zeroing my 91-30: the rifle or me?

So I tried zeroing my 91-30 in again. My first group was about a 4 inch vertical string, but to the left, so I tapped the sight to the right, and then my next shot was way to the left. So I centered the sight, to where the original zero marks are from the factory, took a shot and was dead on bull's eye. I was happy as could, but then my brother insisted I take another shot, I got ticked off, because I don't like wasting ammo (yes, I'm a major cheapskate, even with cheap Mosin ammo), and my next shot was waaayy to the right. I took another 3 shot group, and then it was too the left again, but a fairly tight pattern though. Now I know that Mosin's should at least deliver good accuracy, but going left to right to left like that? Sounds odd for a rifle to do that, and I made sure to keep the barrel cool between shots. Would it just be me? I really don't want to waste more ammo futilely trying to zero this guy.

Lots depends on how it was done. If you don't use a sand bag and you don't have good cheek weld or consistent trigger or holding you can be all over. Without being there to coach, it's very hard to say. I have a feeling the rifle is OK though...you are using factory ammo?

Really not enough info. But moving the front sight to the right did as expected- it shifted the impact even more left. One round "groups" mean nothing. Three shots aren't much better, unless you know what to expect of the rifle in general. Shoot some five and ten rounders to get an idea where you are at. Then cipher the results and start diagnosing. You have to burn some ammo until it performs as desired. Then you can go "cheap" again.

I was using sandbags, and my elevation was fine. I'm wondering if the sights were part of the problem: they do allow a little "slack" because the front post doesn't exactly fill in the rear notch completely. And I was using factory ammo, Wolf. And I guess I had my sight adjustment wrong then too

Well, try the three to five round groups as suggested and see than. No such thing as a 1 shot group. If a rifle's zeroed and ammo is proven I may go with two rds. But one doesn't show anything. Most of these rifles arrive zeroed, no matter what they are.

What I found on my Mosins was the stocks where warped and made contact with the barrel in several places along its length and the receiver bedding was poor. Once I rectified those issues all shot better but are by no means "sniper rifles" but do hold the black with spam can ammo. Something to check.

Check your two action screws. They tend to loosen up and can cause stringing and other frustrating patterns.

Ammo is also huge factor. Get some good ammo like the LVE headstamped ammo in the generic looking white box or surplus factory 188 light ball.

Hello,

FORS: Front, Opposite; Rear, Same.

If you are shooting to the left, you want to drift your front sight left so that you hit right further. Remember, Front, Opposite.

Likewise, if you're shooting high, you'll want to hit lower. This means you need to RAISE the front sight.

Do the exact opposite to the front sight than you would do to the rear sight to correct the point of impact/point of aim.

Regards,

Josh Smith
Smith-Sights LLC

having owned several of these rifles i will give you my insight on what i have found....may not be your troubles,but it was found to work for me...first off i didnt expect great things from mine...just wanted eight inch pie plate groups at 100....didnt get it most of the time,but i have found that by removing the top handguard it shot better...

.i have also found shooting with a real good recoil pad on it helps...alot.that steel dont feel real good...

the other thing i have found by using a range book...is the temp affects my rifles...if its cold they dont shoot good,hot as it was saturday...95 degrees or so they shoot really good....there are a few good youtube videos that give some in depth instruction on how to make your trigger better....they have some on making an adjustable front sight.....i have used the front site adjust video...its not difficult...actually works good.

hope this helps you.good luck

I finally got the thing zeroed in! Thanks for the help!