Spent Saturday at the range shooting different reloads for 7 different rifles. One the more pleasant Saturday's I've had in a while.

I notice on my 25-06's, both Rem 700's with factory barrels, Timney triggers on both and both with bedded actions, that the first shot out of each rifle was spot-on target. The second and third shot of the 3-shot string was always lower and to the right. The last two shots would either touch or nearly touch each other. It did this on all loads from the lowest to the highest. Best group still came in just under an inch though.
I'm shooting the first round loaded and the 2nd and 3rd rounds from the magazine. Think they may be sliding in the case a bit? If so, what do I need to do?

To test if that is the case (it is possible), then single load a group or two.

If it turns out to be the problem crimp in your bullets.

take one of your finished cartridges and just press the bullet against the door frame. It should take a pretty good push to get it to move if at all. If it moves readidly, take the resizing ball out of your die, chuck it in a drill motor and buff it down a bit with #0000 steel wool or emery cloth. Don't overdo it.
Take the formula from your best 3 shot set and load up about ten of them and see what kind of group you get shooting them all at the same target. A 3 shot "group" doesn't really tell you much. The consistency of the strikes could be a random thing, a bench technique, or a bedding problem. However, a 700 (I assume a hunting rifle) that will put 3 shots in under an inch couldn't have too much wrong with it.

Smack the barrel with a brass hammer. It has some residual stress in it. Remove it from the stock first and suspend it from the tang. I am not kidding.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Smack the barrel with a brass hammer. It has some residual stress in it. Remove it from the stock first and suspend it from the tang. I am not kidding.

I am confused by this, can you point me towards some literature on the subject?

This is a new one on me. Do you smack it longitudinally or laterally? Can you give a more scientific definition of "smack". What weight hammer?

quote:

I'm shooting the first round loaded and the 2nd and 3rd rounds from the magazine. Think they may be sliding in the case a bit? If so, what do I need to do?

Advice above already covered and good, too; epecially the expander ball touch-up and use of a Lee Factory Crimp Die.

Try a test with all three shots loaded singly; then attempt another test with all three rounds loaded from the magazine.

See if this groups to your satisfaction (although <1" isn't exactly too shabby for a hunting load).

Hey, there is no documentation on it. True story from last month; a friend got a new barrel on his .308. Shot like yours. Our old machinist friend told him to hit it with a brass hammer whilst suspended from the tang hole, and that would stress relieve the steel. (98 Mauser). He did that, and the groups immediately came together. That is all I know about it but I saw it happen. I did not believe it would make any difference but it did. Next time I have a barrel like that, I will try it. No need for confusion or drama; it is exactly what I said and that is all I know about it.