Why does a load shoot two separate goups??

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I have read and found by personal experience that wetter/tighter patches shoot higher. Looser/dryer patches shoot lower.
Atmospheric pressure changes can cause groups to shift up and down. High pressure causes groups to go up and low pressure causes groups to shift down.

Need to take a hydrometer with you to the range and watch it carefully between shots.

Grouping right and left is caused by the deviation from shooting right or left of true north. Need to take a compass with you and adjust your target so it faces exactly true north to get your shots centered on the target..
 
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While @FishDFly's suggestions won't stand up to critical thinking, some of the other suggestions may gave some merit.

Lead, being non magnetic is not effected by the earth's magnetic field.

Air pressure changes far too slowly to justify needing a barometer to read and make sighting adjustments.

Relative humidity may be responsible for fouling build up, but fouling in the bore can be mitigated by loading procedures. The dampness of the patch will have more effect than relative atmospheric pressure.

@Steel Guitar, you need to ensure all the conditions for each shot are consistent. This means all the components, powder charge, propellant, projectile, lubricant, sight picture and hold. Avoid prelubricated patches.

Do you have cataracts? Floaters?
Do you have minor issues seeing the sights?
Have you put a diopter (peep hole) on your shooting glasses to improve the sight picture?
 
Since this two group phenomenon is happening with more than one rifle, we need to put aside issues with rifles and look at procedures. What are the procedures that Steel Guitar is following between shots. Is he using prelubricated patches that have deteriorated during storage? The result of having two distinct groups rule out most of the situations that open up groups. Deteriorating patches normally result in a pattern. Weight variations would have a vertical line of impact. Are there two different thickness of patching that is in use that Steel Guitar is using for several different rifles? What's common between those instances where several rifles shoot into two groups? What variations in shooting procedure occur when the two groups are observed? Is there a clump of

Steel Guitar needs to set up his shooting table so that every shot is being shot using identical procedures and components.
Marking the range rod.
 
the problem has been mentioned several times here. it is several things, you are picking the gun up to reload, that in itself changes everything. then you reposition the gun ever so slightly in a different spot every time. the light changes, the load is tamped harder or softer than the last, you flinch maybe, the gun is canted, the balls are not a consistent weight, it goes on and on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
 
the problem has been mentioned several times here. it is several things, you are picking the gun up to reload, that in itself changes everything. then you reposition the gun ever so slightly in a different spot every time. the light changes, the load is tamped harder or softer than the last, you flinch maybe, the gun is canted, the balls are not a consistent weight, it goes on and on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
How do you not pick up the gun to reload?
 
I’m still trying to figure out how to reload a flintlock while it’s in a horizontal position, on a bench, and then ram the ball down the tube, position myself behind the rifle and pull the trigger while the rifle remains perfectly unmoved.
 
Atmospheric pressure changes can cause groups to shift up and down. High pressure causes groups to go up and low pressure causes groups to shift down.

....
I think he's getting those spread groups on the same day. At least, that's the way I've read his posts.
 
I think he's getting those spread groups on the same day. At least, that's the way I've read his posts.

Atmospheric pressure is not going to affect accuracy any more than aligning your target to magnetic north or wetter patches shooting high and drier patches shooting low.

He needs to take one rifle and take time to learn it. Chasing all the recommendations mentioned here would be better spent on the range with his rifle and practicing his shooting.

What would be his best, is to find a local mentor and shoot with that individual.
 
I don’t usually share all my successful shooting secrets, but seeing how you’re a fellow musician I will let you in on one. A sure fire way that I have found to improve accuracy is to use bigger targets and move them closer. 😉
that's exactly what I do lol. thought I was the only one that did that lol
 
Can you guys give your secrets as to how to get the deer closer? Is there a deer call? Secret handshake?
Drive a stake in the ground, and move slower than the stake. Take two steps, stop, and look at every stick and blade of grass with your binoculars. A deer can hide in the same tiny patch of grass or brush as a rabbit can.
If you go 100 yards in an hour, you are going too fast. In the rut, find a doe in heat, and stay with her. Keep your nose to the wind, or quartering it.
I've killed six bucks laying in their beds with these tricks over the years. Most people can't hunt like that, they are too impatient. I've only been able to teach two people to do it over the years, the rest think they are going to run down a deer.
 
Thanks for all of the responses. Being an old retired teacher I can take the good with the not so good. The not so good made me laugh but still these good people were trying to help me. I have been busy and am not so good as describing my problem.
As I mentioned I have had this problem from time to time with several of my rifles (I only have 20). So, I will tell of just one gun.
TC percussion 50cal
60g goex 2f with cast ball
.15 or so patch with crisco, ball and patch go down barrel with enough friction to achieve max accuracy from exsperience
rem caps
Most days out it shoots a nice 2" group at 50 yards. However, some days it will shoot one high and then the next low for a total of 8 shots which end up in a small group above another small group with a vertical distance of around 5".
In measuring ball weight what would be too much of a variation which would cause bad groups?
I measure powder by volume and do not tap the powder measure causing more powder.

Hey fellow picker.

So I studied your response again and a few things stood out to me.

In your original post you said you were shooting at 100 yards. Later, you talked about shooting the TC percussion .50 caliber at 50 yards. A five inch group at 100 yards with open sights ain’t too shabby in my opinion. But which was it, 50 yards or 100 yards?

You also say that you are using cast balls. Did you cast them yourself? This could be the problem. It has been for me in the past. I don’t weigh the balls I cast since they’re just for plinking. If I use Speer or Hornady balls my groups tighten up usually.

What are your expectations for that gun? Is it for hunting or just putting holes in a gallon jug?

I’m interested to know how this works out.
 

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