MIL with target dot. The little I have adjusted it seems to right on for adjustment? Going to try a new round today 139gr Scenar by Lapua will see how that works? I'm going back out to the 100yd to make sure my windage is still on and what type of group I can get? I'll keep at it. As far as breaking it in a gun smith told me to just use a bore snake after every shot up to like 5 and then after 10. I havent used any bore cleaner or patches. Like I say still new @ the game.
liltank
Well-Known Member
You should definitely do barrel break in for at least the first 20 rounds or so. This is when the copper is going to build up the most in the throat on the new lands. You should make sure to clean between each shot thoroughly for the first 5 removing all fouling. Then you should do a 5 shot string, then a 10 shot string. That should get the barrel ready pretty quickly. The other variable is cleaning between shots. This will cause your groups to open up until it is broken in. Then you will get one cold bore flier or possibly group together without issue. During break in your velocities are going to be all over the place. At that range consistency in load is key. Higher velocities will produce high shots, and low speeds will produce low shots. If you shoot across a chrony you will see the variance.
Even though it is a new scope, it can still fail. Guys on this sight have been complaining about Leupold's quality going down hill. Sometimes a lemon makes it through the line. I would do the box test at 100yrds and see if there is any irregularity as suggested. I know that with my Savages a barrel break in was necessary, but the accuracy only continued to get better until I shot the barrel out 3000rnds. later (300WSM). Some of that was my fault getting the barrel to hot and using high pressure loads.
The other factor is breath control. You need to repeat your breath control with each shot. If your lungs are full you will likely shoot low do to different eye alignment where as when your lungs are empty, then your shots should go high because of different eye alignment. Repetition is the key to long range success.
The HSM just might not be the load it likes also. You may find that it like the Lapua's. It is a matter of trial and error.
Tank
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royinidaho
Well-Known Member
I'd seriously consider throwing the bore shake away and getting a 'good' cleaning rod and rod guide and the stuff to go with to do a proper clean.
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
One more thing. I have had trouble with scope rings causing fliers. Make sure the scope mount is positive.
Steve
Steve
Michael Eichele
Well-Known Member
+1
The only thing that I would add to Steve's statement is not only positive, but properly as well. Components can be assembled very positively and still cause trouble if not done properly.
The last time I had severe accuracy/consistency problems it was due to improper scope mounting causing stress on the scope main tube AND the rifle's action. After bedding a 1 piece base, the rifle has shot lights friggin out since.
M
