Variable accuracy (well precision, actually)?

[LRRPF52]

When I shoot a .308 bolt gun or any bolt gun, I manage it a bit differently than an AR chambered in something bigger than .223 Rem.

I have to put a bit more effort into manning up on the gun, whereas I can free-recoil a lot of bolt guns and the POA=POI without much effort.

If you use the same shooting technique with the AR15/Grendel, it will loosen-up on you.

Some of the groups will just shoot naturally, and others will open up when free-recoiled.

I apply more rearward pressure on the pistol grip with my firing hand’s 3 remaining fingers, isolated from my trigger finger, driving the butt into my upper body more firmly.

I build up my rear bag and settle it in well so that it doesn’t collapse with the first shot. I check the sight picture with simulated recoil to ensure that the reticle doesn’t wobble outside of the POA. If the position doesn’t feel right, I re-build it. It helps to start out focused on the target when laying the position in even on a bench, so that the natural point of aim is as dialed-in as possible before you even settle down behind the rifle.

I then quickly go through my fundamentals and start breaking shots in a cadence with consistent application of my shooting sequence, as opposed to slow-fire.

This will produce very tight groups for me when checking a rifle’s zero and load, as I prefer to spend most of my time shooting at distance and getting audible feedback from steel.

But it feels like something different when I shoot a bolt gun off bags. I can be a lot more relaxed with a bolt gun, to the point that it feels like cheating.