Mystery Issue
 

Hi guys, My inline is acting kind of strange for me lately. I have it sighted in dead on at 100 yards but if i back away to 120-200 yards my point of impact shifts to the left about 8-10 inches. Do you know what could be the cause of this? I doubt its the scope, its a new nikon muzzleloader scope with the bdc reticle. Havent ever had this happen to me before with the gun which is what has me puzzled. Shooting 45cal lehigh bullets in 250 grain out of my 50 with 115 grains of 777. Thanks.

wind or just simple movement.

Wow!! that is strange. Dead on at 100 yards and then that far to the side by moving simply 20 yards or more. I would be hard pressed to guess the cause. All I can think of is your pulling your shot. Honestly, if its not being caused by the wind I have no idea why that bullet would suddenly move to the side like that.

Maybe some of the long range shooters will have a better idea.

Im stumped! I shoot a-lot at 200yds++. If Im dead on at 100 and a 1" or two off at 150 to one side or the other I blame it on me or the wind. If there's no wind, I'll try 200, if I get the same results then I adjust the scope for it, but usually it's only a click or two. But to be that far off and only adding another 20yds or so and being on at 100 puzzles me. I cant see the MLer being at fault, mabey human error.
Unless your shooting a Magnum Load? a-lot can go wrong with the wrong bullet powder combo at long ranges, but to be on still at 100 even with a Magnum Load and then to be that far off, it should'nt be.
(BP)

I would shoot it in a secure type of rest "IE" gun vise/lead sled so your confident it's not moving and with no wind. if it continues doing it my guess would be your scope or the mounts. Nikons are my favorite scopes and i have never had a problem with one..but it can happen even with a new scope.

crazedbowhunter

I just ran a quick calculation on the ballistic calculator. With that bullet and an esimated velocity of 1875, it would take a 15mph xwind to move the bullet 8.3" @ 125 yards, but in the same calculation the bullet would be 5.2" off at 100 yards. So I am not thinking wind....

Great info sabotloader, eliminate one thing at a time..no wind when firing not problem,secure rest that can't move not problem etc.which would leave you with the mounts or the scope..had this problem with a center fire rifle ended up being the scope,this was prior to using nikon scopes.

builder459

This problem is so hard to diagnose without actually being there and seeing what is happening - or even handling the rifle so you can check the normal things...

I sure hope he finds the problem cause it certainly is a problem..

I agree 100% , ask me how i know lol. why i suggested process of elimination.when i had a similar problem i went crazy trying to figure it out.now i make sure to align scope in mounts, i am super careful about tightening screws down, i use clear nail polish to keep screws from backing out etc.

He's already eliminated the Scope, the Rest and the Wind. He has good groups at 100, he would'nt if there was a problem with one of these. If one of these were his problem he sure would'nt be on at 100 and way off at 120, he'd be havong the same problems at 100.
And use some Loc-Tite for the Screws, fingernail Polish on a MLer is just not right.
(BP)

So your good at 100yds, then are you saying you move to 200yds and your off up to 8"-10" to the left? or as soon as you go from 100 to 120yds your off as much as 10"? If there's no wind adjust the sope and bring it to the right, then shoot and get in on at 200, then go back to 100 and see where your at.
If there is wind then it's the wind to start with, and dont drink any coffee or cafinated beverages, caffine can give you the jitters. There's a Big diffrence shooting at 200 vs 100. Turn your scope on say 3-4 power and hold it at the target and look through it, then turn it up to 9 power and look through it, the scope magnifys the tiniest movement and what you may think is a stedy shot is not. You have to be dead solid at 200 or you will be all over the place.
(BP)

Got the idea from a old redneck in colorado breech..it's always handy and a friend of mine who builds guns uses nothing but nail polish also..he nor i will use loc-tite on scope screws lol,

Oh i forgot to mention it's clear!

builder459

There are many differnet types of Loc-Tite

Just to throw this out there, Blue Loc-Tite has been very good to me over the ages on scope mounts and bases.

I know there are..red,blue and green and i have used them all on one thing or another...been using the clear for 25 yrs and haven't had a scope come loose yet and best of all i don't buy it lol, the wife does..

builder459

Got you beat.. Guess i am really old - 50 years using loc-tite for myself and at least 25 using it on others rifles - but I do not think it was blue on the 50's

What ever works...

Lol , yes whatever works..your giving away your age now!:wink:

I like to use Gorilla Super glue. I get all the screws into position and do a pretest on the screw torque and then loosen them up a bit one at a time, remove them and apply a little GSG.

Ok thanks everyone, I guess the next chance I have I will take it back out and try the things you guys suggested to see if it help.