.375 H&H Accuracy

[jabba]

Hi,

I have read the FAQs and many linked posts but still have a few questions that will help me and may help some others.

I have a 9.5 lb rifle in 375 H&H (Mauser M03), to which I have added a scope and bipod. The rifle has a kickstop and recoil pad, and recoil is not painful or distracting, even when prone.

I find that as the shot breaks the rifle jumps, and comes down an inch or two to the left side (I am right handed). I use the left hand to squeeze the rear bag.

I am planning to use the rifle for deer stalking here in Scotland and in Africa during April. If I can shoot 2 MOA out to 250 I will be fine. My best group is maybe 1.5 MOA at 100 yards. I have fired 130 rds since the rifle was new. I am now using 300 grain Barnes TSX.

My questions are as follows:

1. Should I be trying to control/dampen the muzzle jump (say by holding the forearm with my left hand)? Perhaps I need to adjust to avoid the horizontal movement but not the vertical?

2. How damaging is muzzle jump to accuracy? Is it unimportant as long as you are consistent, or will jump always open up your groups.

3. Regardng tightness of the grip, I currently ensure that the rifle is hard into the shoulder with the bipod legs slightly loaded but without any muscle tension. Is it worth experimenting with different grip tightness?

Thanks for any pointers. I am hoping that you will be able to cut down the amount of experimentation I need to do, and the number of £4 cartridges I need to put down range before I get it worked out!

John

 

[hsss]

Re: .375 H&H Accuracy

Try shooting off of a ruck the bi pod on a hard surface can cause a jump. The left right is usually body position. Have someone take a picture of you in position. You should be in a straight line behind the rifle.
Good luck on the hunt.

 

[seanh]

Re: .375 H&H Accuracy

The jumping around you're noticing is normal for bipod shooting. You can minimize this by finding your NPA (natural point of aim). This will help insure that you have consistent shot to shot placement.
By NPA we mean the spot where you point the gun at the target, close your eyes, relax and then open them…are you still pointing in the same location? If not and you need to move the gun, you’re not in a good natural point of aim. You should be able to open and close your eyes and never move the gun to the intended target.

As to gripping the forearm it can help to tame the recoil/muzzle but may adversely affect your accuracy. If that grip isn’t the same from shot to shot, then the accuracy will suffer.

As long as the muzzle jump is consistent then your shots will be consistent, more or less.

I wouldn’t try to keep changing your grip, just get comfortable. When you’re comfortable you’ll be relaxed and this is when you’ll be able to locate your NPA. With relaxed muscles your npa will stay consistent allowing you to shrink your groups.

Practice dry firing with proper follow through. Instead of burning rounds down range, sit in your house, pick a spot on the wall, fence in the back yard etc and practice mounting the gun and finding your NPA.

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: .375 H&H Accuracy

The secret is here.

It doesnt matter how hard the rifle recoils. The physics are the same.
If your NPA is not correct it <span style="text-decoration: underline">will </span> hop. I was having a similar issue, and I was trying to use 2 conflicting schools of thought. I was trying to get as low as I could, but that affected my NPA, resulting in hop. Raising my position got me to my NPA and I was able to follow through with the shots.

1. Get straight behind the rifle
2. Propperly shoulder, with good cheekweld, resulting in good eye relief on the scope.
3. 90* on the trigger
4. Use your feet to apply fwd pressure on the bipod to load it.

I never shot a .375. I know it can hurt to shoot, but so did the .50bmg I shot with a mediocre brake. That one didnt hop either. It did smart a little, but I expected that.

 

[Easily Done]

Re: .375 H&H Accuracy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jabba</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hi,

I have read the FAQs and many linked posts but still have a few questions that will help me and may help some others.

I have a 9.5 lb rifle in 375 H&H (Mauser M03), to which I have added a scope and bipod. The rifle has a kickstop and recoil pad, and recoil is not painful or distracting, even when prone.

I find that as the shot breaks the rifle jumps, and comes down an inch or two to the left side (I am right handed). I use the left hand to squeeze the rear bag.

I am planning to use the rifle for deer stalking here in Scotland and in Africa during April. If I can shoot 2 MOA out to 250 I will be fine. My best group is maybe 1.5 MOA at 100 yards. I have fired 130 rds since the rifle was new. I am now using 300 grain Barnes TSX.

My questions are as follows:

1. Should I be trying to control/dampen the muzzle jump (say by holding the forearm with my left hand)? Perhaps I need to adjust to avoid the horizontal movement but not the vertical?

2. How damaging is muzzle jump to accuracy? Is it unimportant as long as you are consistent, or will jump always open up your groups.

3. Regardng tightness of the grip, I currently ensure that the rifle is hard into the shoulder with the bipod legs slightly loaded but without any muscle tension. Is it worth experimenting with different grip tightness?

Thanks for any pointers. I am hoping that you will be able to cut down the amount of experimentation I need to do, and the number of £4 cartridges I need to put down range before I get it worked out!

John </div></div>


All bets are off on a Mouser. You didn't mention anything about bore condition and I'd wager that you are fouled horribly,not due to projectile malady...but due to bore quality. be curious to hear about base/rings/glass too.

Tough to beat '15 in a SAAMI Six-Bits and I much prefer the 270X to the 300X,with the Hornie 270SP being a routinely amazingly accurate boolit. They're zookie on Game,but POA/POI intersects nicely with the 270X for cheap practice.

 

[jabba]

Re: .375 H&H Accuracy

Gents -

Thanks for the help here. I was working on the NPA at the weekend and will do some more, starting off with dry firing. I'll get a photo taken and maybe video a few shots so I can see any problems. I think that I'll keep the grip as it is.

Easily Done - I was interested by your comments. I am using copper solvent every 30 rds or so. I hadn't heard that the M03 had a poor quality bore previously. The scope is a Swarovski z6i 2-12x50 on a swarovski rail mount. I don't know what you mean by six-bits though, sorry.

Maybe I'll get out shooting on Friday!