Zeroing issue

[GlennUK]

@webley701 Hi there, just wanted to apologize looking back at an earlier post i was a rude and ungrateful as you were trying to help me.

I appreciate now that the difference was trivial of the angle involved, when i started shooting i wasn't sure how it would affect it as i knew that shooting at an angle can impact, but hadn't appreciated how big an angle needs to be to be significant.

Thanks to all who posted for their comments and support it is appreciated.

Onwards and upwards on the learning front.

 

[jthyttin]

I would either make a bench or buy one that is stable for any zero work, sticks are not the tool for the job

Many times sticks are precisely the tool for zeroing, since the POI might differ. You should zero for the occasion that requires most precision, check what that means at other distances / shooting supports and then carry on with the knowledge.

 

[Tim.243]

I agree, but on a serious note, it is part of the learning process, to understand what is, and what is not important.

I learned a lot form those 12 rounds or so, having not had a chance to shoot the rifle much at all, not shot from that location and the adjustments I needed to make to get a solid position, etc.

The next time i shoot i will be much better prepared having learned what i did, having a) being new CF rifles, and b) having shot on the level.

With respect people come from overseas on trips Johan, Toby @Border out with me having never met me or seen the rifles get put in the hot seat re Johan from SA never used/seen a set of sticks just a few dry fires and he was into deer from the off.
Toby added a second level shooting foxes with a digital scope at night.
I spoke to Paul last night who shoots the mile quite well about getting you to a small farm we use with kind permission from a friend about getting you there but sounds like you might not be ready yet!

 

[GlennUK]

With respect people come from overseas on trips Johan, Toby @Border out with me having never met me or seen the rifles get put in the hot seat re Johan from SA never used/seen a set of sticks just a few dry fires and he was into deer from the off.
Toby added a second level shooting foxes with a digital scope at night.
I spoke to Paul last night who shoots the mile quite well about getting you to a small farm we use with kind permission from a friend about getting you there but sounds like you might not be ready yet!

Thanks thats kind, i am fortunate to be able to shoot in my own 'back garden' and get in some practice with a view to being more consistent, hopefully over the next few weeks i can improve somewhat.

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks thats kind, i am fortunate to be able to shoot in my own 'back garden' and get in some practice with a view to being more consistent, hopefully over the next few weeks i can improve somewhat.

No problem..

 

[webley701]

@webley701 Hi there, just wanted to apologize looking back at an earlier post i was a rude and ungrateful as you were trying to help me.

I appreciate now that the difference was trivial of the angle involved, when i started shooting i wasn't sure how it would affect it as i knew that shooting at an angle can impact, but hadn't appreciated how big an angle needs to be to be significant.

Thanks to all who posted for their comments and support it is appreciated.

Onwards and upwards on the learning front.

Glenn,

You may hope to reduce your group size but you’ve at least scored a 10 with good manners.

As I mentioned in my first post, the questions weren’t implied criticism but just a way of understanding what it was you were compensating for - all for the reasons I expanded on later.

Regarding your test group, at least now we can eliminate any angular effect & the potential effect of erroneous compensation.

Your final 3 shots could be more representative of the true shooter/rifle group size - perhaps as you got your ‘eye in’ & became more familiar with the rifle or they could be happy accidents of shot dispersal & just happened to hit reasonably close together. Further testing will confirm & you’ll enjoy doing it.

One thing you may care to consider is this - earlier this year I watched a competent rifleman shoot a group on a rifle range (off sticks) with a rifle much lighter than he normally used - the group was not at all impressive. The fault wasn’t the ability of the shooter, nor the rifle - the fault was he was shooting it in the wrong manner for that rifle. He was accustomed to just resting the forend of a heavy rifle on the front rest & then only holding lower down the sticks, his normal heavy rifle hardly jumped at all. With that technique the much lighter rifle went anywhere under recoil. A change of technique to one of holding the forend of the rifle shrank the groups down to more than acceptable. This is just one example of many where a change in technique can transform results. I’m not suggesting you have exactly the same issue but the technique you adopt with your 6.5 Creedmoor may (for instance) be similar to the one you use to shoot (with success) your .17HMR & air rifles but it may not be the best technique for the Creedmoor. It’s worth considering if it applies - if it doesn’t, at least it’s another possible cause of grouping error crossed of the list.

 

[GlennUK]

Glenn,

You may hope to reduce your group size but you’ve at least scored a 10 with good manners.

As I mentioned in my first post, the questions weren’t implied criticism but just a way of understanding what it was you were compensating for - all for the reasons I expanded on later.

Regarding your test group, at least now we can eliminate any angular effect & the potential effect of erroneous compensation.

Your final 3 shots could be more representative of the true shooter/rifle group size - perhaps as you got your ‘eye in’ & became more familiar with the rifle or they could be happy accidents of shot dispersal & just happened to hit reasonably close together. Further testing will confirm & you’ll enjoy doing it.

One thing you may care to consider is this - earlier this year I watched a competent rifleman shoot a group on a rifle range (off sticks) with a rifle much lighter than he normally used - the group was not at all impressive. The fault wasn’t the ability of the shooter, nor the rifle - the fault was he was shooting it in the wrong manner for that rifle. He was accustomed to just resting the forend of a heavy rifle on the front rest & then only holding lower down the sticks, his normal heavy rifle hardly jumped at all. With that technique the much lighter rifle went anywhere under recoil. A change of technique to one of holding the forend of the rifle shrank the groups down to more than acceptable. This is just one example of many where a change in technique can transform results. I’m not suggesting you have exactly the same issue but the technique you adopt with your 6.5 Creedmoor may (for instance) be similar to the one you use to shoot (with success) your .17HMR & air rifles but it may not be the best technique for the Creedmoor. It’s worth considering if it applies - if it doesn’t, at least it’s another possible cause of grouping error crossed of the list.

Thanks appreciated.

I also take your point re things being different form the other rifles i have used. Typically i would consistently group with any of the air rifles out to 50m less than a 5p piece, not super tight compared with some but OK.

As you rightly point out the CM is a much different animal and i need to adapt to working with it. Il get there I'm sure.

 

[WalkedUp]

Agree with the above from Webley about your good attitude. It is difficult to post threads like these as there are so many directions for feedback, contributors, relevant tangents, some red herrings and well-spirited leg pulling. Best take up one of the kind offers from the experienced shots to take you out for a plink.

 

[GlennUK]

Agree with the above from Webley about your good attitude. It is difficult to post threads like these as there are so many directions for feedback, contributors, relevant tangents, some red herrings and well-spirited leg pulling. Best take up one of the kind offers from the experienced shots to take you out for a plink.

Thanks, and the offers are very much appreciated.

Bearing in mind that this was a dozen rounds, the first through this rifle in a meaningful sense (other than when i tried to zero it and had the issues which were set out at the start of this thread).

I am going to put many more rounds through it, and anticipate (hopefully not incorrectly) that I improve significantly over the next few weekends as i become more familiar with the rifle. Ill post some updates as and if i need further support will be grateful for any offers.