Can anybody interpret this group?

M

murphy

Guest
Can I please have some opinions on what causes this phenomenon as seen in group posted in attachment.
Group was fired off a clean cold barrel with no sighters or warmers from my Ruger MK2 220 Swift with 6.5 to 20x40 Leopold scope at 100 yds. 1st & 2nd shot landed in l/h group, next 2 popped out to the right, last shot was back in l/h group. Was using wind flags but did I miss something or is the problem rifle or shooter related?
 

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in my experience it wouldn't take much to miss a pickup or letoff that that would cause that much movement with a .22, even a Swift. If the group is 0.62" center to center that's something like a 5 mph breeze which can be hard to see. If the rifle continually shoots 2+3's then it could be a rifle or scope problem. Shooter problems, seem to be more like open groups or 4+1's, as in, "Oh boy I've got a good one going...", then you blow it. Don't ask how I know.

With a factory rifle it's also possible that the bedding needs attention. Ruger 77's can be tricky to bed (the polite way of saying a pain in the tail :eek:), and/or the middle and/or tang screws are cranked down tight which can bend the action, and/or tang. I don't have a Mk II, but my old tang safety 77 needed the middle screw just tight enough to keep the trigger guard from rattling, and the tang screw just tight enough to not bend the tang downward. If it needs bedding attention get the pillar bedding kit from Brownell's (www.brownells.com) if you do it yourself. The front screw needs to be tighter than on actions that use "normal" 90° guard screws. I've heard that Ruger sends them out the door at 90 in lb on the front screw, which is TIGHT with a slotted screw. I've replaced slotted screws with hex socket (allen) screws from Brownells or a well stocked hardware store.
 
Shoot your fouler/warm-up shots on a different target and and then shoot a target with five shots. Maybe that will put you together again!
 
I have a savage 223 that I have shot ALOT it would throw shots like that and I try everthing. What I learn it took 8 shots after a clean barrel to come in and it would shoot about 32 shots before it would go out and throw some shots. In that 32 it was right on. So shoot your gun some then see what it does.
 
incorrect seating depth will cause "two grouping"
and there's also always parallax
 
Thank you all for the feed back.

Thanks guys for taking the time and effort to give me this information. I can see that I need to go back through my old targets to determine the frequency of this event. I may also need to invest in some better wind flags to get a decent handle on the conditions. To you people who use custom benchrest quality barrels, do you get less gremlins or do you still have to wear a clove of garlic around your neck? Many thanks Murphy.
 
Question

Just how well do you expect the Rifle to shoot?? For a Factory Offerring, especially in 220 Swift, that looks pretty good.

As a note, when trying to ascertain the capability of a Rifle, always fire a clearing round to foul the barrel. It is not uncommon for the first round out of a clean barrel to have 100 fps less velocity than the rounds out of a fouled barrel.........jackie
 
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To jackie schmidt and others.

Maybe I am asking too much from a factory produced rifle in an obslete caliber, but it's just human nature to push the boundaries of our ability and knowledge. I think this rifle still has a few surprise to offer so I will keep on testing and experimenting for a while yet. :D
 
I could be wrong!
But slightly different case capacities,different neck tention or different berring surface of bullets could cause this! possible different metplates, depending on type of bullets being used.
 
Murphy: I am currently shooting 5 (five) Varminters in caliber 220 Swift.
Including a Ruger Model 77 with a Leupold 6.5x20 scope.
I am guessing it was an extremely small variance in wind that caused the double grouping.
Using Varmint type bullets my Ruger has made groups (5 shots at 100 yards) measuring .691", .470" and .680" on its last three sight-in verification trips (each in different years)!
My other 4 Swifts are Remingtons (including one 40X) and they shoot a tad better than my Ruger.
I would NOT be to un-happy with a grouping like the one you posted though, from my Swifts.
According to my loading log the best grouping (5 shots at 100 yards) I see of recent, that any of my Swifts has made, measured .398".
Shoot some more groups/test loads with that Ruger and let's see if this double grouping (as minor as it is!) continues.
Best of luck with the Swift!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
 
In all kindness and fellowship, I submit that this question falls into the category of:"are you complaining or bragging?"'
 
To papapaul

Am not complaining or bragging, Just wanting to share, and get some sensible information. If I were bragging I would send one of my tight groups, beware of the green eyed monster.:mad:
 
To Varmint Guy.

Good to hear from you Varmint Guy your comments are always appreciated. You know I haven't been out shooting or shot anything with the Swift, but that is going to change as I have a trip planned in about 2 weeks time. Most of my initial load development was carried out with 3 shot groups, to conserve barrel life. Now I am doing a few 5 shotters and if I get a real nice one will send it in to give you a look. Reguards Murphy.:D
 
I must agree with Jackie Schmith

Is it reasonable to expect a factory rifle in 220 Swift to shoot any better than .600-700 ?. No I dont think so. I have had 2 rifles in 22-250 with Hart match barreled Sako actions shooting 52 Bergers and Brunos and was quite pleased hat they seemed to be able to aggregate around .500-600. A friend of mine had a Sako with the original barrel in .222 that had been bedded and pampered and the whole thing plus blessed with holy water but even with the old Rem 52 benchrest bullets (talk about throwing pearls in front of a pig) it still wouldnt shoot aggregates much inside an inch.

BA
 
A question of faith.

To .25 shooter, Here is a group fired from my factory 220 Swift using 40 gr Sierras at a velocity of 4275fps. 36 gr Barns do nearly as well at 4500 fps
My problem is that with heavier bullets flyers creep in and take my groups out into the mid .6"s. May take your advice and get Father Hegarty to sprinkle some holy water on it. Maybe that will solve the problem. :confused:
Regards Murphy
 

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