[shoeshooter]

"Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

I've been slowing working on a target rifle project. Finally made it to the range today to zero it. VERY windy, gusts to 20 - 25, set up at 50 yards. Considering the conditions, and the rifle's 4.5# trigger, I think it has some potential.

You'll notice that several rounds on both targets keyholed. What is likely cause of that, and the cure? I was shooting my customary Wolf Match Extra, all I had with me.

<img src="http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab191/shoeshooter/24Feb2011001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

<img src="http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab191/shoeshooter/24Feb2011.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

 

[miker84]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

What powder and how much?

 

[cottonmouth]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

I can't see the holes good enough but it may just bee the target tearing. Get us a close up.

J.B.

 

[shoeshooter]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

This is "Rimfire" 22LR. Don't know why the targets would start tearing, same batch I've been using with my Kimber with the same ammo. Only difference is I don't usually do 50 yds, shoot the Kimber at 100.

 

[SubGunFan]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

You hit a flying BUG.............


miker84, Shoe is shooting 22RF ammo.

Some keyhole and some don't............... Hmmmmm... ?

Did you have a clear path to the target? No weeds and such....?

.

 

[shoeshooter]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

Clear path, on the 50 meter berm on Magnolia's center range. Heavy wind, mostly in my face. Same ammo lot as usual, different rifle, a low end Anschutz.

 

[miker84]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

ahhhhh. Rimfire. I shoulda paid more attention. If the last rounds keyholed, leading would be my guess.

 

[shoeshooter]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

Intermittent. No pattern to it. Unless it was catching a blast of wind head on?

 

[miker84]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

just like a car, when it's random, it's hard to tell.

 

[nonnieselman]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

Shoe, i had some my targets tear and look like keyholes. Can you see the lead on the target? Similar to a powder burn or someting.

Try printing them targets on cardstock or something thicker.

If your sure its keyholing, give that thing a serious cleaning and start over.

 

[miker84]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

Not to hijack, but what do yall use to de-lead. Hoppes?

 

[SubGunFan]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

Printing on thicker paper is GOOD idea.................

.

 

[shoeshooter]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

They are the exact same targets from the same ream of paper that I've been using for weeks. Why would they suddenly start tearing with a different rifle?

Obviously, further testing is needed.

 

[captain-03]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

Shoe -- what does the crown look like ... ??

 

[SubGunFan]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

Shoe, post a zoomed in image of the targets. Just the area of the hits, not the whole target.

I am thinking...... (just an idea...) what about humidity...? It was HUMID today. Humidity would soften the paper............

.

 

[shoeshooter]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

I'll take a look at it tomorrow night.

The big problem, I think, is going to be the trigger. Bad things happen when you do your research "after" you make an impulse purchase. From my research so far it seems that while this particular trigger has some adjustability, it's not very user-friendly. Going to have to dig deeper because a 4.5 # pull ain't gonna get it done at 100 yds. I know I can put a lighter spring in it, the one in it now feels like it came off a dump truck.

All things considered, it didn't group too bad for the first 50 or so rounds.

 

[shoeshooter]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

Could be humidity. They are kept in my shop, but the weather's been so nice I haven't had the AC on the past few days. Can't enlarge the scans I have because I'd resized and resolution too low. I'll rescan tomorrow and get a close up. I'm starting to lean towards the "tearing" theory. Hope so anyway, targets are cheaper to replace than rifles.

 

[amorgan]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

not to hi jack this but where can i get those targets so i can practice on them?

 

[Doug Bowser]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

I would suspect a damaged crown in the muzzle. Look it over.

Doug

 

[shoeshooter]

Re: "Keyholing" at 50 yards. What's up?

PM Captain-03 with your Email address. He'll send you a .pdf.