Grouping phenom - question

TMoney

New member
At the range, I continually group the same way - two shots really close, then a third a bit out of whack. I was really troubled about this until I began to see groupings in the gun mags holding the same kind of pattern.

Can you guys touch on this for me, please?
 
The ol dreaded flyer takes over whenever many of us are about to close up a nice cloverleaf. I'm sure it has to do with anticipation and shot preparation but I don't have a scientific explanation. That my I like three shot groups versus 5 and then 10 shots to evaluate new loads.
You are not alone in facing this dreaded dilemmna. Something like "the devil made me do it!"

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"In my opinion, anyone pushing through anti-gun legislation is a bloody traitor and should be sent up for treason" N.H. Stuart
 
Who knows, it might have something to do with the potential energy buildup in the gun.

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The Alcove

I twist the facts until they tell the truth. -Some intellectual sadist

The Bill of Rights is a document of brilliance, a document of wisdom, and it is the ultimate law, spoken or not, for the very concept of a society that holds liberty above the desire for ever greater power. -Me
 
T-Money:
This phenomenon, as previously mentioned, has haunted all of us at one time or another. As we place the first shot, we scopethe results, relax moment, then place the 2nd shot. We confirm (scope) and it is overlapping the 1st.

In many cases we picture the 3rd shot, however, our mental disapline produced on the 1st & 2nd shot disappears on the 3rd. It really places our mental ablity to concentrate and repeat the 1st and 2nd shot.

Keep in mind; one must have a surgically tuned rifle and ammunition to produce the ultimate group. Machine test and Marry. Then critisize the performance.

Here's how I corrected this problem.

once the weapon is "zero'd"
I place the first shot, call it, then read it. If the shot is correct and the call is correct, I shoot the 2nd and 3rd. I do not scope the 2nd, but scope after the third.

During olympic pistol competitions, one is allowed 5 fowling shots. I would shoot the 1st shot @ 12 o'clock, call and scope, one at 3 o'clock, call and scope, one at 6 o'clock call and scope, one at 9 o'clock, call and scope then finally one in the Xring for conformation.

Once all of these have been confirmed and I know that I am mentally prepared, I do not scope through out the whole match. One must call each shot during the match. Although it adds some stress, be objective, you'll see your groups closer and scores higher.

HJN
 
"Three shots test the ammo; ten shots test the rifle." Ain't that profound?

"The dreaded flyer" is indeed a good term. I've read The American Rifleman issues from 1940, as well as lotsa gun mags and the "Field & Stream" stuff for a long time. No matter how small the group, there is always that one which pooches out the single hole, or lies just outside the four or nine "perfect" shots.

Why? All I know is that the Magic Gremlin doesn't want perfection. Either the shooter jiggled just a tad, or the sight-picture was off by just a hair. Maybe the bullet was an RCH out of balance. A stray gust of wind out toward the target moved the bullet away from true happiness.

I'm just glad this never, ever, happened to me. (And I've got a great cash deal on a bridge, also.)

:), Art
 
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