Why does a load shoot two separate goups??

Steel Guitar · Dec 7, 2024

Hello All,
Why does a load shoot two separate goups? The two groups are about 5" apart at 100 yards. I've had this happen three different days. I pay close attention to loading, sighting, sand bags, hold my breath, and wish for good luck. Too bad though, each of the groups is around one inch. Oh, and they are random, one shot high then maybe the next low but no consistancy.

Larry (Omaha) · Dec 7, 2024

Steel Guitar said:
Hello All,
Why does a load shoot two separate goups? The two groups are about 5" apart at 100 yards. I've had this happen three different days. I pay close attention to loading, sighting, sand bags, hold my breath, and wish for good luck. Too bad though, each of the groups is around one inch. Oh, and they are random, one shot high then maybe the next low but no consistancy.

What a can of worms! There are lots of potential probems that can cause this. If you are asking for help you need to tell the gang here what you are doing. Be specific: Gun, powder, powder charge, caps, ball size, patch material, wind conditions, and sights to give the boys a start.
Larry

Mad Hatter · Dec 7, 2024

Steel Guitar said:
Hello All,
Why does a load shoot two separate goups? The two groups are about 5" apart at 100 yards. I've had this happen three different days. I pay close attention to loading, sighting, sand bags, hold my breath, and wish for good luck. Too bad though, each of the groups is around one inch. Oh, and they are random, one shot high then maybe the next low but no consistancy.

Well the good news is your doing the exact same thing twice really well ,now to merge it into one.

Steel Guitar · Dec 7, 2024

Whith my 50s it's 50g 2f and thick patch. 45 is 405g with 80g 2f. on the 50 somedays it shoots an nice single group

Steel Guitar · Dec 7, 2024

And, 50 is a TC, 45 a custom, goex, no wind other than my own, rem caps, and currently a Baptist.

wiscoaster · Dec 7, 2024

Steel Guitar said:
.....Too bad though, each of the groups is around one inch. Oh, and they are random, one shot high then maybe the next low but no consistancy.

Well, I think maybe one problem is interpreting this as two separate groups.

Steel Guitar · Dec 7, 2024

??, so I'm shooting the one load and I get some hits on the target high and some low and the two groups with the same load are one 5" above the other and it's random so I mean it's not a few high then a few low.

Rancocas · Dec 7, 2024

Barrel heats up and warps slightly

riflewright · Dec 7, 2024

Ch

wiscoaster said:
Well, I think maybe one problem is interpreting

Steel Guitar said:

??, so I'm shooting the one load and I get some hits on the target high and some low and the two groups with the same load are one 5" above the other and it's random so I mean it's not a few high then a few low.

Click to expand...

Check torque on screws holding barrel to stock sounds like they are loose
this as two separate grou

FishDFly · Dec 7, 2024

Steel Guitar said:
Whith my 50s it's 50g 2f and thick patch. 45 is 405g with 80g 2f. on the 50 somedays it shoots an nice single group

Are you shooting two (2) different rifles, one a 50 and one a .45?

If so, that is why the groups are different.

Sam squanch · Dec 7, 2024

Weigh your round balls

kansas_volunteer · Dec 7, 2024

Steel Guitar said:
Hello All,
Why does a load shoot two separate goups? The two groups are about 5" apart at 100 yards. I've had this happen three different days. I pay close attention to loading, sighting, sand bags, hold my breath, and wish for good luck. Too bad though, each of the groups is around one inch. Oh, and they are random, one shot high then maybe the next low but no consistancy.

Poor technique on the sand bags.

waksupi · Dec 7, 2024

Shoot under the same light conditions. Light changes on how it hits the front sight can make you shoot away from the light.

SDSmlf · Dec 7, 2024

Steel Guitar said:
Whith my 50s it's 50g 2f and thick patch. 45 is 405g with 80g 2f. on the 50 somedays it shoots an nice single group

Steel Guitar said:
And, 50 is a TC, 45 a custom, goex, no wind other than my own, rem caps, and currently a Baptist.

Steel Guitar said:
Hello All,
Why does a load shoot two separate goups? The two groups are about 5" apart at 100 yards. I've had this happen three different days.

So which gun is shooting groups 5” apart at 50 yards? Or are the 45 and 50 shooting groups 5” apart on different days? Your OP question and subsequent posts seem confusing at best.

Uncle Miltie · Dec 7, 2024

Vertical dispersion is usually a result of velocity or bore condition.

Are you cleaning between shots? If so, try using more powder.

Grenadier1758 · Dec 8, 2024

Steel Guitar said:
??, so I'm shooting the one load and I get some hits on the target high and some low and the two groups with the same load are one 5" above the other and it's random so I mean it's not a few high then a few low.

@Uncle Miltie raises a good point. When the groups are separated by height, that tells me that there are pressure changes in the barrel. Fouling can be building up and then when the wet patch to clear the crust ring is applied, the excess fouling is wiped out. Generally fouling build up will show up as a gradual climb as shooting progresses. @Sam squanch has a good thought. The difference in height could be the result of weight variance between balls. The difference could be due to slight differences in the powder charge. Are you measuring by volume? Are you sometimes tapping the powder measure or not tapping the charge? The difference between a settled charge from tapping the measure and not tapping is 2 to 3 grains. What powder are you using?

hunter thompson · Dec 8, 2024

Rancocas said:
Barrel heats up and warps slightly

exactly

Buff1958 · Dec 8, 2024

I guess I am easy but a 5" group at 100 yards with open sights is ok with me

wiscoaster · Dec 8, 2024

SDSmlf said:
......Your OP question and subsequent posts seem confusing at best.

No kidding. 1) Isolate question to just one gun; 2) post specifics about gun, load, powder, patch and ball; 3) post specifics about shooting eg position, support & range; 4) post pics of gun and target.

It takes a good question to get a good answer.

But, given what we've been told, if I understand rightly (??), one thing jumps out: OP is having this same problem with two different guns of different caliber and different load. I think that fact points to the problems as more likely to be due to shooter technique than anything to do with the guns or the loads.

Shortfingers · Dec 8, 2024

wiscoaster said:
No kidding. 1) Isolate question to just one gun; 2) post specifics about gun, load, powder, patch and ball; 3) post specifics about shooting eg position, support & range; 4) post pics of gun and target.

It takes a good question to get a good answer.

But, given what we've been told, if I understand rightly (??), one thing jumps out: OP is having this same problem with two different guns of different caliber and different load. I think that fact points to the problems as more likely to be due to shooter technique than anything to do with the guns or the loads.

Yep……

Why does a load shoot two separate goups??

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

40 Cal

69 Cal.

36 Cl.

40 Cal

40 Cal

75 Cal.

40 Cal

45 Cal.

32 Cal

69 Cal.

69 Cal.

45 Cal.

Ric Carter

Cannon

50 Cal.

Cannon

45 Cal.

40 Cal

75 Cal.

40 Cal

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!