I appreciate the response, guys. I’ve resolved the problem already though. The thing was that I initially loosened the bushing screws to see if free-floating the barrel would have an effect on accuracy. And with the barrel being able to move freely, everytime I rotate the cocking knob to either the left or the right, the breech o-ring – they are 90 durometer – will turn the barrel respectively, thus affecting POI. The bushing screws are back to being tight again and the problem has dissappeared.
I am currently in the process of finding out the effects of holding the Condor at different points and their influence on POI. So far, I have noticed that placing my forend hand just behind the second bushing (the one next to the power wheel) gives me better results. I theorize that the weight at the muzzle end – starting from the front of the forend hand – will allow the barrel to free-float to its natural position.
With the aid of a laser mounted to the front end of the gun, it’s easy to see how much bending the aluminum frame exhibits as I look through the scope. With my trigger hand holding the pistol grip, I’ve found that placing my forend hand way close to the muzzle will bend the barrel up – for you bipod users, take note of this! And, when my forend hand is placed just right behind the rear bushing, or, directly below the forestock, the front end of the barrel drops back to its neutral position. Further, pulling in the pistol grip to my shoulder also alters the muzzles point-of-aim; it sort of twists the frame slightly. Again, this is with the assistance of a laser. I already mentioned in a past post about putting lateral pressure on the forend area of the gun and how it too shifts point-of-aim, so I don’t need to get into that. In essence, the Air Force rifles’ aluminum frames are prone to bending. The frame-flexing doesn’t occur, however, when the gun is held lightly at the pistol grip area and lightly at the forend area. DO NOT HOLD OR REST THE GUN ON THE FRAME CLOSEST TO THE MUZZLE! BIPOD USERS, YOUR POI WILL CHANGE WHEN YOU SWITCH FROM RESTING THE FRONT END VIA A BIPOD TO HOLDING IT ON THE FOREND WITH YOUR HANDS. So, with what I have said above, the key, therefore, is to hold the gun lightly.
I urge you guys to try installing a laser on your rifles and see for yourself how certain vertical or lateral pressure alters the muzzle’s point-of-aim. It is real simple to observe. Just watch how the laser’s point deviates from its original location from the scope reticle with varying lateral and vertical pressure. It really is a big help in helping you to see what other variables lie present when shooting the AF rifles.
Adam, good find!
I appreciate the response, guys. I’ve resolved the problem already though. The thing was that I initially loosened the bushing screws to see if free-floating the barrel would have an effect on accuracy. And with the barrel being able to move freely, everytime I rotate the cocking knob to either the left or the right, the breech o-ring – they are 90 durometer – will turn the barrel respectively, thus affecting POI. The bushing screws are back to being tight again and the problem has dissappeared.
I am currently in the process of finding out the effects of holding the Condor at different points and their influence on POI. So far, I have noticed that placing my forend hand just behind the second bushing (the one next to the power wheel) gives me better results. I theorize that the weight at the muzzle end – starting from the front of the forend hand – will allow the barrel to free-float to its natural position.
With the aid of a laser mounted to the front end of the gun, it’s easy to see how much bending the aluminum frame exhibits as I look through the scope. With my trigger hand holding the pistol grip, I’ve found that placing my forend hand way close to the muzzle will bend the barrel up – for you bipod users, take note of this! And, when my forend hand is placed just right behind the rear bushing, or, directly below the forestock, the front end of the barrel drops back to its neutral position. Further, pulling in the pistol grip to my shoulder also alters the muzzles point-of-aim; it sort of twists the frame slightly. Again, this is with the assistance of a laser. I already mentioned in a past post about putting lateral pressure on the forend area of the gun and how it too shifts point-of-aim, so I don’t need to get into that. In essence, the Air Force rifles’ aluminum frames are prone to bending. The frame-flexing doesn’t occur, however, when the gun is held lightly at the pistol grip area and lightly at the forend area. DO NOT HOLD OR REST THE GUN ON THE FRAME CLOSEST TO THE MUZZLE! BIPOD USERS, YOUR POI WILL CHANGE WHEN YOU SWITCH FROM RESTING THE FRONT END VIA A BIPOD TO HOLDING IT ON THE FOREND WITH YOUR HANDS. So, with what I have said above, the key, therefore, is to hold the gun lightly.
I urge you guys to try installing a laser on your rifles and see for yourself how certain vertical or lateral pressure alters the muzzle’s point-of-aim. It is real simple to observe. Just watch how the laser’s point deviates from its original location from the scope reticle with varying lateral and vertical pressure. It really is a big help in helping you to see what other variables lie present when shooting the AF rifles.
Safe shooting, all!