Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Is the vertical error caused by a bad cheek weld?

I got outstanding horizontal accuracy at 100 yards today. Shooting my 1958 99 G in .300 Savage with Remington 150 PSP from the bench. The rest was a sock filled with pinto beans atop a block of wood. Scope was a pre-Permacenter Lyman 4X All-American.

But the vertical was off.

I know I did not have a good cheek weld.
Should I assume it was the cheek weld causing the vertical error?

Could be how carefully you positioned the gun on the bag for each shot, too. Scope didn't go haywire on you did it? Of course, all in all, that ain't bad. Not sure I would complain about that performance.

Are you allowing your barrel to cool off between shots/groups?

I was towards the end of the session and getting a bit tired.

The front rest was a sock filled with pinto bean on top of a block of wood.

Neither were too steady.

Not wanting to rub the ear cup of my hearing protectors against the nice wood of the comb I kept my head up with my chin against the stock.

I think that with a better cheekweld and a more firm from stock I could hit 1.0 MOA with good ammo.

As many on the Forum know I don't hunt. But with the results I am seeing from my 99 G I am starting to understand that I am less the owner of a fine rifle -- and more the steward of a finely honed ungulate killing machine.

Two things come to mind. First is, as you mentioned, cheek weld and the second is where you positioned the the forearm of the rifle on the bean bag. 99s are famous for not liking the bag under the wood but prefer the bag under the receiver. You might try that.

I would guess the barrel got hot. The end of the five shot string heated up and flew faster hence hit higher. You got a nice three shot deal going on there. Hand loads or factory? U got a chronograph handy? Two things. Where ever those cross hairs are pointed when she goes bang is where it hits. The only thing important when she goes bang is where are the crosshairs? If it was my group. First i would check my scope mounts for secure hold. Second I would make sure the barrel was cool between shots and try it closer like 50 yards.Shooting closer would remove half of my error and allow me to check each shot not the group as a hole.I would find a chronograph if I repeated the group or the fliers came early or not at the end of the five shots.

As skidrow said, put the bag under the receiver. To that I would add be careful how you grip the forearm. Be consistent in the amount and direction of pressure you apply against your shoulder.

One thing I have found with shooting a scope. I like shooting at a cross instead of a dot. I take hot pink duck tape tear it into three inch long by 1 to 2 inch wide strips and make a cross. It helps me calm down and keep the hold consistent.

How tight is the forend screw and do you have a small rubber o-ring between the forend and barrel. Keep it lucy goosey.

Sorry to show my ignorance, but I did not know my rifle had a forearm screw.

I would rather leave all screws alone for now.

I will try the 180 gr as well as the 150 gr, rest on the receiver nd let the barrel cool.

Regards

yep.

Another point I forgot to mention is to match your ammo lots if factory and or brass if reloading. Different brass can have different velocity.