Got the Rifle and Taken It to the Range

[Dattebayo]

Hey there all!

I picked up my rifle on Thursday and brought it to the range. Had an awesome time. I show up at around 1:00pm and shot till 9pm with about 1000 rounds shot. I had an initial problem of getting zero cause my NcStar Mark III Scope had a little push pin that kept coming out. I ended up putting some locktie on it and it doesn't come out anymore. Totally lost track of time and the range had to kick me out cause they were closing for the night!

I taken it back again today and kept the zero. Picked up a boresnake so I could clean out the barrel every 50 to 100 round which made a big difference in accuracy.

I did run into an issue though that maybe more experienced shooter can help me with. When I am shooting with my bipod, my shots are pretty close to zero. I end up shooting ragged holes through the center like so.

But when I pick up the rifle to shoot from the standing position, I realize my zero is now completely off and I am shooting 3 inches low at 25yds. Any suggestions on what I am doing wrong or how I can fix this? Thanks.

 

[rraisley]

But when I pick up the rifle to shoot from the standing position, I realize my zero is now completely off and I am shooting 3 inches low at 25yds. Any suggestions on what I am doing wrong or how I can fix this?

Well, if your bipod is on the end of the Quad Rail, and IF the barrel is touching the hole in the end plate, and IF you are pulling down on the receiver/rifle a fair amount, it can cause the rifle to shoot high. Although I calculated normal weight to only cause 3" in 100 yards, on 3" in 25 yards. But it sounds like this might be (at least part of) the problem.

I would remove the flash hider and quad rail end plate, and Dremel it out to clear by about 1/16" all around. But before doing that, simply pop out the quad rail end plate, leave it loose, and repeat your test. If it shoots more consistently, then opening up the end plate (or even just removing it) is a possibility.

Then again, with as large a difference as you're seeing, be sure to check for any looseness of the barrel itself (although it takes a special wrench to tighten). That would certainly cause a similar problem, and worse.

 

[Dattebayo]

The bipod is mounted as close forward toward the barrel as possible. When I shoot with the bipod, I often apply forward pressure as the legs catch onto the surface to shoot.

I can definitely try pulling the cap out and trying some shots that way and maybe the rest is all shooter error.

Here is a photo of the shot group.

 

[Maddmax]

Hey there all!

But when I pick up the rifle to shoot from the standing position, I realize my zero is now completely off and I am shooting 3 inches low at 25yds. Any suggestions on what I am doing wrong or how I can fix this? Thanks.

Being the weapon doesn't loose it's zero when shooting with the bipod. It's your breathing,trigger control,shooting stance and natural wobble while standing. Try sitting down (bipod up or off) and use your arm and elbo to support the barrel on the bench like you would in the prone position. See how that works. Breath in,let out slowly,hold breath half way and squeeze the shot off. Myself,I take a breath,hold,squeeze the shot off. Some let their breath out,hold and squeeze the shot. Trigger finger. Trigger should be in the center of your first knuckle and a "surprise" when it goes off. Once you find what works best,stick to it and be repetitive. I think your gun is fine. Hold the handguard in one hand and see if the (COOLED OFF) barrel has any play. You'll know if it's loose or getting loose. You target patern will also look more like a Shotgun patern,not just a lower left group. It WON'T group if loose.

 

[Dattebayo]

Being the weapon doesn't loose it's zero when shooting with the bipod. It's your breathing,trigger control,shooting stance and natural wobble while standing. Try sitting down (bipod up or off) and use your arm and elbo to support the barrel on the bench like you would in the prone position. See how that works. Breath in,let out slowly,hold breath half way and squeeze the shot off. Myself,I take a breath,hold,squeeze the shot off. Some let their breath out,hold and squeeze the shot. Trigger finger. Trigger should be in the center of your first knuckle and a "surprise" when it goes off. Once you find what works best,stick to it and be repetitive. I think your gun is fine. Hold the handguard in one hand and see if the (COOLED OFF) barrel has any play. You'll know if it's loose or getting loose. You target patern will also look more like a Shotgun patern,not just a lower left group. It WON'T group if loose.

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely try that next time I take the gun out shooting!

I don't think there is anything wrong with the gun as I am fairly certain the error is something about myself I can fix. When I shoot with the bipod, it is amazingly accurate. When I was zeroing in the scope I got pictures like these.

I'll definitely have to work on my standing technique as hopefully that will fix my standing shot. I don't have much experience with it aside from reading a little about it, but I'll keep practicing!

 

[rraisley]

I can't imagine that stance or technique will CONSISTENTLY result in the shot group being 3" low. Knowing that you're putting forward pressure on the bipod, I'm betting you're putting some downward pressure as well. Anyhow, easy enough to try both suggestions, and see what your results are.

 

[Dattebayo]

So hit the range today found out some good news.

It was actually me torquing the rifle down on the bipod which caused my point of impact higher about 2 inches. It is amazing how something as simple as not having a free floating barrel makes such a big difference.

I pulled out the little handguard cap and let it rest on on my barrel when I tried another bipod shot and surly enough, shots were 2 inches low.

After readjusting the zero to the non torqued point of impact, I started getting great groups of under 1/2 MOA @ 25 yards on the bipod and about 1 1/2 inch MOA free standing shot.

I also taken the time to zero in my Magpul MBUS back up sights and I almost feel I am more accurate with the iron sights vs. the scope. Either way, excited that I was able to fix this problem and look forward to shoot more when I return from my vacation in Austria .