Can't hit a thing

[derry boy 2]

Lads I've recently bought a .222 rifle and fitted it with a swaro scope. This is my fist C/F rifle and my problem is i could'nt hit a door at 20 yards. I've been shooting a .22 R/F for a long time and would be fairly confident at 100 yards, I would normally be shooting groups of 1.5" at this distance. I just can't get used to the recoil from the rifle compared with the R/F. Has anyone any tips which could help me with this problem.

 

ATB Derry Boy

[Guest busterdog]

I wouldn't call myself qualified to give advice mate but I've just got over the same thing with my .223. All you have to do is put the hours in and get out and use it more, i can still remember the very fox i watched fall over and realised i hadn't flintched or blinked.

 

All I've got to do now is get over my .243 and all will be rosey

[mattydski 560]

I am sorry to hear you are having recoil issues. It can take some time to get over.

 

.222 is not necessarily renown for a vicious calibre to be honest but if your not used to it..and you are feardy of it...then it is a problem.

 

Are you hesitating when pulling the trigger? are you tensing up just before you pull the trigger because of the impending bang.

 

One technique is to use snap caps...or spent rounds in your gun. Go to where you shoot with a friend. Get in to your shooting position, but have him load the rifle with either a live or a dummy round........you wil not know if it is going to go off or not, you start to relax a little. Then at some point he will load a live round, and BANG........You fired it whilst relaxed....and you relise its not that bad.

 

Mechanically you can improve muzzle, flip, perceived recoil, and the noise issue with a moderator.. This would help in the short term make your more rifle shootable, but mask the original problem, which still needs addressing.

 

Do you know any one with a Hornet, all the bang with out the recoil??? That would build you up to it.

 

The other thing to consider is trigger pull. If your trigger pull is too heavy, that will have the same effect, because you dont know when it is going to go bang..

 

See if anyone else has suggestions.

 

Matty

[waidmann 105]

as above the .222 is not a hard caliber.

do you have a moderator fitted?

when you squeeze the trigger you should always be surprised when the shot breaks.

at what distance are you shooting? are you sure the rifle is not spreading,crown ok?(get someone who has a little experiance to fir a five round group ay 100m and see if it looks better)

are they factory ammo you are using?

 

atb waidmann

[derry boy 2]

as above the .222 is not a hard caliber.

do you have a moderator fitted?

when you squeeze the trigger you should always be surprised when the shot breaks.

at what distance are you shooting? are you sure the rifle is not spreading,crown ok?(get someone who has a little experiance to fir a five round group ay 100m and see if it looks better)

are they factory ammo you are using?

 

atb waidmann

 

I don't have a mod fitted and would be shooting from 50 yards out 150 just practising. The rifle has a two trigger pull system, where the first trigger cocks the second making it very short and sensitive. I shoot alot with my 12g semi auto were noise and recoil are no problem, maybe it will take time and practice to get comfortable with the rifle. Oh yeah it is factory ammo i'm using which I have also varied alot to find which brand see likes best.

 

 

Can anyone suggest where i could get a few lessons on a rifle range. I'm in the N. London area

[riohog 5,701]

as above the .222 is not a hard caliber.

do you have a moderator fitted?

when you squeeze the trigger you should always be surprised when the shot breaks.

at what distance are you shooting? are you sure the rifle is not spreading,crown ok?(get someone who has a little experiance to fir a five round group ay 100m and see if it looks better)

are they factory ammo you are using?

 

atb waidmann

 

I don't have a mod fitted and would be shooting from 50 yards out 150 just practising. The rifle has a two trigger pull system, where the first trigger cocks the second making it very short and sensitive. I shoot alot with my 12g semi auto were noise and recoil are no problem, maybe it will take time and practice to get comfortable with the rifle. Oh yeah it is factory ammo i'm using which I have also varied alot to find which brand see likes best.

 

 

Can anyone suggest where i could get a few lessons on a rifle range. I'm in the N. London area

is it a single set trigger 2 possitio or 2 seperate triggers but regardless you are pulling the shots antisipating the bang ...try this rest your trigger finger on the trigger lightly dont sqeeze your f=trigger finger ..just tighten your fist !! difficult to explain and breath out when taking the shot .good luck

[walshy0988 28]

try shooting it with ear defenders on first.It could be the band putting you off,or as above the trigger pull if its to hard you could be snatching at the trigger makeing you pull all over the place. but practice is the best thing id say

Walshy

[jamie g 17]

it just takes time mate. a new rifles allways does. keep hitting the targets and your soon get use to the trigger.

