Accuracy issues: Equipment, technique or both?

[bwaites]

I have been squeezing the rear bag.

I'm not really sure how firmly I should be planting my cheek onto the stock or how firmly to pull in into my shoulder. I think I am being inconsistent with both.

I also noticed that the rail cover on the bottom of my PRS stock was moving forward during the 5 shot groups (I noticed after the grouping was finished). It would be nearly off after 5 shots from the recoil driving backwards, but the rear bag grabbing the cover.

Using the tip of my finger for trigger pull on the 2 stage SSA-E...the best groupings were when I was completely surprised by the discharge, versus anticipating the shot. I don't believe I was blinking today. Not consciously thinking about resetting trigger.

The rail cover on the PRS is a bone of contention for all of us that use the stock. Magpul should have figured out a fix for it a long time ago! I've hot glued mine to keep it in place, but that creates an issue if you want to take it on/off to mount something. The hot glue works its way loose over time, so it doesn't damage anything and it isn't permanent, but its a stupid, poorly thought out issue.

Face/cheek pressure is a personal and gun thing. Some guns seem to like more contact and weight on the butt, others less. I barely rest on my 7mm WSM, although I have it firmly against my shoulder. I tend to hold my AR's a bit tighter, but the 28" seems to actually like being held like my 7mm the best.

One thing you might try, just for fun, is to set your rifle up so that the only point of contact is your shoulder behind it and the trigger finger. That means the crosshairs are centered without you touching the bags. This creates an almost free recoil situation, so be aware the gun may jump and move a bit. See if the shot goes to the center of the crosshairs or not.

Looking at your target posted above, I would say that you may also need a little better zero on your rifle, but that might simply be that you are consistently pulling it right as you fire.

Are those 1" squares? If so, I would strongly consider trying a different bullet. You're getting a spread of 55 FPS, but you could probably tighten that up with 123 Amax's and the Amax's seem to shoot good in everything. The other 2 bullets I'd try would be 120 SMK's and 120 Nosler BT's which both seem to shoot well in everything.