newbie question on bolt rotation (Steyr SSG 08 A1)

[Walter Haas]

I'm new to shooting and I don't understand these bolts but I have a question.

I bought one of those "Send IT" levels with LED lights that tell you if the rifle is canted. What I noticed when dry firing is that after the trigger break the LED indicators show that there is a momentary cant clockwise. (I used a shoestring to pull the trigger to prove I'm not causing this by failing to pull the trigger straight back. )

Now, I don't know if that translates into cant before the bullet has exited the barrel because I don't know how the bolt operates, but obviously the bolt is creating rotational inertia, which might make sense since rotating the bolt supplies the force that cocks it.

It seems possible that the bullet could be gone before that rotational force starts twisting the rifle depending on the design of the bolt.

What do you guys think? I hope you're not going to tell me that these are not issues to worry about when you don't know how to zero at 100 yards yet. Sunday will be my third attempt to zero the rifle at the range and my hopes are high.

 

[308pirate]

I hope you're not going to tell me that these are not issues to worry about when you don't know how to zero at 100 yards yet.

These are not issues to worry about when you don't know how to zero at 100 yards yet

Seriously bro, get some mileage under your belt. It will all make so much more sense.

 

[skipjack]

Like 308pirate says. Sight it in have fun and enjoy. Every thing else will come into place.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

Oh man, if I didnt have plans this weekend I would help a brother out.

I should have some loads to test by next Sunday if you want to meet up.

 

[want2learn]

pretty interesting observation. likely the direction of rotation of the rifling plays a role as well. wonder if a straight pull bolt action might lessen this phenomenon to a degree?

purely from a physics perspective, i wonder if it might be optimal for right hand shooters in the northern hemisphere to have anti-clockwise rifling and a straight pull bolt?

 

[Supersubes]

Third attempt to zero? How can this be?

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

Are you on paper?

 

[Walter Haas]

Third attempt to zero? How can this be?

By thinking I know the scope when I don’t.

 

[Walter Haas]

Are you on paper?

yes I just didn’t know the workings of my vortex scope

 

[Walter Haas]

pretty interesting observation. likely the direction of rotation of the rifling plays a role as well. wonder if a straight pull bolt action might lessen this phenomenon to a degree?

purely from a physics perspective, i wonder if it might be optimal for right hand shooters in the northern hemisphere to have anti-clockwise rifling and a straight pull bolt?

Great idea, but this is while dry firing.

 

[want2learn]

for myself, the easiest and quickest way to zero a rifle is best done with an assistant....but you can do this alone if you're really careful or have the use of a very stable shooting platform.

first i attach a weighted string (plumb line) onto the edge of the 100 yards target and use that to make sure my reticle is perfectly aligned when i have a very comfortable and stable set up..

I set the rifle up nice and straight, making sure you have an awesome and comfortable point of aim and a stable platform.

Aim for bullseye and take a good quality shot...... after the shot it is likely the rifle moved a bit so reestablish your position with respect to the rifle and view.....and then without moving the rifle at all.....have an assistant adjust/move the reticle using the scope knobs till the reticle perfectly intercepts the bullet hole you made.

now take a another couple of perfect shots to confirm.

it's really quick and easy and has saved me a lot of time, expense and frustration.

this all of course assumes you're on paper at 100 yards. if not, do this first at 50 yards so you don't waste ammo and then move on to 100 yards.

 

[Walter Haas]

pretty interesting observation. likely the direction of rotation of the rifling plays a role as well. wonder if a straight pull bolt action might lessen this phenomenon to a degree?

purely from a physics perspective, i wonder if it might be optimal for right hand shooters in the northern hemisphere to have anti-clockwise rifling and a straight pull bolt?
[/

for myself, the easiest and quickest way to zero a rifle is best done with an assistant....but you can do this alone if you're really careful or have the use of a very stable shooting platform.

first i attach a weighted string (plumb line) onto the edge of the 100 yards target and use that to make sure my reticle is perfectly aligned when i have a very comfortable and stable set up..

I set the rifle up nice and straight, making sure you have an awesome and comfortable point of aim and a stable platform.

Aim for bullseye and take a good quality shot...... after the shot it is likely the rifle moved a bit so reestablish your position with respect to the rifle and view.....and then without moving the rifle at all.....have an assistant adjust/move the reticle using the scope knobs till the reticle perfectly intercepts the bullet hole you made.

now take a another couple of perfect shots to confirm.

it's really quick and easy and has saved me a lot of time, expense and frustration.

this all of course assumes you're on paper at 100 yards. if not, do this first at 50 yards so you don't waste ammo and then move on to 100 yards.

I like that plumb bomb idea for guaranteeing the reticle is vertical!

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

You get it all figured out?

 

[Walter Haas]

You get it all figured out?

Thanks for asking. No it was too windy Sunday, 40 mph gusts west of Petaluma. But I remembered my old archery instructor was also a precision rifle shooter and looked him up. He's giving me shooting lessons now. Had the first one last night. Meeting at the range on Monday.