Tried this on the rimfire forum, but no solution yet...

I bought a new 41 about 2 years ago. Lately I discovered that the first shot out of a cold barrel goes high right and tumbles. This happens the first shot of the night or if I let it sit 20 minutes or so. Anything after the first shot is dead-nuts accurate and never tumbles.

It happens free hand, when I bench rest it, and when I had another shooter bench rest it. Different magazines have no impact. Ammo makes no difference. Doesn't matter if the gun is clean or dirty.

I can't think of any other variables to check that would only affect the first round from a cold barrel and nothing after that. I'd like to avoid buying a new barrel, if possible. Any suggestions?

I would suggest double checking your grip. Could be that you are changing it so slightly after the 1st shot is fired every time without even realizing it. That's a common habit many shooters make especially when they 1st start out on a match.

Throwing high right consistently is most likely the shooter (anticipating recoil or slack grip) the tumbling could make it appear to be another issue. In this case I think as Barrie pointed out it is likely to be your grip.
Tumbling can be attributed to unbalanced or un-stabilized projectile. An un-stabilized projectile will not hit high right every time. Its un-stabilized which means it can go anywhere. Your shots are going high right so it appears that the projectiles are stabilized. Now the tumbling is a puzzle, can it be the target backing making it appear to be a tumble?
Cheers.

The subject is brought up on PilkGuns if you search over there on "Target Talk". No clear anwsers, but your not alone.
Even pistols like the older Walther GSP and my wifes Hammerli 280 are known to throw the first shot. My wifes late model 280 never suffered from that problem.
Understand with the Walther, it might be one bullet just outside a ragged hole at 25 meters. Not a bullet leaving the 10 ring. But that slight flyer is usually said to be the first shot.

It is a fact that a round fired through a cold barrel does not always preform as rounds fired through a hot barrel. That is also why when sighting in a rifle (hunting two of four legged) one often only fires from a cold barrel. One shot then wait several minutes and then next shot. This of course because in 99 % of hunting situations the shots will fire from a cold barrel. I have had many rifles where there would be no difference between the first round through a cold barrel and the 2., 3., 4., etc. through a warm barrel but I've also had a few where there was some difference (also seen this as a firearms instructor in the army...now pushing 30 years).

The tumbling however I can't explain. What is your distance? Can you post a picture of the 1., 2., and 3. round (in same target)?

Found this on the Web for right handed shooters. Knowing your problem is fine, fixing it is another issue.

Attached Files

Right Handed Errors.pdf (116.1 KB, 30 views)

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Precision shooters fire several rounds, before actual targeting. The barrel is not fully accurate, for the first few shots. Maybe this is the issue with your pistol.

Bob