I have one of those neat looking Traditions Crockett 32cal rifles. As good as it looks it consistantly shoots to the left. No matter what patch thickness, ball size, powder type, or powder charge weight...it shoots to the left. I had a set of fiber optic sights installed and it shoots to the left. Anyone out there with any ideas? Could it be that the barrel is bent or possibly some other weird type problem going on that I haven't thought of? I'm just about ready to hacksaw the barrel into one inch pieces and burn the stock.
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It always shoots to the left!
- Thread starter y1z3pod
- Start date
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I have owned 2 of them and they were both extremely accurate. I would regularly get 1 hole groups at 25 yds and under 1" groups at 50 with it. I think they were the most accurate ML'ers i have ever owned. Maybe you need to move the rear sight to the right on yours. If every shot is to the left then you need a sight adjustment. If you decide you don't want your let me know.
I've tried moving the front and rear sight. Each at different times of course. In one direction it shoots to the left about 5 inches from center and in the other direction it's off the paper to the left. I set up a full sheet of plywood to make sure it was still going to the left. I've tried everything I know to do. (just for reference, I've been burning charcoal for over 30 years and I ain't never had a gun act like this)
Well, if you bought the gun new i would contact Tradtions and see about returning it for a replacement then. Like i said the ones i had were real accurate, and so were all the oter peoples i knw that have them. Could be you just got a bad one. Some do get through.
paulvallandigham
Passed On
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Look, you move the rear sight in the direction you want the ball to go. In this case, you drift the rear sight to the RIGHT to move the shot right.
If you are going to move the Front sight, instead, then move the front site towards where the ball is now hitting to move it the other direction. So, in your case, you would move the front sight to the LEFT to make it shoot to the right! Even optic sights have adjustment to zero the sight to the gun.
I would check the sights, first, and then I would inspect the crown of the muzzle to see if it is square to the bore. Use a T-square to check the face of the muzzle to the bore, or better yet, a machinists guage for length, depth and square. That way you can run the vertical ruler down the barrel, and use the square of the crossbeam to check to see if the muzzle if square to the bore.
Lastly, I would return it to the factory to fix.
It really sounds like you are new to guns, or at least to open sights, and don't have any experience zeroing the sights. If you follow the instructions above, you should be able to adjust the sites to bring the point of impact back in line with your site picture.
If you are going to move the Front sight, instead, then move the front site towards where the ball is now hitting to move it the other direction. So, in your case, you would move the front sight to the LEFT to make it shoot to the right! Even optic sights have adjustment to zero the sight to the gun.
I would check the sights, first, and then I would inspect the crown of the muzzle to see if it is square to the bore. Use a T-square to check the face of the muzzle to the bore, or better yet, a machinists guage for length, depth and square. That way you can run the vertical ruler down the barrel, and use the square of the crossbeam to check to see if the muzzle if square to the bore.
Lastly, I would return it to the factory to fix.
It really sounds like you are new to guns, or at least to open sights, and don't have any experience zeroing the sights. If you follow the instructions above, you should be able to adjust the sites to bring the point of impact back in line with your site picture.
gmww
70 Cal.
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Welcome Zimm to the forum. Like many posters have suggested, you might want to contact the company to get it returned of fixed. However, if you really feel a need to cut something up, send it to me and I'll send you a beater you can cut up instead. :blah:
Just wondering, (and this is by no means a reflection on your 30 years experience) is the front sight blade bent?
I have seen this before, slightly bent blades that go un-noticed unto you place a small square against them...
I have seen this before, slightly bent blades that go un-noticed unto you place a small square against them...
I've had certain guns that seemed to shoot to the left, a P38 to be exact. I had another shooter shoot it and he was right on with it. I'm not saying that is what is happening to you, but it might be a good idea to let another shooter try your rifle and see if it shoots to the left for him.
My 2 cents.
My 2 cents.
I appreciate all input. Sometimes it's the stupidly simple things that you don't see. My groups are running in the 12 inch dinner plate size. I have another rifle in 54 caliber size and it's right on the money, every shot from the start. I'm just missing something about this rifle and need help shifting the fly manure from the pepper. Both my wife and next door neighbor are having the same type of results.
