I'm getting a perplexing shot pattern with my M77 7mag.
Typically a three shot pattern of about 1.25" has two bullets touching and one off at a higher angle. Sometimes itis the second shot that's the flier.
Doesn't matter if the barrell is warm or cold. In fact I have shot a 3/8" group with the barrel warm.
I tried a five shot group and the the first three were a triangle of about 1.4" and the last two were touching on of the first three.

Anyway, Are there some typical shot patterns which diagnose problems such as bedding,shooter, etc.?
Thanks

Things to check:
Scope mounting screws, all of them. The screws that mount the base to the receiver, screws that hold the rings to the base and ring screws.
Bedding. I don't know how your barrel and action are bedded. But, from what you report, I'd zero in on bedding. I bed the receiver, recoil lug, and a couple of inches out the barrel in front of the receiver, leaving the rest of the barrel floating. There are other ways, but I've been doing it that way a long time with good results.
In your shooting technique, make sure you are totally consitent from shot to shot, everything from breathing, sight picture, hold, trigger squeeze, trigger break and follow through.
If, after doing the above, the rifle still doesn't shoot, I'd look at the barrel to see if it's ok.
Don

quote:

Sometimes it is the second shot that's the flier

That is not a flier.....it's part of your group.....measure it and accept it.....then do something about it if it's not good enough.

The only fliers are those caused by the shooter and he calls them before he sees where the shot went....he knows he blew it.....

If the shot isn't called by the shooter as a known error on his part it must be considered as part of the group.....not a flier.

Westernmassman,

I have had a similar pattern.

I believe "normal" diagnosis is that vertical stringing is usually a bedding problem, horizontal stringing is usually a high-spot on the stock bearing on the barrel, and two alternating groups are a broken/loosely mounted scope. I have horizontal shot stringing with one of my Rugers. Couldn't get less than a 2.5" group w/ factory ammo. I found a powder it likes, though, and it gives me sub MOA with that combo, so I never sent it back to have Ruger look at it, though they offered to when I called them.

Hope this is helpful,

Steve

Most rifles won't even shoot a 1.25 group..There is nothing wrong with your gun, its a inch an a quarter rifle....

Try some other loads, that's about all you can do..

If your getting two together and one off a couple of inches then maybe you have some bedding problems, so check that out, maybe glass bed the rifle, free float it, put a shim under the forend, whatever it takes...

Based on your pattern, I would suggest that you tighten your front screw a bit, sometimes that will cause a group seperation...I can usually look at a group pattern and tell you what is wrong with a rifle, at least what may be wrong with the rifle, but only if it has to do with the bedding.....

Westernmassman: I was having a similar problem with developing loads for a friend's Model 70 FTW in 7x57mm a few years ago. I posted the question on HuntAmerica.com and Jack Belk gave an excellent response. If you'll go to HuntAmerica.com and do a search under Hunting Rifles and Gunsmithing under Tom Purdom, Model 70 FTW accuracy problems, or possibly 7x57mm it should come up. Then just scroll down to Jack Belk's response. I wish Mr. Belk would come back to these forums. I really miss his expertise. Tom Purdom