First shot = tune or first shot = barrel index position?

K

Keith23

Guest
Most of the rifles I've had will shoot the first shot out of a clean barrel, high at 12 o'clock. Then as I shoot more sighters/foulers the POI walks down to where the rifle is sighted in. This normally takes two, three shots, sometimes more. My best shooting rifles seem to always shoot the first shot or two high at 12 o'clock but directly in line, very little right or left.

I now have a rifle that shoots the first fews shots out of a clean barrel at 9 o'clock then walks the shots over to the sighted in position which is normally an inch or so to the right. Not a vertical walk, but a horizonal walk.

Now for the question. Do I have a barrel that is indexed with the bow to horizonal position verse bow to the vertical position? Or do I simply have a tune problem that can be fixed by adjusting the tuner position or weight?

I have tried tuner adjustment. Burned up a lot of ammo, but the rifle seems to shoot best with this weight, and at this position. Perhaps I just haven't found the right combonation yet?:confused:

Any suggestions??? :confused:
 
My first guess is that the barrel is indexed to the 9 o'clock position. Every .22 rifle i have had has always taken a few shots to get the barrel warmed/ fouled up. I have had foulers at the 12 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock. That is why when i always pull off the target and shoot 5 shots, then get back on target and shoot my sighters.

Bill
 
Maybe the barrel is bent. What possible concern could it be where the first couple shots go it's the next 25 or 30 that count no?
 
Tim

You are right. The shots that count are the ones on the scoring target, not the sighters.

But the reason I asked the question was I was hoping to find out if barrels that are tuned correctly, or indexed correctly, normally shot the fouling shots high at 12 o'clock. This has been my experience. But from the responses so far it seems my experience is unique. It seems well tuned/indexed rifles may shoot the fouling shots anywhere on the target before settling down.

See I'm still trying to find out if I have my tuner and weights in the best possible settings.

My rifle shoots pretty good, but I'm not shooting 2500's or 250's. And of course, it could not possibly be my shooting!!!
 
well you ain't going to instantly starting shooting 2500's or 250's because you have a good shooting rifle. If you notice there are only a handful of those scores and they come from lots of time on the range practicing. I have been on the quest for a 2500 since i purchased my custom rifle a year ago. You need to learn how to read the wind, find the ammo that works well with your rifle, and yes have it tuned in right. There is other things also like ringing the barrel to get the dead spot to the end of the barrel.

A barrel indexed right can help tighten your groups and bring it further in tune. Take a gander at this article, scrool about half way down. He experimented with indexing and showed the results. http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek080.html
But thing is just go out the range, learn to read the wind in all conditions and practise.
Bill
 
Not a problem

Keith23 said:
Now for the question. Do I have a barrel that is indexed with the bow to horizonal position verse bow to the vertical position? Or do I simply have a tune problem that can be fixed by adjusting the tuner position or weight?
Click to expand...

I'd be worried if it didn't throw the first shot or two. There's nothing typical or non-typical involved. Don't make it hard cause it ain't...unless you insist on it being so....

I disagree a bit with cadman. Not entirely, but there are hundreds of full blown custom rifles that don't stand a snowballs chance in hell on the firing line. Practice all you want, search for ammo all you want.....if it ain't there, it ain't there.

The practice part comes in play when you finally get your hands on that ultrafine rifle. Then you gotta learn how not to get in its way. "Let the big cat eat" as they say......
 
Keith23 said:
You are right. The shots that count are the ones on the scoring target, not the sighters.

But the reason I asked the question was I was hoping to find out if barrels that are tuned correctly, or indexed correctly, normally shot the fouling shots high at 12 o'clock. This has been my experience. But from the responses so far it seems my experience is unique. It seems well tuned/indexed rifles may shoot the fouling shots anywhere on the target before settling down.

See I'm still trying to find out if I have my tuner and weights in the best possible settings.

My rifle shoots pretty good, but I'm not shooting 2500's or 250's. And of course, it could not possibly be my shooting!!!
Click to expand...

Well, in my humble opinion you ain't going to learn anything from the gun until it's ready to go... as in fouled, warmed, nice lube in the tube, THEN you can start to determine what's up relative to tune. Also this all is based on the fact that you happen to be in front of a target on one of the 10-12 days a year that weather not rifle tune is the prevailing condition. I'd bet one of the single biggest errors most guys make is trying to test when there's just too much crap going on with air,sun,cooling ground, etc.
 
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