Originally Posted by
tazman
OS--- Settings 39 through 41 seem to be doing the best at the moment. It will be interesting to see how this continues for you.
Very well shot on the challenge target.
I went to the range today and got to shoot in between rainstorms.
Nearly perfect conditions. Minimal wind(under 2mph). Overcast. Upper 70s.
This first batch of tests were done with the MTR.
I had a breakthrough of sorts. I was trying different ways of supporting the rifle to see if groups improved. I can get really steady using any of the ones I tried but some just didn't work.
I began by running a set the way I have been doing for the last few weeks and got the same, average results.
I tried supporting the barrel on the bag instead of the stock. Big failure.
I put a tripod on the rifle and tried that. Also failed.
I decided part of the issue might be this heavy stock flexing in some minute fashion that was causing inconsistencies so I began experimenting with placing the forearm of the stock in different places on the bag.
Bingo. I found that by placing the very end of the forearm even with the front of the bag, my groups tightened up substantially.
I have no idea why, but this position on the bag resulted in groups that were some of the best I have shot in recent weeks.
I hauled out my old CZ 452 trainer with the long barrel and tried it. I remembered that, while I had tried it earlier, it had never had the good ammo fired in it. I really didn't expect it to do much since it had never displayed any tendencies to be a great shooter before.
I started it out with Eley Match and immediately fired one of my best 5 shot groups of the day. I continued to shoot groups and got it sighted in on the target. The last 25 shots I fired would have all have fit inside a dime save for two rounds which stuck out about half a bullet width.
I had several five shot groups during the testing that looked like a 3 shot cloverleaf. Most were four shots in a tight cluster with one slightly out of the group. Not enough to lose points on the scoring target.
Now I have to wait until next time and see if all this repeats. I need to get a better scope for this rifle. The magnification is not quite adequate for best aiming and I really don't trust the scope adjustments since this isn't one of the better scopes out there. I was expecting to use it for squirrels/varmints but now it will be going to the competition if it continues to shoot well.