Range Report First time behind a bolt gun

[TylerD]

So today so took my new Remington 700AAC-SD in 308 to the range. I have never been behind a bolt gun or any sort of precision rifle before. It took me about 7 rounds to work the poi to where I wanted it. I was shooting 100yards indoors. I ended up with decent group for a first time but I'm a bit perplexed. I was definitely expecting to adjust elevation, but I had to adjust for windage as well. Does this sound strange since I was shooting indoors?

I shot from a bench with a bipod and the rifle was not rested or stabilized at the rear of the stock. Below are pictures of the rifle and group today.

 

[gstaylorg]

Couple things for you to think about. First, the scope rings are waaaaayyyy higher than they need to be, maybe by 3/8" to possibly 1/2" (hard to tell exactly from the picture). This will make it more difficult for you to get a consistent cheekweld to the comb of the stock. Even with an adjustable cheekpiece or some sort of buttstock cover that raises the comb height, your scope is so high that it will be more difficult to get a consistent cheekweld and view through your scope. This can create problems with getting a reproducible sight picture, as well as parallax issues. Check out the following link for more info:

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...1-ring-height-info-how-measure-correctly.html

Second, when you mounted the scope, did you make sure the scope reticle and mount were level to each other? If you had to dial in very much windage indoors, you may have introduced some cant in your scope when you mounted it. If the reticle isn't level, as you adjust the elevation, you're also dialing a small amount of windage in as the elevation turret won't be perfectly straight up and down. Same thing holds true for the windage turret on a canted scope. I don't remember where exactly, but somewhere here at SH there are threads on how to mount scopes, avoid canting, etc. A search for those ought to help you out if you think your scope might be canted.

 

[damoncali]

It's normal to adjust for windage to get your zero.

 

[roggom]

Your bipod is backwards, this can effect groups as well. Keep shooting you will get it.

 

[usafabrad]

I also bought a 700 aac-sd. Buy some mousepad, and a tacops cheekpiece (35$ or so at triad tactical) to raise the comb height. That should do you good till you can get a new stock. The hogue feels good and is tough, but its flexible, contacts the last half inch or so at the barrel, and can't be inletted for upgrades if you wish. I also reccomend a cerakote finish. The standard matte finish is notorious for rusting. Check out acoating.com. They do outsourced work for Sig and McMillan, and are awesome. Also very reasonably priced. Settle in, get some training, do research, and buy right the first time. Quality is cheaper in the long run.

 

[walley2960]

Adjusting windage in normal with a new setup. Bipod needs reversed, scope is definitely higher than needed to clear the barrel. If you can mount the rifle with eyes closed, open them and see full field of view through the scope you are good to go. If not, move the scope to where your eye is naturally. If that means getting new rings so be it. Good first group.

 

[usafabrad]

Edit; double post

 

[TheGerman]

Not sure if you meant that you had to adjust the windage on your optic to get centered the first time after mounting (this is normal) or if you were having to adjust it while shooting/in-between shots because your rounds had a horizontal spread. The first is normal as you had just mounted your optic and rings, someone could have messed with your windage turret at some point, etc. The latter is due to one or a combination of a few things:

- Your optic is not centered correctly and canted (less likely that it would be that obvious here as its 100 yards but still possible)
- You are not set up properly on your rifle; LOP could be off and I am betting that your eye relief and head/cheek position vary shot to shot due to how high your optic is mounted
- The rear of your rifle was not supported and I doubt you could load the bipod properly as it is on backwards
- You're new to this and probably felt rushed

After correcting your setup, you need to dry fire frequently at home. Then when going to the range, after setting everything up, dry fire your rifle at the target just as if it was loaded 10-15 times focusing on breathing, keeping the sight picture and eye relief crisp and trigger manipulation. Then shoot your ammo.

 

[40xs]

Welcome to the sport, TylerD. All the above advice, plus being that I don't know how tall you are and how long your arms and neck may be, but it also appears that you might be very close to receiving a half moon scope kiss above your eye. that scope appears to be a little too far back. Maybe not, just trying to save you a little blood!!!

 

[Pusher591]

I feel sorry for you in a way.....after I got behind a bolt gun for the first time, my bank account started depleting

Enjoy and read here, you will get the hang of it.

 

[tobedell]

Set your scope forward and in a prone position, while you are on the gun move the scope back to a full field of view on the highest power setting. The prone position does not allow for turkey necking like other position's. Use a feeler guage between the rail and bottom of the turret for plumb. Try to tighten scope rings equally so it doesn't roll. When you get ready to focus the eyepiece put something at 50yds set the parallex to 50 then adjust the rear lense portion of the scope.
Take everything I say with a grain of salt, I'm sure there are better ways out there.

 

[JayMazee]

Agreed with others, those rings have to go.