Just got back form the range to sight in a 7mm mag and I need some advice. My first shot (cold barrel) goes where I want it; however when I try to shoot a 3-shot group, they really start to spread out. My assumption is that this is due to the barrel heating up however the fact that the group is really opening up concerns me. Usually I would attribute some of this to my skills, but I was using the lead sled at BPS.

What is a realistic time to wait between shots when sighting in a Mag caliber rifle?

Any help would be great.

Shouldn't have been that bad

How much is "really" start to spread out.

What is the make and model of your 7 mag or, more importantly, what type of action and what type of stock?

Also - keep in mind that ammo has accuracy limits. Hunting ammo isn't typically loaded to match standards. There can be variations in the ammunition itself that will explain variations in point of impact.

Insert here all the usual comments about making sure everything from the scope rings to the trigger guard being properly torqued.

I shot mine yesterday evening and I'll tell you this: I shot 7 rounds in 1.5 hours. Those magnumn barrels get hot in a hurry. I'd let it cool at least 10 minutes between rounds. For the sake of being sure I don't want to feel any heat coming off that thing.

Little more info -

I am shooting a savage modle 11 with the synthetic stock. I have checked the bases / rings ect and everything is tight and set the way it should be. as for ammo I was using plain jain core locs

really spread out means going from being able to place my first shot where I want it to about a 3 - 4 inich group.

Do I just re-zero the scope, bore sight it, and start from scratch?

Last year when I sighted in I did not have this issue. In reality I should have just been happy with the first shot, but now I have messed around with it a little and have no confidnece with the inital point of impact with a cold barrel. Makes me happy I will be using this as a back-up gun this year

Your barrel is most likely heating up and making contact with the stock which in turn could be putting your barrel in a bind. I would consider opening your stock up a little more..

you might want to try another type of ammo, it could be a quick fix or help rule out ammo as an issue

X2

Is it me or has there been a lot of descusion lately on here about 7Mag and 7MM-08? Not knocking it of course just something I noticed.

Did the Savage come with a Simmons scope mounted on it? The cheap scope on a caliber like that may be the issue.

I used to have a 7 mag. Regardless of the caliber I like to shoot on a cool calm day. I'll leave the action open and let the barrel cool between shots after the first two.

What type of scope? If you're letting the barrel cool, I'd bet it's the scope. You need a good scope on that caliber. I had a cheap scope on mine and ended up missing two deer in one year. Came home to check zero both times and was WAY off.

The non-accustock savage synthetics are called "tupperware" stocks by some. They don't do well with bipods and reportedly soften under heat (so the barrel weighs down and touches it, which messes up shot-to-shot repeatability).

If yours is an accustock model, it's not a contact issue but it still may be (and probably is) a heat issue, and the only real solution is shoot when it's cooler out or wait more time between shots :-)

thanks for the info guys.

It should not be a scope issue, I am using a Vortex Viper (not the best but not junk either). I also verified all the hardware is tightened the way it should be.

I am just going to give it a good cleaning, get some different ammo, and start over.

If you can get that first shot to hit where it is supposed to, from a cold barrel, why worry about where the 2nd shot is going? The first one should kill whatever it hits..

It's pretty rare for a Savage to have accuracy problems. But I guess anything can happen with any manufacturer. I'd say maybe you were flinching after the first shot, but you mentioned using a lead sled so that should not be it.

As you said, try a different ammo after cleaning the barrel really well. If you can continuously get the 1st shot where you want it, I'd leave it at that.

I've got an older Savage 110 in 300 Win. Mag. with 24" sporter weight barrel. Like yours, it will put the bullet where it needs to go with the 1st shot.. I have never had a need for a 2nd shot as whatever I was aiming at is usually blown to good sized chunks.

I wont shoot my 300wby unless it is cold outside. It seems to still hold a group, but it cools alot better any how when it is cold.

I will shoot a 3-shot and let it cool, then start shooting my next 3-shot group after it has cooled, but then i let it cool between every shot, not just the group.

matt

My fathers 300 win mag did the same thing when we readjusted the gun after every shot when sighting it in. Found out that when we made our intital shot and kept the gun on the sled and just adjusted scope, we would be dead on. Then when I would take his gun off and and shot mine, then put his back on the sled and shot it at the same target, it would be off. Found out it was a loose screw in the forearm. When we tightened it up, it was fine and shooting true cold or hot barrel. Also check your scope mounts to see if you have any slack in them or if one of the rings might be loosening up.

I shoot a 7 Rem Mag Model 66 Mauser, best overall gun I have every fired. Good luck and hope maybe our mystery of sighting in our gun might help you.

Mongo

On the subject of cleaning, make sure you use a good solvent that also removes copper. I like to clean between every 6 rounds when I'm testing handloads. If you're just hunting or shooting, I'd clean like every 15 shots or so.

yeah....it could definately use a good cleaning. I am hoping that it is an easy fix.

Things to bring on your next range trip...

1. Different ammo

2. Can of compressed air used to clean computers-insert the little red nozzle into the action and spray air down the barrel for 10seconds between shots

If those 2 dont help then I would probably guess 1 of 2 things

1. you havent cleaned your gun in a long time-(brozne brush and solvent)

2. you have a cheap scope that isnt holding up

I used to have a .243. When I bought it I took it straight to the range thinking it must be clean. Shot 3" groups I wasn't happy. Took it home and cleaned it and next time I shot I was really upset at first. My first shot was okay. Shot a second and couldn't see it. Walked down range and still couldn't see it. Shot again and couldn't see that shot either. Walked down range again and the hole was just barely wider. Cleaning was the difference between 3" groups and one hole accuracy.

Clean your gun regularly.

I have used a 7Mag for 37 years since I was 13.
1. One shot, only one time have I ever had to shoot a buck twice, and it had about 2 pounds of marijuana in it's stomach.
scope is probaly the culprit, and you can still pull even in a sled.
you can buy a cheap gun, but never a cheap scope!and your gun is a good gun for the price, upgade your scope

Like everyone has said concerning the scope is possibly your issue.

I had a Savage Model 110 combo from Wal-mart with the Simons scope, in 7 mag. It did just as you are descibing, 1st shot right where you wanted it. 2nd and 3rd shot further out, but still inside of a 9" circle.

I ended up getting Leupold steel rings and base, along with a better scope. It improve significantly, but I wasn't satisfied.

You can either sell it, or you're going to need to spend some money.

1. Leupold steel base and rings.
2. Leupold scope
3. Multiple brands of primium ammo

If 1-3 doesn't bring in the groups you want, you will need to consider getting a different stock. It is alot of work, but you should be able to get that rifle dialed in where you want it.