Just an update. I tightened the rear action screw a little extra and the first shot was a little closer to the following shots when I fired the rifle over the weekend. It also impacted slightly lower. I am thinking that the bedding might not be 100% stress free. It still shoots just around 1" at 100m with the cold bore shot, but I would prefer that first shot to be closer to the 'main' group to the right. I also removed quite a bit of carbon from the barrel (more than I expected and it is still not 100% clean), but I do not know whether too much carbon would have an impact on a cold bore shot?
I think I will check the stress on the action and maybe target the carbon with some iosso paste and see if it settles down.
I will look at dampening the barrel but first I want to eliminate all other possible problems.
I must say, I am amazed that this rifle (apart from the cold bore shot) can shoot a 10 shot group at around .8" even when the barrel starts getting pretty hot.
Thanks again for the info.
Pieter
