The first shot Stinks!

[trays7940]

I am shooting a Remington 3006 with 22inch barrel. I use 165gr AB's with 61g of RL-19... AWSOME accuracy with second, third and fourth shot grouped at 1/4 of an inch at 100yds.
However, the first shot is always about an inch high and left. Any ideas, anyone?
Anyone know about point of aim vs point of impact zeroing? Should you zero your rifle scope by moving the reticle to the bullet impact or move the impact to your point of aim? I use the latter but, Iam now wondering what I need to do to hit my zero with the first "cold bore" shot.
I am shooting off a solid bench rest at marked 100yds. Any ideas wil be appreceated.

 

[steve4102]

Is this out of a "Clean" bore or does this happen all the time, clean or fouled?

 

[Guy Miner]

Couple of possibilities occur to me:

1) Your barrel shoots better once it's been "fouled" which is not uncommon. A workaround for this is to clean at the range, then put one or two shots downrange before packing up. This may help with the problem.

2) There may be a bedding problem. I've seen rifles that seemed to seat themselves properly into the stock after the first shot or two, and were tack drivers after that. But that first shot...

What you're looking for is the cold-clean barrel shot to be spot on. In many rifles it just won't happen, the first one is often a bit out of the group. Give the barrel fouling/shot thing a try to see if it helps.

Later, Guy

 

[mckie]

Long ago I had an 03-A3 that was like that only worse, the first shot wouldn't even print on the target. After that it settled right down. Never did get it diagnosed.

One way to get point of aim and point of impact together is to carefully fire one shot at the bull, then get the rifle solidly in your rest again and aimed at the bull again, and without moving the rifle adjust the crosshairs to be centered on the bullet hole.

 

[FOTIS]

Is this out of a "Clean" bore or does this happen all the time, clean or fouled?

IMO this is the most important question that needs to be answered!

 

[trays7940]

This is out of a clean barrel not fouled. The rifle has been pillar bedded and floats the barrel.

 

[steve4102]

This is out of a clean barrel not fouled. The rifle has been pillar bedded and floats the barrel.

Very common for a clean barrel to to shoot the first round astray. Fire a few fouling shots first let the barrel cool and try again. See if the groups tighten up. I never go hunting with a "clean" bore.