First round flier?

[memilanuk]

Years ago when I shot Service Rifle for a little while, I remember some people who were *really* serious about the sport talking about the phenomenon of having the first round out of a mag go to a different point of impact than the subsequent rounds. Supposedly this was due to the difference in the way the round was stripped from the mag by the bolt - being dropped via the latch, vs. moving 'normally' under recoil. Given the nature of that particular venue, where the course of fire was 2+8 i.e. two rounds from one mag, mandatory mag change, then eight rounds from the next mag, it was something that people got kinda wrapped up about. Me, I was never that good of a SR shooter that I had to worry too much about it.

That said, I always wondered how much truth/fiction there was to that notion. Was there something particular to some guns / mags that would cause that, vs. others that wouldn't?

Anyone here experience this?

 

[bfoosh006]

IMHO... yes it can happen, just remember there are a ton variables involved.... Type of firearm ( M1A, M1, AR ), Build specs, ammo .. etc.

I have seen, when changing ammo, the barrel needing to be "seasoned" into the next, different loading.
I typically fire 10rd groups, and have seen time and time again groups settle into the next different load. IE.. first 5rds an inch off, then the group slowly snugs up. It is not me doing this... it is the ammo and barrel.

Firearms have come a long way as well... typical groups nowadays, might have been considered a match group years ago.

Another thing that has helped my groups is ( in an AR platform ) is lapping the upper receiver face flat, and Loctiting the barrel in place.

I also firmly believe in a snug upper to lower fitment, that will help with a consistent "hold" on the AR platform.

I used to have a list of which powders NOT to use after another ( from the CMP ) because those powders could / would fubar the groups between 200yd and the 600yd course of fire.... sure wish I could find it.

 

[spife7980]

I am an admittedly novice semi auto shooter but I have found that I have a last round flier where it locks back on an empty mag, not a first.
I assume by the bolt carrier not having anything pressing upwards on it for the last round unlike every prior round in the mag.

 

[acudaowner]

I always have to take the first few rounds out at the start of a shooting day either just to make sure who ever used the gun last did not just turn everything all over the place with the kids it has happened or another adult shooting something close and readjusting it for them . My first 3 shots always start on the side of the target just to see if its close elevation wise them adjust for wind as needed . No idea why I have seen friends readjusting the zero from time to time my feeling is if you need to do more than up down left or right or fine tune the eye box adjustment it's time to buy your own guns . maybe it's just me being a jerk .

 

[LeadZeke]

Endless stories both ways. Mechanically it doesn't make much sense. And you hear just as many first round flier stories on bolt guns.

 

[Old_Longhair]

Endless stories both ways. Mechanically it doesn't make much sense. And you hear just as many first round flier stories on bolt guns.

Exactly!
IMO, it has more to do with cold bore than how the bolt closes.

 

[memilanuk]

Endless stories both ways. Mechanically it doesn't make much sense. And you hear just as many first round flier stories on bolt guns.

Funny... never heard a one, back when I was shooting Match Rifle (back then it was either bolt gun fed via stripper clip, or some sort of AR space-gun). The *only* platforms I ever heard about fliers on the first round out of the mag was ARs - mainly because almost no one shot M1/M1As at a serious level any more at that point in time.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Endless stories both ways. Mechanically it doesn't make much sense. And you hear just as many first round flier stories on bolt guns.

I think it ends up being cold shooter rather than cold bore or a flyer.