Shooting straight with windage adjustments

[Southmountain]

I posted this on another thread but felt it’s more appropriate here, any insights appreciated.

I shoot straight on a certain bolt action lrifle when the front and rear sights do not appear to be aligned. When they are aligned (according to my eyes), it hits about 2 inches to the right at 50 yards. If I move the rear aperture sight (windage adjustment) left, then the shots start moving towards the bullseye.

So, when I'm hitting near bullseye in terms of windage, looking at the rear aperture, it visibly looks off the center of the barrel. The front sight, to the best of my knowledge, is pretty centered.

Is it possible for a barrel to just not shoot straight consistently? Or is this more likely to be a user error (i.e. me flinching)? The issue seems to be more exacerbated on a certain rifle than others but I don't have enough data to know that for sure.

 

[B y r o n]

If the barrel bore is not perfectly inline with the receiver then things will not look centered.

 

[wade2big]

Sights are adjustable. Use that feature.

 

[mark5pt56]

I think you are confusing mechanical zero verses actual zero by moving the sights to obtain it.

 

[DJL2]

The bullet doesn't lie. If it's going where it's aimed, then the sights and your marksmanship are working as intended. If it isn't, one of the two is deficient.