Hi all, I don't visit here that often, but thought this would be the place to come for advise. I've been shooting my Taurus 454, sorry not a single shot, alot lately trying to wring out the accuracy potential of a variety of bullet designs, nose and base variations of cast. One thing I've noticed is that I get more than a few groups with a diagonal string in almost a straight line going up and to the right. I'm shooting from a bench with a 2x4 stand and sandbag to rest on about 10" off the bench. I'm shooting two handed, with elbows on a blanket rested on the bench. The bbl is on the sandbag pushed forward against the frame. I have a Simmons 2.5x7x28 in the Taurus mount. I can keep the cross hairs inside a 1/2" square while shooting. The best group I've gotten so far is 1.4" at 50yds. Some look like they would go better, but a flier keeps them from looking as good. And then the diagonal groups show up. I shot one today with 4 shots in a diagonal line, 2.2" center to center and .029" deviation from a straight line the fifth one was an inch higher in the middle of the group. Anyone have any comments on proper technique and consistency shooting from the bench?
TIA Lar.

number your chambers and shoot a series of groups preferably each point of aim 4" apart on the same horizontal line, making each group a group fired from the same chamber do this slowly and methodicaly preferably timing each shot roughly at the same interval. Give us a repot on how it shoots. one more reason to shoot single shots.

Resting the length of the barrel on sandbags can interfere with harmonics and thus cause inconsistent grouping and, consequently, stringing. Try limiting the contact area to just in front of the trigger guard, which should still lend ample support to steady shooting.

Lar, from my experience this is usually caused by a little jerking when pulling the trigger. On longer barreled guns you can occasionally experience barrel whip in this manner, but this wouldn't be the case with the pistol. Try loading every other cylinder and shoot through all six chambers. The jerk will become apparent to you on the empty chambers.

Are you crimping heavy? it is a must for the 454 not only because the bullet may jump in the case and lock the cyl but You need the heavy crimp for proper ignition. You will also see the stringing due to wide spreads in velocity.
fireball

Thanks for the input. I'll number the chambers and try groups from each one. I am useing the Lee Factory crimp die and have checked for bullet jump on the fifth round with none dectected. Without the Lee crimp my max velocity spread is around 200fps and with the Lee crimp is closer to 26fps. I'm useing WC820 powder. I'm not flinching. I don't think I could put 5 into 1.4" at 50yds if I was. I can shoot my 45-70 BFR with 405's at 1750fps and get 2" groups at 50yds, so recoil is not generally a problem.
Thanks for the thoughts.

More Powder, Bigger Bullets.
lar.