The problem:
When I shoot a competition, my shots almost always go high, sometimes by 1-2 MOA. At my practice range, my shots match my dope. Zero is checked at the match, velocity chrono'd previously, dope is by DA.
Background / Setup:
I'm shooting an 24" DPMS LR-260, 2-stage trigger, comb riser, bipod, rear bag, NF 3.5-15 scope, badger rings, badger rail riser. I handload/reload 142 SMKs, 39.0gr H-4350, LC necked down brass, BR2 primers, 2.800" OAL, which chrono around 2580 (average).
I always shoot prone (except when chrono'ing).
I shoot MOA or smaller groups consistently on paper, average around 3/4 MOA.
The only differences I can think of from practicing to competions are:
1) Stress
2) Bipod loading - I can't always load my bipod as well at the competitions without it sliding forward.
3) Head & shooting position - The ground isn't always flat at the competitions (natural terrain) which differs from the flat practice range.
If I run my dope around 2700fps, the resulting POI is much closer. My chrono (Chrony) had been compared to a Oehler and provided consistent readings in the past. So it's hard for me to believe the chrono is reporing 120fps slow.
Also, after zeroing, I tried the dot drill last week, and nearly every shot was about 1/4-1/2" high at 100 yards. That still doesn't explain my data be up to 1.5 MOA off at 900 yards.
Any thoughts? Are the above differences enough to cause high misses? At the last match, I didn't miss a single target low. I kept bringing my elevation dope lower and lower (by up to 1.5 MOA), and would either hit or miss high.
When I shoot a competition, my shots almost always go high, sometimes by 1-2 MOA. At my practice range, my shots match my dope. Zero is checked at the match, velocity chrono'd previously, dope is by DA.
Background / Setup:
I'm shooting an 24" DPMS LR-260, 2-stage trigger, comb riser, bipod, rear bag, NF 3.5-15 scope, badger rings, badger rail riser. I handload/reload 142 SMKs, 39.0gr H-4350, LC necked down brass, BR2 primers, 2.800" OAL, which chrono around 2580 (average).
I always shoot prone (except when chrono'ing).
I shoot MOA or smaller groups consistently on paper, average around 3/4 MOA.
The only differences I can think of from practicing to competions are:
1) Stress
2) Bipod loading - I can't always load my bipod as well at the competitions without it sliding forward.
3) Head & shooting position - The ground isn't always flat at the competitions (natural terrain) which differs from the flat practice range.
If I run my dope around 2700fps, the resulting POI is much closer. My chrono (Chrony) had been compared to a Oehler and provided consistent readings in the past. So it's hard for me to believe the chrono is reporing 120fps slow.
Also, after zeroing, I tried the dot drill last week, and nearly every shot was about 1/4-1/2" high at 100 yards. That still doesn't explain my data be up to 1.5 MOA off at 900 yards.
Any thoughts? Are the above differences enough to cause high misses? At the last match, I didn't miss a single target low. I kept bringing my elevation dope lower and lower (by up to 1.5 MOA), and would either hit or miss high.
