tddeangelo
Handloader
- May 18, 2011
- 2,023
- 20
Ok, there's a LOOOOOOOOONG back story to this some of you already know, but here's my dilemma:
My father, who is 70 years old, has a rather stubborn 30-06 that I'm working on for him. After much trial and tribulation, I think I finally have it headed the right way, and I think I'm sneaking up on a solid load for it.
But here's the thing- when I shoot it, I generally get pretty even triangles, or I get two-in-one-out groups....you know, typical load development groups.
When he shoots it, I see groups of shots strung in random directions. Sometimes they're perfectly horizontal, sometimes perfectly vertical, other times on a 45-deg angle. Always, alway, always strung out. I shoot it....triangles. (Talking about 3-shot groups.)
His other rifles are a 7-08, 6.5x55, and 243. He's working on a 250 Savage load for a buddy and he shoots nice little triangles with that.
I've been trying to talk to him about recoil affecting him. He doesn't believe it is, but I can't help but notice the stark difference in the group shapes between what he shoots with it and what I shoot with it. Same loads, same rifle, same everything, just different trigger-puller.
What really made this take center stage in my head was my episode with my 35 Whelen. My first time out with it this summer, it taught me quickly that I had sort of forgotten how to handle it on the bench. Some help from folks here and at LEL, and I was able to produce nice MOA-sized 200 yard groups with the Whelen again the next time out. But...the randomness and distribution of the groups I shot when not managing the recoil well reminded me very, very much of the groups I see my father shoot with this 30-06.
At this point, I have the rifle, and I've told him I'll work up a good shooting load and then give it back to him to practice with it. I have it shooting just over 3" at 200 yards, so I'm getting close, but he's still vexed by his groups with it from early last summer of under 1" at 100 yards, and he seems like he won't be happy till he sees that again. Thing is, I'm not sure if he can do it anymore. I hate to say that, but it seems like the recoil is getting the better of him at this point.
Am I off base there? Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions? I know it's a tough one to deal with such things, and all of us reach a point where we have to adjust how/what we do to accommodate changes in ourselves. I know I'll reach that point some day as well. And I won't like it anymore than he does. I guess I'm just looking for any words of wisdom as I work through this. I feel good about the rifle, that I'll get it shooting plenty good enough to kill deer. It sort of is already. It's working with him that has me scratching my head a bit...
My father, who is 70 years old, has a rather stubborn 30-06 that I'm working on for him. After much trial and tribulation, I think I finally have it headed the right way, and I think I'm sneaking up on a solid load for it.
But here's the thing- when I shoot it, I generally get pretty even triangles, or I get two-in-one-out groups....you know, typical load development groups.
When he shoots it, I see groups of shots strung in random directions. Sometimes they're perfectly horizontal, sometimes perfectly vertical, other times on a 45-deg angle. Always, alway, always strung out. I shoot it....triangles. (Talking about 3-shot groups.)
His other rifles are a 7-08, 6.5x55, and 243. He's working on a 250 Savage load for a buddy and he shoots nice little triangles with that.
I've been trying to talk to him about recoil affecting him. He doesn't believe it is, but I can't help but notice the stark difference in the group shapes between what he shoots with it and what I shoot with it. Same loads, same rifle, same everything, just different trigger-puller.
What really made this take center stage in my head was my episode with my 35 Whelen. My first time out with it this summer, it taught me quickly that I had sort of forgotten how to handle it on the bench. Some help from folks here and at LEL, and I was able to produce nice MOA-sized 200 yard groups with the Whelen again the next time out. But...the randomness and distribution of the groups I shot when not managing the recoil well reminded me very, very much of the groups I see my father shoot with this 30-06.
At this point, I have the rifle, and I've told him I'll work up a good shooting load and then give it back to him to practice with it. I have it shooting just over 3" at 200 yards, so I'm getting close, but he's still vexed by his groups with it from early last summer of under 1" at 100 yards, and he seems like he won't be happy till he sees that again. Thing is, I'm not sure if he can do it anymore. I hate to say that, but it seems like the recoil is getting the better of him at this point.
Am I off base there? Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions? I know it's a tough one to deal with such things, and all of us reach a point where we have to adjust how/what we do to accommodate changes in ourselves. I know I'll reach that point some day as well. And I won't like it anymore than he does. I guess I'm just looking for any words of wisdom as I work through this. I feel good about the rifle, that I'll get it shooting plenty good enough to kill deer. It sort of is already. It's working with him that has me scratching my head a bit...
