Suddenly she's shootin low (again)

[Roger Fisher]

Had a calm but dark afternoon and wanted to check the ol gal out at 100 yds rest (since most winter shooting was closer in) Set out the 6 in (dull green) bull with white 10 ring and proceeded to have at her from a rest.  Long story short windage was right on but she grouped abt 4 inches low with my normal 75 gr 3 f charge.  Forced my self not to hold higher and ended up deciding something is amiss with this ol rifle.   Ran in to this a couple or three years ago and had to "unslick" her bore which did the deed.   What would you do first if this were your predicament?

First off I replaced the 'nipple' and noticed that the nipple vent was not burned larger that I could see.  She needed a new one anyway (tip battered severely)..

I will give her the JB paste treatment and maybe the urine treatment.  I do believe she is too slick again (but not for long)

Any more ideas?    BTW I was glad to see perfect threads in the nipple seat and on the nipple........

[ehoff]

Roger,sounds like she's hexed! Have you made the wife or the neighbor lady mad lately?

[hanshi]

Could the stock be putting pressure on that barrel?  Does your seasonal humidity vary quite a bit? 

[Roger Fisher]

Roger,sounds like she's hexed! Have you made the wife or the neighbor lady mad lately?

Yes, both of them actually

[Candle Snuffer]

Could the stock be putting pressure on that barrel?  Does your seasonal humidity vary quite a bit?  

I had this happen just this year with my .45 x 13/16" x 42" GMB. I took the barrel out of its stock, enlarged the three front underlug pin holes just a tad more, (left the 4th pin hole alone), and presto,,, I was back on target - not shooting low.  This has been one of the most humid winters we've had out here where I live, in a long time.  We've had snow and humidity since October 8, 2009...  Just uncommon...  Usually our seasons have little humidity that we have to deal with.

[Maven]

"I will give her the JB paste treatment and maybe the urine treatment."

Roger, Two questions:  1) Won't JB bore paste polish the bore and make it even slicker?  2) What is "the urine treatment" and when should it be used?  [All, No smart remarks about a full bladder or enlarged prostate please.]

[Roger Fisher]

"I will give her the JB paste treatment and maybe the urine treatment."

Roger, Two questions:  1) Won't JB bore paste polish the bore and make it even slicker?  2) What is "the urine treatment" and when should it be used?  [All, No smart remarks about a full bladder or enlarged prostate please.]

1- She started shooting low couple or so years ago and I can't remember, thats happening more and more now, for the life of me what I did for the fix.
I seem to recall that I did several fixes, the urine soak for a couple hours AND the JB bore paste.   The urine soak is only a temporary fix as I recall it does 'unslick' her. I'm thinking the powder may be the culprit.  (Schuetzen)  I'll test her with Goex then go with something else.  Believe me when I say this bore is super slick...

[Daryl]

Lower temps will also make the gun shoot lower than if sighted for warmer temps.

I'd simply re-sight if it still's grouping.  ifnot, ditch it and start anew - it doens't owe you anything.

[erdillonjr]

Roger, you have so many rounds thru the old gal maybe shes a smooth bore now. Ed

[Roger Fisher]

Roger, you have so many rounds thru the old gal maybe shes a smooth bore now. Ed

I'll tell you what, she's getting darn close!   I do wonder what will go under first that old rifle or this old man

[bob in the woods]

Could be the powder. Different powder=different recoil =different point of impact.  This is very evident when switching between 44Mag and ordinary 44 in a pistol. The taller front sight necessary for the mag. makes the other hit low. If I recall, the Swiss powder has a lot more snap to it, maybe having the same effect?

[Daryl]

Naa - O'Roger's eyes are probably just drooping a bit more.

[g.pennell]

I had occasion to chronograph 2F Schuetzen a couple years ago in one of my .45-70's.  It was pretty consistent, and shot some very nice groups, but ran on the average 75 FPS less velocity than the 1.5F Swiss I had been using, volume for volume.  This was with charges around 62 grains behind a 525 grain lead bullet.

Greg

[Roger Fisher]

Odd that some things droop more than others!!   That 8 ring black bull does fuzz out more now than it did and I have decided that is the problem more than powder etc.

[Roger Fisher]

Gave the ol gal another test this afternoon, bright with lite wind from 9 O'clock.

Put out a blk bull at 100 with a white piece of paper in 10 ring.  Tried fresh goex (now this was after sticking in a new nipple.)  No urine treatment!

Most shots still abt 2 to 3 inches low.  Finally held at 12 O'clock on the black and started to drop them in....  The mind set now is to hold at 12 0'clock on that single bull target (that is the usual 100 yd rest target in these parts).  I may decide to reset the frt sight 'later'.  I could handle abt an inch or so higher at 50 yds...... Hmmm.  We'll see.!

[Daryl]

Yeah Roger - go to a .460" ball from that little .457".