I have 3 Steyrs that shoot well from the bench, a 30.06 Professional, a 7x57 Mauser Luxus and a 6mm Remington L model, all 1" - 1 1/2" capable. I have taken hogs with the 7mm and 30.06 sitting or standing on the first shot. Fully loaded the .06 and 7x57 weigh 8.5 lbs, the 6mm about 7lbs+. All have 24" barrels though the 6mm is a lighter contour and action is smaller/lighter.
What I find confounding is that I shoot the 6mm high over game consistently on the first shot-maybe two. It is not a loose stock or scope mount. I practice ahead of the hunt hitting a 6" target at 100 yards 9 out of 10 shots - standing. I know it's not the gun but what I do or how I shoulder it when acquiring my target and pull trigger in field conditions.
Once with the 7x57, I came across a couple of walking hogs 80 yards out who picked up the pace when they got my scent. I watched them both while shouldering the gun, acquired the front one and shot, hitting right behind the shoulder. This was essentially a snap-shot but hit where I aimed.
I find the Professional with it's plastic stock, full forearm the easiest to hold stead - it's just ugly. With a 1.5x6 scope it is beefy and lays steady in hand. The 7x57 is also easy to shoot, equipped with a 1.25 x 4.5 scope, has a slimer stock but the weight makes it settle well. The 6mm has a 3x9 standard reticle and slimmer stock than either. All have similar cheekpiece dimensions/lop.
My question to all: Is there an aspect light rifles cause what I describe? ...lack of practice? ... bullet characteristic? ...light muzzle/overall weight?
I am more interested in field hits than bench accuracy and need to understand what happens in general between medium and light rifles in hunt environments.
