Paper patch accuracy

[cannonball1]

doesn't matter what kind of gun it is. Wasn't throwing the first shot (much - barely noticeable) and was shooting straight for two years, now all of a sudden it throws the first shot a lot and won't group. Got to be something with the riflings? Ya think? Anyone gone through this?

 

[nkbj]

Perhaps the wood has changed slightly over time and created different pressure points?

 

[fleener]

If it was the rifling, why would it only do it for the first shot?

Have someone else shoot the rifle, see if it still does it.

Try a different bullet, see what happens.

Fleener

 

[azmntman]

I went through a period of a few YEARS where my previous tack driver rifle just SUCKED. Wasn't me, I could shoot a .22, another less accurate BP rifle, a pellet gun whatever just fine. The ONE gun just started sucking? Then one day a few years later I took it out again and it was back dead on. Didnt do a thing different the whole time it sucked or the day it stopped and started shooting again?

Then I have a .36 Bobcat that has been a POS since day one (over 15 years). NOTHING worked. This late summer I took it out again and tried (apparently something new?) a real real thin patch but tight weave and a button felt wad and BINGO its shooting. Most all my other guns will preform well with many different combos, this .36 so far like only one of about 400 things I loaded up and shot.

Put the gun away for a few months at least and then take it back out. I believe ya, has happened to me and NO it wasnt the rifling.

 

[nkbj]

There's one rifle in the rack that bedding with epoxy sure is tempting. :rotf:

Then again, maybe epoxying the hooked breech together would take care of it if the barrel was bedded... Well now, gave myself something new to think about.

 

[azmntman]

I had a .58 hawkenish cabelas that the stock was seriously cracked along the entire bottom. Gunsmith pal bedded it and repaired and the groups tightened significantly :idunno:

 

[cannonball1]

If it was the rifling, why would it only do it for the first shot?

Have someone else shoot the rifle, see if it still does it.

Try a different bullet, see what happens.

Fleener

I need to. It is not just the first shot. The first shot is thrown way left, but then the rmainder of the group is 12" where it used to be the usual 4 to 5 inches. The first shot use to be thrown maybe an inch or two, but not 6" from the rest of the group.

 

[fleener]

I think I might have asked this in the past, however. You are using a scope, right? How is the parallax in it?

Something get knocked loose in the scope?

Send it to Iowa, I will play with it. I would look good shooting such a nice looking rifle as that one.

Fleener

 

[longcruise]

I think you may be onto it right there.

Maybe try shooting at 100 yards with the scope and some quality iron sights for comparison. Suggesting 100 just to minimize sighting error with the iron.

 

[fleener]

Set the rifle up in a bench rest with bags or whatever for the rear.

Point the rifle at your target, without touching the rifle, move your head around a little as you look through the scope. Does the cross hair appear to be moving off of the point you put them on?

If the cross hair seems to be moving without moving the rifle, the parallax is bad in the scope and I would suspect is your problem. Or at least contributing to your problem.

Fleener

 

[MSW]

just a thought ”¦ I assume that you swab between shots... how old is your jag? if the jag has begun to wear (and they all do, just very slowly) it is possible that you're not removing the same quantity of fouling that it once did, which might account for the variation is accuracy.

 

[cannonball1]

fleener, I apologize. I have two barrels that go on this gun. The scoped one is a 18" twist. This one carries a peep sight and is a 24" twist and yes the peep is in the center when shooting. I have been recording the groups. I don't believe in bad spirits in a gun nor do I believe I can leave it alone and all of a sudden it will shoot straight. Something has changed. Damaged riflings, barrel to stock fit, and yes even atmospheric changes. The sights are tight and I need to inspect my bench rest.

 

[azmntman]

fleener, I apologize. I have two barrels that go on this gun. The scoped one is a 18" twist. This one carries a peep sight and is a 24" twist and yes the peep is in the center when shooting. I have been recording the groups. I don't believe in bad spirits in a gun nor do I believe I can leave it alone and all of a sudden it will shoot straight. Something has changed. Damaged riflings, barrel to stock fit, and yes even atmospheric changes. The sights are tight and I need to inspect my bench rest.

Happened to me? Still shoots straight :idunno:

 

[fleener]

are you using a PT lined nipple?

Fleener

 

[cannonball1]

yes I purchased a couple from Weber

 

[cannonball1]

Well ya all, I just got back from the range and as usual changed a few things so I don't know which helped. I improved my shot group at 200 yards thus: Four shots were a 3 1/2" group with the fifth shot making it a 5" group. Two shots were dead center. Even if the gun could shoot straighter I don't think I can.

Here is what I changed. I knurled the bullets with a file. I got my jewelers visor out and could see a slight scratch on one land of the barrel. It was not even noticeable with the naked eye so I got my car rubbing compound and a tight shaft with the compound on it and rubbed the scratch out. Then I got an oversized marble. stretched some cloth around it with the compound and did the same thing with the crown until completely smooth.

Using a PP I kinda of think the knurling did the trick, but who knows for sure.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Try it again, as I’d bet you were just ”˜on’ that day, no offense ... where your next outing could be worse.

Personally at that distance I’d go for ”˜repeatable’ 10-shot groups, before I’d be making any assumptions or predictions. For my 200Y shooting I shoot no less than 10-round groups and save all of them, plus record them in a target overlay feature of a targeting program to constantly review my MR, mean radius.

Great shooting!

 

[cannonball1]

You may be right, but I hope you are wrong. I usually shoot a 5 shot group and record them. I try and go when the wind is less than 4 miles per hour. My groups(5 shot) have been 4 to 5 inches until recently. Once in a great while you get a flier. Most of my friends call three shots a group, I do not. I last time I did 8 shots with this gun I shot a 5 1/2" group. Guess we will see if you are right when I go out a few more times. Just remember this is not really about my shooting. I am using a bench.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I was hoping Idaho Ron would chime in.....He's our resident paper patch expert....You should contact him.

 

[Cowboy]

Yes, Idaho Ron is definitely our distance shooter as well!

Respectfully, Cowboy