Can someone help me analyze this target?

[deadnbrkn84]

So I went out shooting my new setup today and I wanted someone to help me analyze this target. This is at 300 yards.

So the top left target is a 4 shot group (ignore that top hole it was from something else). I'm pretty happy with the group considering it's a stock Remington barrel and action. Then I moved to the center target and the majority of the group is pretty good I pulled the one to the right and the upper shot. This center was a 6 shot group.

Here's my question: The "group" was .1mil low and .1 mil left. Why would this happen? Can anyone help me out as to why on the second string it would be pretty consistently low .1mil and left .1mil? I'm trying to learn here so I really appreciate the input. Thanks to all those who know more then I!

Load data:
.308
Nosler 168gr Custom Comp
45.0gr Varget
Nosler Brass
CCI BR2 Primer
2.810 OAL

Thank you all so much in advance!

 

[lessthanfour]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

your eye may have been at a different position in the scope?

 

[deadnbrkn84]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

That is possible. It's a brand new Vortex Razor and this was my second time out with it. Its also a brand new Mcrees chassis and I'm still working on the cheek weld with it. I put a bunch of new stuff on this rifle all on friday and this was my first time shooting 300yrds with it. I was bug holing them at 100yds.

On friday I put it in a Mcrees chassis, put a Timney 510 trigger in it, and put new Vortex precision matched rings on it with a new Vortex Razor. I now this is a lot of changes at once but I'm still wondering why it was "consistently" low and left.

 

[roggom]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

Are you shooting off of bipod? Maybe you are not loading consistently (hence the vertical stringing) and although it was only a few inches off, you did not adjust your natural point of aim.

 

[mission_fail]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

This may be a fluke but your groups look slightly strung out low left to high right diagonally. I find this happens with your breathing from your body not being completely behind the gun as opposed to cocked one way or the other. You know you have correct position when the reticle bobs up and down with no lateral movement when you breathe. I know this is going on a tangent from your original question but just something to consider if you shoot in a position where your body is not completely behind the gun.

 

[RTS]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

Maybe you got excited and put a little more finger on the trigger for the second group... I'd shoot 3 more groups without changing a thing before settling on a problem with the rifle.

 

[redirt78]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

I was thinking what he ^ said might be possible too. It could be a combo of inconsistent breathing cycle and too much finger.

Inconsistent loading of the bipod could also be to blame.

Going from what is taught in parts of the online training "trigger school": Too much finger on the trigger, pulling it back and to the right and not pulling straight back can cause a right handed shooter to shoot off to the left. Not enough finger and pulling back and to the left can throw shots right.

Make sure you are using the pad of your finger, between the tip and first joint. Try to use a grip that allows you to pull straight back with a 90* bend in your trigger finger and fingernail parallel with the trigger face.

Also practice shooting at the bottom of your breathing cycle, its more consistent to break the shot when your lungs are collapsed than trying to guess where exactly a half breath is. Don't hold your breath for more than a few seconds either, bad things happen.

If you're already doing all that then I don't now what it could be.

Eliminate a few fliers and those are some fine groups at 300.

 

[XTR]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

The down you'll have to figure out, but wind could account for the left. One mph will give you about 1/2 inch or so, and one mph is hard to spot if you don't have streamers hanging out there on the course.

 

[Hogstooth]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

If you fired the group at the top left first, then shot the center group, you probably sped up.

Alot of times shooters will shoot a nice slow fire group then get a little over confident and speed up the process, which also speeds up your trigger finger.

If you have any minor flaws in your trigger control during slow fire, when you speed up that will of course be magnified.

Also, you need to pay attention to your follow through, any shots that move to the 1 o clock position you are releasing your trigger finger during recoil. Once the shot breaks you want to freeze everything in place including your trigger finger, shot will almost always go up to 1 o clock.

 

[deadnbrkn84]

Re: Can someone help me analyze this target?

Thank you all so much for the help. Lots of things to consider and think about when I go back out. I was shooting off a bipod and it's something I haven't done a ton of. Actually I considered my bipod to be totally useless until just recently when I got a podloc for it. So it's finally stable enough to shoot off of. There also was a bit of a breeze and there is streamers off the targets that showed that. Not much but a small breeze for sure.

Well thanks again, like I said I've got lots fo things to work out. I appreciate all the help and if anyone has anything else to add please feel free!