What load are you using in it? What size ball, cast or swaged, powder type and charge, what are you using for a patch, type of cap? In mine i used 30gr of pyrodex P, a .311 swaged ball, Pillow ticking and CCI #11 magnum caps. Like i said above, mine was Very accurate.
If you adjusted the sights that ought to fix the problem. If it doesn't then you have a creeping movement to the left. I had that problem with pistols and it wasn't the gun, it was I. I was pulling the shots. Have a friend shoot a few rounds and see if he has the same problem. Maybe the stock fits you in such a manner that you are unconsciously pulling the shots- we all do from time to time so check that out to eliminate the possiblity.
After all that you have shared with us about it, it really does sound like a crowning issue. You say that your wife and neighbor both shot it and it was the same? And you are not a newcomer to guns so it is probably not you. I would check the crown and re-crown if needed, or lap the end yourself. Brownells has a brass tool that uses a hand drill and lapping compound that works well if that is the problem. Just my opinion. That may not be the problem, but I would check that next. :v Shannon
Does the ball go down feeling like you got a barrel of uniform dimensions? You can feel if something isn't right.
If the barrel is right, sights not loose (check them), barrel attached to stock w/o some crazy binding spot, I would look at the crown as another gent suggested.
12" and any range 100 yd or less just plain stinks.
What is twist of rifle?
Clutch
If the barrel is right, sights not loose (check them), barrel attached to stock w/o some crazy binding spot, I would look at the crown as another gent suggested.
12" and any range 100 yd or less just plain stinks.
What is twist of rifle?
Clutch
John Taylor
45 Cal.
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It could be that the bore is not true to the outside of the barrel. Barrels are made by boring the hole first and then machining the outside so the bore is centered at the muzzle and breach end. If the bore is not strait then it could be pointing to one side ( left ) or up or down. Easy way to check is with a bore sighter for lining up scopes. This has a stud that slides into the barrel a few inches to aid in lining up sights or scope. If the bore is not strait it will show by not lining up with your sights. You could also remove the breach plug and look through to bore and line it up on a target then look to see if your sights are at the same point.
As for the large groop you will need to find what works to make it shoot better.
As for the large groop you will need to find what works to make it shoot better.
Pittsburghunter
50 Cal.
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The Crockett is a 1:48 twist rifle that has a standard breech not a hooked one. I have found with mine it is east to over tightn the breech screw and the barrel then is spring loaded with the barrel wedge. This will pull the barrel out of whack a bit and cause problems.
What happened with the origional sights? I love the ones that came on mine. The only thing I needed to do when sighting in is file a little of the front sight off and use some sight black because the brass sights have always bugged me.
What happened with the origional sights? I love the ones that came on mine. The only thing I needed to do when sighting in is file a little of the front sight off and use some sight black because the brass sights have always bugged me.
AJFedak
40 Cal.
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Zimm,
Something I have done to cause the firearm to shoot "off-center" consisently was to file one side of the bore just at the end to allow the hot gasses to escape past one side. I would do this when a barrel was too heavy to bend. It is possible that the bore is not concentric and causing your problem. If you have a set of inside mics check the bore a few inches down and then again at the exit.
Something I have done to cause the firearm to shoot "off-center" consisently was to file one side of the bore just at the end to allow the hot gasses to escape past one side. I would do this when a barrel was too heavy to bend. It is possible that the bore is not concentric and causing your problem. If you have a set of inside mics check the bore a few inches down and then again at the exit.
arcticap
54 Cal.
You didn't mention the patch/ball/load that you're using or the distance to the target that resulted in the 12 inch groups.
Also, if a stock doesn't fit right and a shooter either tilts their head too much or doesn't shoulder and hold the rifle in a consistent fashion, or both, it may cause a rifle to shoot off to one side more than it would otherwise.
Also, if a stock doesn't fit right and a shooter either tilts their head too much or doesn't shoulder and hold the rifle in a consistent fashion, or both, it may cause a rifle to shoot off to one side more than it would otherwise.
