The dreaded third shot

[Alderman]

I shot the 280 this afternoon. All was good until shot #3. Does a 2 shot group count?

 

[Bruce Mc]

Mine are almost always low left.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Does it do that every time?

 

[Alderman]

No. But then again it doesn't always put the first two that close together with me shooting it.

 

[JD338]

I like shooting 1 shot groups.
Make sure you keep the barrel cool.

JD338

 

[Ridgerunner665]

No. But then again it doesn't always put the first two that close together with me shooting it.

I know the feeling...some days I'm on my game, some days I'm not.

I was gonna suggest that you not worry about the flyer until you had ruled out the nut behind the trigger as being the cause. And please don't take that as me making fun of your shooting skills...I'm not...its just that a lot of times people have similar issues and chase their tail (spending money the whole way) trying to diagnose a rifle problem when there is nothing wrong with the rifle...I've done it myself (its the reason I hate lightweight rifles, lol)...my form and follow through isn't always perfect either....and this is exactly what I get from lightweight rifles when shooting from anything less than a rock solid rest.

I'm not sure if you were asking for a diagnosis, though...or just posting for the sake of discussion.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Do you have a chrono, Alderman? That load is several grain under maximum. That may be why you are getting a flyer?

 

[Alderman]

Actually it is just 1.5 grains under book max.

 

[DrMike]

If those first two are consistent, it will work for about any game you will ever encounter in North America.

 

[Elkman]

I shot a two 2 inch (2 ) shot group the other day. On the third shot the right leg of the bipod settled and the shot went very low and to the right. I really wish I could get that shot over, the distance was 625 yards. Prone on the ground, with a pad, and a rear bag.

 

[BD1]

Shoot the round over again and compare, you may be surprised.
Personally, I shoot 5 and then 10 rd. groups when developing loads and overlay the targets to see how they are pro/digressing. If everything is sound mechanically with the rifle and scope you will find a consistent sweet spot.
Best of luck,
BD

 

[DON]

Getting 3-5 shot tight groups can be very frustrating at times. For me, not having spent a lot of bench time contributes to the difficulty, therefore I find it's me a lot of the time on the 3rd shot flyer. For hunting purposes if I can get two cold barrel shots, like yours in the pic, I'm good to go.
I agree with Dr. Mike's post, something I have adopted too. :wink:

Don

 

[Horsethief]

The first one counts the most. You're going to be fine with that load. Several years ago Melvin Forbes wrote any 140gn grain bullet from a .284 caliber bullet with a muzzle velocity 2,940fps is going to take just about any big game in North America. Up that to a 150gn bullet, especially your being a Partition, and with your accuracy there is going to be a successful hunt.

 

[Guy Miner]

Absolutely - with a hunting rifle the first shot is what really counts. It sure is nice to have the next couple land in the general vicinity though...

Then there's competition, where we'd shoot a string of 20 shots prone... Yeah... I found it tough to be mentally disciplined for 20 good prone shots at 600 yards. Each one individually marked and scored.

Guy

 

[OU812]

I agree 100% with Mike. I'll take 2 very close cold barrel shots all day long as long as I know without a doubt what my first and 2nd shot does repeatedly.

 

[ColColt]

It's only been days ago I made it to the range for the first time with my M70 7x57 and had four groups of five rounds loaded with three different bullet. To my surprise the old Nosler Partitions in 140 gr out shout all others including the newer 140 gr PB. After three shots into 3/4" I decided to leave it alone but later I came back and fired the other two...mistake. One was to the right an inch and the other to the left about the same amount.

I think in all fairness it was me and the trigger pull which was too much for me to get good groups at 4 pounds. I took the rifle apart and after about 20 minutes of trying to get the goop off the trigger adjustment screw managed to tune it to 3 pounds. I think a better pull will make a difference.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Actually it is just 1.5 grains under book max.

Because the .280 was marketed for the Model 760 Rem, they have never listed loads over 50, KSI, instead of the 63 KSI that they use for max on everything else. Actually the .280 case is .050 inches longer at the shoulder than the .270 and .30-06 case. You should be able to go to loads a couple grains more than the book shows without any issues.

 

[Elkman]

Guy Says
Yeah... I found it tough to be mentally disciplined for 20 good prone shots at 600 yards.

I would have diahrea by that time. I do pretty good with three, but by the time I get to 5. I have stopped breathing, my teeth are clamped so hard that my jaw is sore, and my eyes are watering. "No stress at all however"

 

[mustanggt]

I have the same problems. Just recently I shot a group out of my M70 7 Mauser that was a lucky clover. Then I proceeded to trip over my dick. Fifth shot was out an inch ruining a one holer. Would have been a .237" group. Oh well for hunting purposes that will be a dead deer in anyone's book.

 

[HTDUCK]

I as well think you need to bump the powder charge up a little bit.
I shot 57 grs of IMR4350 with 140 NBTs for years.
You're on the low end.

For a hunting load though ?
You're done.