M
millerke01
Guest
I purchased a Jackson Hunter (synthetic version of Jackson Squirrel) rifle last summer and despite trying every type of ammo and technique, I have been able to shoot only one honest 1/4 inch group at 50 yds (with Wolf Target). The test target they sent with the rifle shows (claims?) to be 5 shots in virtually one hole. And they guarantee their rifle should shoot 1/4 inchers with match ammo.
I have tried a lot of ammo types, nothing seems better than Wolf Target so I have settled on that.
Before I complain to Cooper, I am trying to exhaust all other causes, which means something about "me". I can shoot 1/4 inch groups at 100 yds with some regularity with my Remington 22-250, so in theory I think I could shoot 1/4 inch groups at 50 yds with a .22 that was capable. But I must admit that group dispersion is not random, which places suspicion sorely on me. Group variation is generally controlled by vertical dispersion, but sometimes when I change technique I'll get horizontal stringing. Grouping seems unbelievably sensitive to subtle hold and grip variations. I use a wind flag to try and rule out wind affects.
The one 1/4 inch group I did shoot was on a dead calm day, shooting free recoil, adjustable rest on the front with a Sinclair foreend adaptor on the rifle to keep if from rolling over during recoil, owl ear sandbag on the rear. This process only worked once that day, so it was not a panacea.
I think the light weight of the rifle, 6 lbs without scope, is a definite limiting factor. Scope is a 6.5 - 20 Leupold target.
So I have few questions for discussion. Does the light weight and the longer barrel dwell time simply make it quite hard to shoot small groups from a sporter weight .22 LR? Is it simply harder to shoot equivalent MOA groups with a .22 rimfire vs centerfire? What technique would you use at the bench to shrink the groups?
I have tried a lot of ammo types, nothing seems better than Wolf Target so I have settled on that.
Before I complain to Cooper, I am trying to exhaust all other causes, which means something about "me". I can shoot 1/4 inch groups at 100 yds with some regularity with my Remington 22-250, so in theory I think I could shoot 1/4 inch groups at 50 yds with a .22 that was capable. But I must admit that group dispersion is not random, which places suspicion sorely on me. Group variation is generally controlled by vertical dispersion, but sometimes when I change technique I'll get horizontal stringing. Grouping seems unbelievably sensitive to subtle hold and grip variations. I use a wind flag to try and rule out wind affects.
The one 1/4 inch group I did shoot was on a dead calm day, shooting free recoil, adjustable rest on the front with a Sinclair foreend adaptor on the rifle to keep if from rolling over during recoil, owl ear sandbag on the rear. This process only worked once that day, so it was not a panacea.
I think the light weight of the rifle, 6 lbs without scope, is a definite limiting factor. Scope is a 6.5 - 20 Leupold target.
So I have few questions for discussion. Does the light weight and the longer barrel dwell time simply make it quite hard to shoot small groups from a sporter weight .22 LR? Is it simply harder to shoot equivalent MOA groups with a .22 rimfire vs centerfire? What technique would you use at the bench to shrink the groups?