sighting in gun
 

we took the gun out to a friend on labour day to sight in our muzzleloader(we as in me and dad n case u wonderin),,any way,, i had my ML shooting about 1" high at 50yrds acouple weekends before,,when i shoot it labour day i was more like 12" high and3or 4" leftat 50yrd, so i shot again about an inch lower that first,,so i adjusted and shoot deadon but to the left so i adjusted the windage,,and so agian in the same place,,after that i shoot at 100yrd target and think i missed,,then went back to 50yrd target and i shot a full 5" high then i adjusted elevation and then started to go every where so i dont know what to do,,so i figure i would come here and ask what yall think is going on..

RE: sighting in gun
 

What kind of sights and or scope are you using. It could be mounting screws are loose, or the sights aren't mounted correctly

RE: sighting in gun
 

Were you swabbing the barrel between shots? This is very important when sighting in. Also you prepared the rifle properly to shoot in the first place I am sure by cleaning any oils or lubes out of the barrel before starting.

What were your swabbing procedures and did you change them during the day? I watched my friend swab his rifle one afternoon. The first time he ran one wet patch and then one dry patch. The next time he ran two wet patches and really scrubbed the bore, then ran two dry patches. Any little thing you change can make a difference. I am not saying this is what happened in your case, I am just looking for possible causes...

Have you made sure that the load you are shooting is the most accurate and consistent projectile and load for your rifle that you could find? Some days one projectile will shoot excellent. The next day out, you wonder why you ever bought the things to shoot because they are all over the place. Have you had good shooting results with the load you were shooting these days. Or are you still experimenting?

Were you letting the barrel cool between shots? Many times a barrel in warm temperatures can overheat. They can really get hot. Just wrap your hand round them and see if they are hot to the touch. If they are, let them cool. When they over heat they will often times start throwing rounds all over the paper.

Did you change anything? Same container of powder. Same charge. Same sabots. Same primers. Again, the more consistent you can be the more likely the shots will be closer to the first and last.

What kind of rifle are we talking and what powder and projectile? Maybe someone had similar results with the one that is giving you fits. Also until you are sure the projectile and charge you are shooting is the best for the rifle, do not be so quick to move the sights. I've owned my Trade Rifle for 7 months and have a good load working, but have yet to move the sights for final adjustment.

RE: sighting in gun
 

I just remembered.. you have the CVA Eclipse. Wow that is strange that it would be acting like this. Was this with the XTP's or the maxi hunters it was doing this with? My CVA is actually one of the more stable shooting inlines that I have. Although I am careful not to over heat the barrel. I take two, sometimes three rifles to the range and change over them so the others have a chance to cool down on hot days... My sights do come loose from time to time on my Staghorn. Like already said, be sure and give them a pinch now and then to make sure they are good and solid....

RE: sighting in gun
 

as for cleaning i only do it after several shot,,but u saying that reminded me that the one weekend before labour day that i had it 1" high at 50 was after i took out the plug and bore sighted it agian at 25 cause i got of the paper at 100 and i think i run the bore brush though it,,as for experimintation,,i spent too much on archery stuff and did not have the money to experimint,,also did not have the ability cause i had no where to do it at,,(be so glad to get liceces at the beginning of the year). as for cooling it did not ever get hot enough not to touch it did get kinda warm but with 2 other people shooting and how long it takes me to reload i think i should not have over heated it was in the shade temps were maybe in hte 80's not sure really i did run the bore brush though it a couple of time that eveing but it did not seem to help that much,,also if i do run the brush thourgh it say and 4 or 5 shot would i have to remove the breech plug every time cause with a scope on it is a pain in the arse to get the cap that holds the spring in started into treads..this was with the xtp's i was thinkin bout going to the maxi-hunters

as for scope mounts they have not come loose recently,,they did the second time i shot the gun,,i tighted them down and have not had them come loose since,,really loose anyway they might have work loose a little,,maybe i should check that out

hope this helps yall so u can help me im in a bind cause i dont want to have to hunt with shotgun this year,,and dont think my dad would like it either considering he bought the gun for me to hunt with,,and i love shooting it,,so am looking forward to hunting with it,,

RE: sighting in gun
 

Next time you go to the range, take a bottle of 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and windex or car windshield washer fluid, what ever you have around the house, and a bunch of cleaning patches. Get in the habit of shooting the rifle, then take a wet patch and swab the barrel. Work that patch is short strokes from the muzzle to the breech. Long strokes will give you a stuck patch. Then I like to take two dry patches and make sure the barrel is good and dry. These will be the next wet patches. Then load the rifle. See if it behaves a little better. Swabbing is very important on the target range. After all in the woods we are only going to shoot once, so we have to make it good. By the way, where did your first shot hit?

I am glad you said you checked your scope mounts before. That is usually one of the first places I look. Since you felt your barrel did not get hot, that should not have been part of the problem. Try the swabbing and see if it does not make a big difference in the size of the group you shoot and also the elimination of flyers. Also if the gun starts to act up, have someone else shoot the thing and see if it does the same for them. That is one of the advantages of shooting with others....

Good luck with your rifle... The Eclipse is known to be an excellent shooter.

RE: sighting in gun
 

You need a good solvent for getting rid of possible copper & plastic residue. Your shots should be at least five minutes apart when shooting when it's over 80 degrees. Your powder may be moisture-contaminated -- especially if you brought the whole jug or whole box of pellets to the range.

That's about all I can think of since you never mentioned what rifle, bullet & powder & amount of powderyou are using.

RE: sighting in gun
 

the first shot on labour day when we took the guns out was almost a foot height,,as for one shot my dad got two off the year he started hunting,,shot a doe that had a yearling,,the yearling decided to stay there for a while why my dad reloaded,(useing speed loaders), and did or could have i cant remeber but i am pretty sure he did trie to shoo the yearling,,anyway does it matter if they are right or left hand,,cause my dad shoots left hand, and i shoot right,(i prolly should shoot left but think i would be difficult to do and dont want to do it this close to season)

RE: sighting in gun
 

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Did you remove the storing gun oils or lubeswith a couplealcohol patches before firing that first shot? That could explain the foot-high first shot.

Also .... you never answered my earlier questions. SoI cannot help you further//reply to anymore of your postsuntil you do. Heck... we don't even know if you two guys are sharing an ambidextrious rifle???????

(REPEAT)
What rifle, bullet, powder & powder grain charges are you shooting?

RE: sighting in gun
 

The most important stuff was allready covered. But I will add:

-Were you in any sort of hurry? How about distractions? Funny but if I have had a lot of caffiene, if its very cold/hotor if I have to use the bathroom, that will dramatically influence the way I shoot.

-How about breathing? Were you consistent in your breathing: inhale, hold, squeeze, exhale.

-Gun holding/use of a bench rest. "Listen" to your body. Were you in a comfortable position that you could comfortably hold? Or were you straining (any) muscles to get in to your shooting position? What sort of bench rest, if any were you using? Was it the junky range rest that is never seems to be just right? Or was it your personal rest that you can set to what works best for you?

-Scope adjustments: when zooming in your scope, the eye relief will often be dramatically reduced. Many people will unconsciously move their heads forward to get a full field of view. This to will effect your aim/POI.

Just some things to consider.

~Robert