Hello all, I have been a shooter since I was a boy but never a very good one, I have been putting more emphasis on accuracy lately and have some questions. First off some history, 15 or so years ago I purchased a Ruger M77 MK II chambered in .243, with its factory barrel about the best I could average was 1.75"-2.0" at 100 yds. Over the winter months I rebarreled it with a Krieger barrel, lapped the lugs and pillar bedded it. It's down to about a 1.0"-1.25" gun on average now but still fairly inconsistent, it's averaging smaller groups but when shooting 5 groups of 5 shots I typically get groups ranging 2" to 1/2" so it's obvious at this point it's not the guns fault....
OK, I know this is not a bench rest rifle, it's been kind of a project rifle, it's main job will be punching holes in paper and occasionally taking whitetail. I built it to use as a tool to help improve me as a shooter. I have no formal training, have been shooting all my life but am sure my technique is terrible. I am currently using a lead sled (no weight) as my rest, I have tried free recoil method (except the lead sled captures the butt) and it yields the worst groups. I have tried light holds both on rear grip and on forearm, groups improved but my best groups come with fairly heavy pressure pulling rifle into my shoulder with grip/trigger hand and pulling down on forearm but with the heavy pressure I get both vertical and horizontal stringing. I also tried using my bipod with a rear low ear bag but the lead sled with heavy pressure still yields the best groups.... but still huge size ranges. So what am I doing wrong? What technique works best for a hunting rifle off of a rest? how can I shrink my group size consistency? Is a stand alone front mechanical rest and rear bag better than the lead sled? Is there good literature on technique, books or articles? I would really like to join a shooting group but live in a very rural area, unfortunately that type of thing just isn't available. I have also notice as I age (turning 40 this year) that my heartbeat is much more noticeable in the crosshairs now than when I was younger, is it possible I just am not cut out to shoot .5" groups consistently lol?
specs
Ruger MK II .243 Krieger 1-8 barrel 27" long (considering shortening it) 2lb crisp trigger, Hornady hand loads, Leupold VX III 3.5 x 10 x 50.
Thanks for your time and help!
Craig
OK, I know this is not a bench rest rifle, it's been kind of a project rifle, it's main job will be punching holes in paper and occasionally taking whitetail. I built it to use as a tool to help improve me as a shooter. I have no formal training, have been shooting all my life but am sure my technique is terrible. I am currently using a lead sled (no weight) as my rest, I have tried free recoil method (except the lead sled captures the butt) and it yields the worst groups. I have tried light holds both on rear grip and on forearm, groups improved but my best groups come with fairly heavy pressure pulling rifle into my shoulder with grip/trigger hand and pulling down on forearm but with the heavy pressure I get both vertical and horizontal stringing. I also tried using my bipod with a rear low ear bag but the lead sled with heavy pressure still yields the best groups.... but still huge size ranges. So what am I doing wrong? What technique works best for a hunting rifle off of a rest? how can I shrink my group size consistency? Is a stand alone front mechanical rest and rear bag better than the lead sled? Is there good literature on technique, books or articles? I would really like to join a shooting group but live in a very rural area, unfortunately that type of thing just isn't available. I have also notice as I age (turning 40 this year) that my heartbeat is much more noticeable in the crosshairs now than when I was younger, is it possible I just am not cut out to shoot .5" groups consistently lol?
specs
Ruger MK II .243 Krieger 1-8 barrel 27" long (considering shortening it) 2lb crisp trigger, Hornady hand loads, Leupold VX III 3.5 x 10 x 50.
Thanks for your time and help!
Craig
