Thread: chasing groups off the paper

Hi Guys


So i haven't put any rounds through my rifle in awhile and just wanted to recheck my zero. Last animal i shot at I missed clean under the target.
Set up a target at 100m. My father inlaw would shoot 3 shots, we'd walk check his group. Walk back and I'd then shoot my 3, vice versa.

I was happy with my shooting, which means the miss on the animal i had was only down to my poor shot. I think i just need to spend more time behind the rifle and get comfortable.


But the main point for this thread was my father inlaws rifle. shooting .270 federal power-shok ammo, steel blue'd barrel, not 100% sure on the make and model.
3 shots, 2 holes - 3 inches high 1 inch apart. 1 hole - 3 inches left of the 2 others. I think he pulled this one.
3 shots, 6 inches high 3 inch overall spread.
3 shots, off the box. Thought he might of had some issues getting his position right so i put a few rounds through his rifle as i was feeling good after my groups.
my 3 shots nothing on paper either, 8 inches of paper around the target and nothing.

After the 2nd group went off the paper i questioned the guy's ability who mounted his new scope, or if when he zero'd it in the weekend prior if he had moved his elevation accidentally at all. Nope, all was snug and no elevation change on turret.

A bit stumped, we walked back to the ute to put 1 round bottom to the paper to see where it might hit. 16 inches of paper above to work with and nothing.
Brought the box back into 50m, put 1 shot through hit the target center. Put another through and was an couple inches higher.

After bringing the box back in to 50m and the rifle being back on target. I thought the scope was mounted fine and elevation was correct.

So my question, If what I've written is understandable.What do you guys think the reason for 2 x 3 shot groups and a single shot after, going off the paper?

The only explanation i could come up with was that the barrel was getting to hot with the 3 shot groups and loosing its accuracy, the initial 4 x 3 shot groups would of all been in the space of 45min.
All i thought after was lucky we didn't start dialing down the scope after the second group got high otherwise we might of been chasing a hot barrel around the paper?

I've said to him not to touch anything on the rifle but when he can pop out and put a couple more down at 100m and see what the rifle will do with a cold clean barrel.