[derry boy 2]

Thanks for all the advice lads,I will let you know how things progress.

[danw 1,748]

Lads I've recently bought a .222 rifle and fitted it with a swaro scope. This is my fist C/F rifle and my problem is i could'nt hit a door at 20 yards. I've been shooting a .22 R/F for a long time and would be fairly confident at 100 yards, I would normally be shooting groups of 1.5" at this distance. I just can't get used to the recoil from the rifle compared with the R/F. Has anyone any tips which could help me with this problem.

 

ATB Derry Boy

 

Just a thought but have you checked the scope mounting and the bedding screws it might not be you.

 

Bisley is not that far from you and it could be worth calling www.riflecraft.co.uk they do courses.

[waidmann 105]

[langouroux 14]

haven’t read most of the answers so far but my recent experience may be of help:

 

I recently purchased a 6.5x55 and zeroed it with out a mod....although I developed a flinch and couldn’t seem to shake it after zeroing......again like you I had been using rim fire for a long time.

 

my mentor told me about "the eternal second" which is actually the split second between your brain telling your finger to pull the trigger, and you actually pulling it....you are expecting a big bang and a smack in the shoulder, which for that split second you compensate for by flinching! He had a friend who couldn't get rid of his flinch and he ended up locking his rifle up for 12 months!!!!!!!!!

 

so i had the trigger adjusted to the lightest it would go for tikka T3, ordered a wildcat compact moderator and put the rifle back in the cabinet for 3 weeks! I shot my .22LR for those 3 weeks gaining confidence with every shot as it wasn’t smacking me about. My Mod turned up...got my mate to re zero it so I didn’t end up scared of it again and i KNEW it was on the money as long as I was! (I think this was the key part to be honest) and now I’m drilling under 1 inch groups with factory ammo at 100 yards, and going stalking on Monday and Tuesday on some new ground I have just picked up

 

Hope this helps

[SNAP SHOT 194]

I am sorry to hear you are having recoil issues. It can take some time to get over.

 

.222 is not necessarily renown for a vicious calibre to be honest but if your not used to it..and you are feardy of it...then it is a problem.

 

Are you hesitating when pulling the trigger? are you tensing up just before you pull the trigger because of the impending bang.

 

One technique is to use snap caps...or spent rounds in your gun. Go to where you shoot with a friend. Get in to your shooting position, but have him load the rifle with either a live or a dummy round........you wil not know if it is going to go off or not, you start to relax a little. Then at some point he will load a live round, and BANG........You fired it whilst relaxed....and you relise its not that bad.

 

Mechanically you can improve muzzle, flip, perceived recoil, and the noise issue with a moderator.. This would help in the short term make your more rifle shootable, but mask the original problem, which still needs addressing.

 

Do you know any one with a Hornet, all the bang with out the recoil??? That would build you up to it.

 

The other thing to consider is trigger pull. If your trigger pull is too heavy, that will have the same effect, because you dont know when it is going to go bang..

 

See if anyone else has suggestions.

 

Matty

 

 

This is sound advice, and one used by many armed forces, to get recruits out of flinching.... Also check all the mounts etc... as said it may not be you.

 

Also go to the range or whereever... place a snap cap in the rifle and pull the trigger until you notice the release point on the trigger.... it will give you an idea of when to expect the release....

 

Concentrate on your breathing, taking 3 breaths in and slowly out.... moving the scope onto the target...

 

At the moment of exhalation on the 3rd breath or whichever suits... at the "bodys natural pause" the moment where you neither breath in or out...

 

normally lasts between 5 to 8 seconds, take the shot then....

 

 

try and pull the trigger straight back with the trigger finger.... to avoid sideways movement of the gun, you may not think it happens but it does...

 

 

Snap.

[potshot 0]

Another thing that has not been mentioned, which part of your finger do you use to pull the trigger. You should use your fingertip which is much more sensitive but a lot of people use the first joint of the finger.

[ratattack 111]

I bet the set trigger is the problem! Too sensitive after using a .22rf. My mate had one and i couldn't hit anything on set trigger i was fine without setting it, try using it without setting the trigger. Just use the rear trigger, you will be used to squeezing for a short distance before the rifle goes off. I'm sure it will improve as you will learn when it's gonna go bang and be prepared without tensing up. I won't use a set trigger as the slightest touch and bang it's away before you are ready