Why on some days to I shoot two close groups while aiming at the same point??

[Steel Guitar]

Hello all,
Why on some days do I shoot two close groups while aiming at the same point?? The groups are usually about 4" apart horizonally. The hits in these two groups are random, not the first 3 to the right then the second 3 to the left. I can be shooting standing supported by a pole or from the bench. From the bench I try my best to do it the same way for every shot and use bags on front and back. The same load on a different day will put them all in one nice group.
What am I doing wrong?

 

[Freedom]

You may be shifting your eye's focus between the target and front the sight. It is easy to let your front sight focus (correct way) shift to the target (wrong)... This focus shift will change your bullet's impact point fairly consistently, giving you 2 groups.

 

[Bob McBride]

Concentrate on exactly the same cheek weld every time. That’s a big consistency killer if you’re not very conscious of that.

 

[deermanok]

I know I'll never win any marksmanship awards but I'm not terrible either.
Some days I can't hit for beans. Sometimes the light and shade at the range throws me off or my form and follow through are off a bit.
Wind can make a difference too.

 

[hawkeye2]

Only 2 groups? If I shoot 5 shots I get 5 groups.

 

[dave951]

How you hold the gun can make a change. Canting, cheek weld, grip, trigger pull can all have an effect that you might not be conscious of. Moving your head while shooting can move the group. My bet is on how you hold the gun with the trigger hand and how you're pulling the trigger. You need to have someone watch this closely for changes.

 

[ZUG]

The time of day has a lot to do with it as the sun light is reflected off of your sights and this changes your sight picture. If you are shooting under a roof where the sun light is not shining on your sights then what I said before has no validity - it's your eyesight.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

If I don't hold and follow through on every shot, my groups are not tight.

 

[Steel Guitar]

Hmm, how I hold the gun with the trigger hand and cheek weld. Thanks, but what is cheek weld??

 

[BS]

Sun location......do you swab between shots?

 

[FiremanBrad]

Inconsistency in your form.
could be where and how you place your feet, or where your trigger finger lands on the trigger, or anything in between!

 

[SDSmlf]

Hello all,
Why on some days do I shoot two close groups while aiming at the same point?? The groups are usually about 4" apart horizonally. The hits in these two groups are random, not the first 3 to the right then the second 3 to the left. I can be shooting standing supported by a pole or from the bench. From the bench I try my best to do it the same way for every shot and use bags on front and back. The same load on a different day will put them all in one nice group.
What am I doing wrong?

What distance are you shooting at? Any chance you are left eye dominant shooting right handed (or right eye dominant shooting left)?

 

[oldwood]

When shooting from a bench , offhand , or whatever , any shooting coach will ask you to lock the gun into your shoulder by raising your arm with elbow at right angle to your body . That's a "cheek weld" description. That will help with consistency. There's always a "but". I find too many folks trying to shoot m/l stocks and crawling up on the stock comb with their cheek and neck in an unnatural position. This bad habit will cause recoil to strike the cheek/face , causing the shooter to readjust his hold and possibly causing a new point of impact. Most open iron sight shooters should know how light penumbra changes sight pictures , giving a different point of impact.......oldwood

 

[PathfinderNC]

Hmm, how I hold the gun with the trigger hand and cheek weld. Thanks, but what is cheek weld??

I think "Cheek Weld" is where your cheek rests against the rifle stock (cheek piece). But I may be wrong.

 

[Woody Morgan]

I think "Cheek Weld" is where your cheek rests against the rifle stock (cheek piece). But I may be wrong.

You're spot on.

wm

 

[Eutycus]

Too much coffee?

 

[Throwdown58]

Besides all of the great ideas here, it could be that your mold is out of round. Try putting a caliper on the ball and turning it in all the different ways. Obviously if you are using swaged purchased balls this would not be an issue.

 

[Jim Wag]

Concentrate on exactly the same cheek weld every time. That’s a big consistency killer if you’re not very conscious of that.

Agree, Bob
Similar to shooting a
Bow

Jim in La Luz

 

[Mark Herman]

I agree with Zig. Without a roof or shaders your group will follow the sun every time. You probably had a break between group 1 and 2 and the sun moved to one side causing the second distinct group.

 

[Canute Rex]

I agree with Zig. Without a roof or shaders your group will follow the sun every time. You probably had a break between group 1 and 2 and the sun moved to one side causing the second distinct group.

He says it isn't 3 of one and *then* 3 of another, but randomly alternating.

Aside from the cheek weld and sight picture advice, I'd say try to wiggle your sights. If one is loose in its dovetail it could knock back and forth randomly. My first rule of troubleshooting is to pick the thing that would be most embarrassing for someone else to point out.