What could cause my shots at longer ranges to go right 2”

[Erie660]

I zeroed at 50 yds experimenting with MPBR with my Tikka .243. I am dead center at 50 yds but at 100, 200, and 250 I’m 2-3” right of bullseye. I’m really trying to focus on mechanics but I’m still pulling shots to the right. After the shot and follow through, my crosshairs actually go left, not right. I’m shooting off a bench with front and rear bags. I’m also sighting in a Iray thermal scope. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[ma smith]

Just out of curiosity, did you try to zero at 100 to see if you are left at 50m?

 

[Aftermath]

I zeroed at 50 yds experimenting with MPBR with my Tikka .243. I am dead center at 50 yds but at 100, 200, and 250 I’m 2-3” right of bullseye. I’m really trying to focus on mechanics but I’m still pulling shots to the right. After the shot and follow through, my crosshairs actually go left, not right. I’m shooting off a bench with front and rear bags. I’m also sighting in a Iray thermal scope. Any suggestions? Thanks

Zero at 275. Actually shoot the target 275 yards away.
You will have a 10" MPB out to around 400.
Shoot closer and farther.

 

[buffalowinter]

If you're shooting tight groups to the right then it is not you. Perhaps a canted reticle.

 

[hesco]

bent barrel, but unlikely with tikka

 

[Ronin22]

They say wind moves bullets…

 

[Erie660]

If you're shooting tight groups to the right then it is not you. Perhaps a canted reticle.

When you say canted reticle, do you mean the gun is canted or the scope is not level?

 

[Erie660]

Just out of curiosity, did you try to zero at 100 to see if your left at 50m?

No, I did not. I really don’t understand that?

 

[buffalowinter]

When you say canted reticle, do you mean the gun is canted or the scope is not level?

I mean the scope is not level, but cant will do the same thing. As a target shooter, I cant my rifle. To correct for the cant as I change engagement distances , the scope/sight is mounted so that the crosshairs/windage screws are parallel to the ground. When the rifle is level with the ground, the scope is canted at the angle I cant when I shoot. Some target sights have a built in adjustment to compensate for cant.

Anschutz 7020 sight can rotate in its base to compensate for cant.

 

[Erie660]

I mean the scope is not level, but cant will do the same thing. As a target shooter, I cant my rifle. To correct for the cant as I change engagement distances , the scope/sight is mounted so that the crosshairs/windage screws are parallel to the ground. When the rifle is level with the ground, the scope is canted at the angle I cant when I shoot. Some target sights have a built in adjustment to compensate for cant.

Anschutz 7020 sight can rotate in its base to compensate for cant.
View attachment 8736261

How much cant would it take to shoot 2-3” right? I have a level inside my thermal scope that I try to keep level, but I’m not sure how accurate it is.

 

[buffalowinter]

How much cant would it take to shoot 2-3” right? I have a level inside my thermal scope that I try to keep level, but I’m not sure how accurate it is.

It depends on height over bore of the sight and number of degrees the reticle is off parallel. The error increases as distance increases.

 

[Hickswr]

How much cant would it take to shoot 2-3” right? I have a level inside my thermal scope that I try to keep level, but I’m not sure how accurate it is.

Have you confirmed the scope was mounted level to the rifle? So when the scope level shows level, the rifle is also actually level.

What are you using as an aiming point for the thermal? I don’t have a thermal but I’ve heard zeroing them can be tricky.

 

[Jack_L]

No, I did not. I really don’t understand that?

Zeroing at 100 yards/meters best irons out little inconsistencies that can be obscured at closer ranges without environmental effects.
You don't have to do POA=POI at 100, it's totally fine to put POI at whatever the adjustment from a 100 yard/meter to your desired distance is while zeroing at 100. Just want to make sure that it's exactly 12:00 above POA.
You could have a few things in play that could cause shots to land horizontally from your anticipated POI, and nailing down you optic calibration at 100 will help identify what that/those issues is/are.
POI being 2 inches right at 100 is concerning if you aren't dealing with significant wind.

 

[Ronin22]

Have you confirmed the scope was mounted level to the rifle? So when the scope level shows level, the rifle is also actually level.

What are you using as an aiming point for the thermal? I don’t have a thermal but I’ve heard zeroing them can be tricky.

The scope only needs to be level to the Earth, not the rifle. None of my rifles, without adjustable buttpad cant, are level and on purpose.