Erratic grouping

[jr57]

Dear all, I have a No 4 Mk1 on which I've fitted a good quality modern x4 scope.

I'm getting frustrated with the grouping. For example, I've just fired 10 rounds at 100 yards. The first 5, 4 of the shots were in an inch group slap bang where I wanted them to go with one flyer about 3 to 4 inches off to the left. The second group, 3 shots bang on with 2 about 3 or 4 inches off to the right !!!

Does anyone have any idea what might be the cause or is this "a normal grouping".
Am I expecting too much ??

The rifling looks ok along its length although doing the bullet test in the muzzle does indicate a bit of wear.

I'm using home loads and tried various bullet weights with N140 but all pretty much the same results.

Any suggestions ?

Cheers.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Get yourself 10 UK made rounds of .303" Mk7. Fire two or three warmers in the bank and then let a well known reliable shooter a group of 5 or 6 off a table (or fire trench) at 25 yards with his fore-arm rested on a sandbag. Then come back and tell us what you got and we'll tell you what the problem is.

[jr57]

Ok thanks all for the replies.

Peter, I have done as instructed but with commercial ammo.

At 25 yards my shooting friends group was 1" low and 1" right of centre with no flyers.

I then shot a group of 5 with exactly the same result, no flyers.

I then shot a further 8 and again exactly same result, no flyers.

All groups were 1".

[browningautorifle]

There's so many variables at this point we can't help but guess.

[Robert303]

If you cannot get surplus Mk VII ammuntion use commercial ammunition off a rest and do as Mr Laidler suggests. Then get a known good shot to do the same.

[Beerhunter]

If you cannot get surplus Mk VII ammuntion use commercial ammunition off a rest and do as Mr Laidler suggests. Then get a known good shot to do the same.

The problem with most commercial ammunition these days is that it isn't really Mk.VII because, although the bullets are of the correct weight, they have boat-tails and Lee-Enfields prefer flat-base.

[Peter Laidler]

Like testing your cars performance. If it was made to run on 4 star, don't test it on un-leaded!

[Robert303]

Whilst I agree with Beerhunter and Mr Laidler re Mark VII ammunition in a SMLE or No4. I have to point out one problem with their argument. It is VERY difficult to get Mark VII ammunition. Most of us have no option but to use commercial or homeloaded ammunition. As we all know there is no easy source of supply of flat based bullets that are legally available to target shooters in the U.K.

[CINDERS]

The is a thread somewhere talking about Barnaul making 174 FB projies and another that Taipan (Australia) was making a comeback but as yet with the latter there has been nought in the wind, Highland have pulled the plug on 303 pills now so 174gn Seirra are it unless your filthy rich and can afford to throw Woodleighs down the range.
I have used 150gn Hornady FBSP with good results to 400m but they taper off a fair bit at 600m

[Ridolpho]

I have used a lot of Remingtons 174 gr MC. This is a full jacketed bullet that appears to be flat based on the picture on the box. I'd be glad to pull one and photograph it. Many of my rifles are bang on at 100 to 400+ yards with this load.

Ridolpho