Originally Posted by
rancidtom
Where are you supporting your arm? (I assume this is the left arm if you are right handed) Are you gripping the rifle with your left hand? Are you pulling it into your shoulder with either hand?
All of the above points can make a huge difference to group size. I'm not saying you are doing something wrong but to compare like with like you will also have to compare position, support etc.
My advice would be to wear a glove on your left hand, do not grip the rifle as such, just cradle it with your left hand, do not support your left arm any further forward than your elbow, do not pull the rifle into the shoulder just lightly touching so you can allow the rife to have an unrestricted shooting cycle. Even if you are supported the follow through after the shot is as important as the moment you squeeze the trigger. A very common and often unconscious fault many people acquire is to look up as soon as the shot is gone, in doing so they are destroying the chance of a good group. Breath control is another area many people pick up bad habits, whatever pattern you follow make certain it is consistent.
Stance, well you say you are seated, but make sure you are in a comfortable and repeatable position.
I know this sounds like I'm saying you don't know what you're doing but we all pick up errors and keep repeating them.
If I pick up a new (to me) gun and it all seems to be a bit slack on the grouping I consciously try to take a step back, analyse and go back to the basic book values just to see if it has any effect, positive or negative, it may reveal that I am the problem or it may point to a problem with the gun or pellets, either way it might help me get along to becoming more consistent with this gun until I go to shoot another gun!
I know it sounds tedious but so does pellet testing and tuning a gun, you have to suck it and see, make notes, change an aspect test again and make more notes. Don't rush to conclusions, if something works then try changing away and make notes. Is the grouping worse? Now go back to where you were with good grouping, shoot a few groups, draw up a new average and compare, it should be the same average size group as you were getting before, if not then you haven't found the real cause of the inconsistency.
I know it can be frustrating but if it gives you a grin when you get it right then that's what it's about, enjoy the shooting!