I just added a 15" 375 winchester barrel to my encore collection for the upcoming ohio whitetail season... I topped it off with a 30mm ultradot scope.

I've been hunting, shooting most of my life, but this seems way hard to hold groups with

with a rifle stock on (for testing only), im getting sub 1" groups at 50yds... pistol grip and its all over the place...

any ideas?

Grip consistency is very important. Are you all over the place from the bench?

it depends...

sometimes 1" groups, sometimes 4" groups (i attribute that to me)

Picture

Sounds like the gun is recoiling differently with each shot. It could be grip consistency or perhaps some other factor affecting the way the gun is recoiling.

I Think Mr. Gary is right on!

Are you using factory ammo or handloads?


Nice Rig!!!!!

+ 1

yeap

Try to be consistant on how and where you rest the forearm and keep the grip from contacting the bench even in recoil.

Gary and rib have given you good solid advice.
A rifle buttstock with a 15" barrel is illegal, whether briefly on the range or not. Wisdom should prevent a person from doing it and / or from saying he did so on the internet.

what are you using for a rest? I've gone through a half dozen pistol rests and I've found that good old sandbags give me the best groups. I've also found for me whether shooting off sand bags, sticks or rests of oppurtunity the technique that works best for me on the contenders, encores and revolvers is to slide the gun up until the trigger guard is pushing against the rest and I maintain pressure against it which steadies me alot. I'm by no means a natural pistol shot nor do I have steady hands but I've shot some impressive groups using this technique. Although it's not an issue with this rig you also want to make sure the barrel is never resting against anything but always the forend or in the case of revolvers the frame. Hope that helps.

I learned or was tought to shoot this way. I am right handed. Grip with your right hand, cup you left hand around your right, use a firm, but not crushing grip. Push slightley with your right hand and pull slightley with your left hand ... it should help stabilize your hold. This is mostley for offhand shooting, but also works off a rest. Try it if you don't already use this technique.

it works for me, might not be comfortable for you ...

Ahh... the couch police caught on to the full stock comment... I'll be sure to keep an eye out and make sure that johnny law is not waiting to cuff and stuff me.

I won't mention that I broke the speed limit on the way home from dinner either.

anyway, back to the topic at hand, im using handloads:

220gr hornady
36gr reloader 7
9 1/2 primer
with a 24" barrel, im getting 3 shot, sub 1" groups at 50 and 100, but with the 15, im all over the place. its quite odd.

I'm using sandbags...

I have a rifle forend on the barrel, and im using it to grip with my left while gripping regularly with my right hand. With this method, my left arm is locked straight, while my right arm is bent to accommodate the angle needed.

I think I'll try again this week, and focus on grip consistency. But I'll definitely report back and let you know what results I come up with.


Thanks for the re-affirmation that I'm the one screwing up

its probably what i need

I would definitely try without using your left hand to hold the forend. There may be some here that have seen different but the main group of people I've seen try that are people new to the guns and usually it works against you. You can try what leasongs was saying but I'd leave the forend resting on bags like I said earlier, your hand and arm will never be as steady as the bags and any place you touch the gun forward of the grip has the potential to effect the shot as well as the consistency of the recoil which with handguns can really play with your groups. IMHO