freedom arms 100 yd groups

[onegoodshot]

Put glass on the 97 yesterday and loaded 50 rounds last night. 25 yd was resting off a chair. The 50 and 100 were from the bench in the back yard. This was just a random load of 2400 that I found on the internet and the batteries in the chronograph were dead.
I'd like some input...What am I doing wrong that is causing the vertical stringing?

I'm assuming it has to do with consistency in grip. The flier in the 2nd group was shot #2. Without it I was looking at less than 3 inches for the other five shots. Trigger is good on this gun, "but it ain't no contender"

[subsonic]

Got a lot of variables to conten with. I'm going to bet that random load from the internet may not be the most accurate.

What is your bench setup like? What kind of rest and how are you positioned? Revolvers are sensative to the way they are rested.

And of course there is the shooter, the scope, etc

[subsonic]

Then there's parallax. No cheek weld on a pistol.

[taffin]

I'd like some input...What am I doing wrong that is causing the vertical stringing?

TRY GAS CHECK BULLETS. THAT IS A STANDARD HEAVY .32-20 LOAD BUT HOT FOR PLAIN-BASED BULLETS.

[subsonic]

Could be that too. Getting any leading?

There are 3 things to rule out:

Load
Gun and sighting system
Shooter and technique

Proces of elimination time!

[onegoodshot]

Load came from leverguns.com article.
www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3220wcf.htm
The level 2 data showed 11.0 gr and the hot level 3 data used 14.0gr of 2400. I'd been shooting 100gr JHP's but only had 6 loaded rounds left.

Explaining my notes on the target:
The first group at 100 yds was 3 1/2" long. The last 4 shots were 1 1/4".
On the second 100yd group shot #2 (9 o'clock square) was the bad flier that opened the group up to 4". The other 5 were in 2 7/8".

Rest was a sandbag. I allowed the grips to rest on the bench and squeezed the bag to adjust elevation. Still used two hands to grip the gun.

Thanks for the input so far gentlemen. I'll give the jacketed load a try and go from there.

[bradshaw]

onegoodshot.... Found, in my very limited experience with this cartridge, the .32-20 to be especially load-sensitive. A conclusion of vertical stringing cannot be concluded from your two groups at 100 yards. Rather, the bullet or charge combo may not want to shoot tighter. If the verticality is the basis of your complaint, and not overall grouping, look to consistent hand placement on grip, consistent nestling of revolver on rest, consistent accumulation of pressure on trigger. And coordinate respiration exhale with squeeze. Focus eye on crosshair----not target----just like it's a front sight.

I have seen both vertical and horizontal stringing with iron sighted handguns which I attribute to the shooter's individual eyesight. I have seen this while spotting and coaching, and am satisfied shooting position and load were not the cause. Am also aware some individuals see either the vertical or horizontal crosshair more clearly. Not suggesting this is the case here; unless you experience it with other guns. Vertical string becomes as predictable as nightfall when an inconsistent grip (placement or squeeze) is used on a big bore handgun, or heavy bullets are loaded with excess velocity spread.

Looks like a Bushnell 2-6x32mm LER scope, a glass with excellent adjustments and repeatability. In examples I've used, parallax is not a factor. Taffin may be correct on powder and heat abrasion of the lead bullet. Small bore tend to be more sensitive than large bores. If you have a pile of those bullets, backing off the throttle may make them more accurate.
David Bradshaw

[jayhawker]

Shooting hand on the bench, gun MUST not touch the bench. You say grips on the bench, if that means the grip frame is actually resting on the bench, that is a problem.

[subsonic]

Yes, the grips need to be on a bag or something that will give a little and the pressure against that bag needs to be consistent, moreso as recoil is greater.

My best guess at your problem is the load. Try to get a baseline with some XTPs and H110 or 296. I know those will shoot if you work up a load with them.

[Fowler]

I would also keep things in perspective here, a 6 shot 4" group at 100 yards it not exactly something to quivel about. As others said what does it do with a gas checked bullet and/or jacketed bullets? Most of the time, especially with a FA the guy behind the trigger will be the weak link in the group size. I get vertical stringing from the bench almost always, it is very hard to grip the gun and allow it to exactly the same every shot, it is all part of mastering a gun...

[bradshaw]

Fowler.... I was riding the .32-20, I'd hold it loose and ride it. The cartridge made me forget my hand cannot abide the FA M97 grip on a .45 Colt. I don't shoot a 97 worth diddly.

Bench shooting a revolver is difficult, leastwise for me. The more complicated the rest, the more complicated the hold. I watch guys shoot everything from the AR 15 with a tactical library bolted to it, to magnum revolvers from these Rube Goldberg contraptions. Throw a sandbag up there, cover it with a piece of leather or nylon belting, and shoot. Anyways, the .32-20 groups at 25 and 50 yards, with the groups at 100 yds, suggest the group is not living up to the gun. My guess is that an FA M97 .32-20 is ready to do better.

I consider this case open until the shooter sorts it out.
David Bradshaw

[onegoodshot]

Appreciate all the feedback. I'll work up a few loads and report back.

Kinda like training a horse. I can learn more in a few minutes from someone who knows what they are doing than trying days to discover it on my own.

[crazycarl]

No idea what yer doing wrong, but please teach me your bad habits. Some very nice shooting there, IMO.

[onegoodshot]

You guys posting pics of iron sighted groups that put my glass scopes to shame.

How about some suggestions on a 296/110 load using 100gr hp's. pm if you want.

Thanks,
Joe

[subsonic]

www.go2gbo.com/forums/hand-loading-for-rifles-and-handguns-sponsored-by-diamond-k-brass/wanted-32-20-loads-with-h-110-from-rile's-handloader-article/

Start a grain or two low and workup. I bet your FA will eat alot heavier loads than that and not blink.