Testing dirty barrel at 1,050 yards

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[@ErikCortina]

Before this video, how many of you would have guess grease would have caused that much variance? 🤔

[@michaelmoore1779]

Nope!

[@mikebrinlee780]

nope

[@cwinter90]

So did the grease allows the gun to jump upwards out of the rest ever so slightly?

[@sjohnson1776]

I would never have suspected such a small thing would make so large an impact.

[@usa5865]

I've noticed a lot of the shooters are older than you. This just goes in the experience toolbox of things not to do in the future. When you're that age, the experience will make you untouchable

[@walterrie3075]

That's why I love watching "the Cortina". Honesty from start to end. Respect, Erik and thanks for the aftermath.

[@joemeyer6876]

The precision required in this 1000 yard grouping boggles my mind.

[@finngamesknudson1457]

So true. I am fascinated by long range precision shooting, but so far Eric’s worst group at 1050 yards looks about like my best at 100.

[@RollinsBrown]

Absolutely.

[@barrygrant2907]

Lesson learned: Never introduce a new variable (grease) and expect the same results. Tough break, Erik, but at least you solved the dilemma.

[@ilikepiepls]

Very impressed with the dedication to finding the error of your last day at Nationals. Respect

[@David-uk3nv]

So, are we seeing a shirt depicting a large shot group with " I lube my stock forend" soon? Just joking, love your videos. Amazing what seemingly trivial things might influence precision in top tier competitions.

[@rikacoetzer8135]

😂👍

[@ramsaycountry1177]

As Paul Harvey would have said, "and now you know the rest of the story" as you know Erik the hard lessons learn are the ones you'll not make twice. 👍

[@usa5865]

I absolutely can't believe the difference from such a small amount of recoil management change. It blows my mind that such little changes have such an impact

[@TrueBlueYZ]

I don't believe

[@doomfathertm8771]

its not the recoil but the barrel harmonics

[@bjornegan6421]

@@doomfathertm8771 i wouldn't be surprised if it's both, but I do think the recoil is a big factor. Bryan Litz has a nice slow mo video of the muzzle of a rifle moving rearwards before the bullet exits. add some lube, now the rifle can move more than before. harmonics probably factor in when considering a lubed recoil is less friction.

[@x.adam1]

Next time use Crisco. It'll glide so smooth that it'll turn your 4" group into 1". If it fails you can always fry up some chicken.

[@superbeast-lq3ft]

KY jelly so it dont hurt so bad.

[@JohnDavidHays]

Very impressive process, Erik. As Karl Popper said, “Science is basically trial and error” and Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. The utter heartbreak of making a mistake and the great joy of discovering why makes life worth living. Thanks for sharing.

[@kirkmartin2223]

"The difference between science and messing around, is writing stuff down"

[@robertc1024]

Dang! Being an engineer, and looking at failures, that was a brilliant test!!! I was watching the match as time allowed and was bummed that the third day took you down. I bet that won't happen again. Best of luck next year.

[@cescasmare6]

Damn your accuracy is phenomenal. 4 inch group at 1000 is impressive.

[@kokonanana1]

Not accuracy, precision!!!

[@philsara1476]

Erik as usual you never disappoint thanks so much for posting, learnt so much from you, regards from Western Australia.

[@thompsonjerry3412]

The smell of shit in the morning really clears the mind. Used to compete nationally in bowling, thinking is your worsts enemy, do what you always do!

[@jerrytenbusch5222]

Any idea why the grease on the stock made such an impact?

[@CCW1911]

I'm guessing it changed the way the rifle moved back under recoil and at 1,000 yds even tiny differences in recoil pattern will make a big difference. I don't know what the material is in the part of the rest that actually touches the forearm but some materials become sticky when grease is applied especially if the grease has and additive to make it stay put. Or it could've been the over way and made it slide easier but I think increased drag would effect the rifle more than less would. It will be interesting to see what Erik comes up with I'm betting he won't let this go until he knows for sure.

[@dragonflyfab9703]

Man I love the Cortina screw ups more than any other Gun Tube. Jareds Guns&gadgets, Demo Ranch, Reno May, F Class John, Winning in the Wind, West Desert. Eagle Eye, Sooth, Hickock45, Warrior Poet Soc, 22 Plinsker. Maranda's Armed scholar. Johnnies Reloading Bench. Brian Kleckner. MAC, and many more. ( man I don't have a life) but thank you all.

[@ErikCortina]

😂

[@stephenhair5501]

I'll buy that T-Shirt. "I Lubed." LOL

[@ErikCortina]

“I lubed and got fu**ed” 😂

[@ericbynum9724]

Thank you for sharing this. I know it can be difficult to share these kinds of mistakes but it helps us all. Thank you for your dedication to the sport.

[@baddrandy]

This should emphasize just how important consistent recoil management’s actually is. Everything U do behind the boom stick has to be the same every time! All the time. Change=change

[@impactaustria]

I think most people probably don't understand the rifle is actually starting to move (backwards in recoil) the moment the bullet starts to move. It's physics. So consistent recoil control is essential for tight groups. Little things go a long way, they say...

[@harbselectronicslab3551]

I am guessing the recoil is not pushing back evenly........its kicking a bit sideways at the butt when you fire......making the rest more "slippery" has allowed it the push back further, allowing that extra push at the Butt to move sideways even more than normal, hence the wider group.

[@evanmerrell5006]

Man I'm just getting into lr shooting, well trying to 😂, and loading for myself and your content has been a great help. Thanks for what you do bud

[@wrstew1272]

Seems like what I learned about my air rifle, anything at any place changes the point of impact. And that is red squirrel at 15-20 yards. 1050? Forget about it!! I would be off the target with my skills even with your rifle. Glad that you chased down what happened, and came to a reasonable cause and effect. Won’t do dat nomore, eh.

[@roylandgrave9495]

To think lube screwed you over.....

[@ericallison7985]

what caliber rifle is that?it's a beautiful gun!

[@LabRatJason]

This is exactly why guys don’t wash their socks before the big game. Never change ANYTHING about your routine.

[@12longbow]

What is the application you are using to mark your shots?

[@grahlaika]

I'm also curious about that

[@DrunkCerberus]

Okay, so if grease on the forend is a detriment, would something tacky be helpful? Please do the science for us Erik!

[@ShastaBean]

Curious how it grouped once it did get a barrel-clean. Overlapping variables in play...such that a clean barrel WITH the grease might have actually grouped the tightest? Maybe unlikely, but certainly possible.

[@TroyTownsend-k5j]

So is a straight back sliding barrel just a sign that a gun has been shot with good shooting disciplines and was stabilized well or has the bullet already left the barrel by the time the rifle reacts. Is your F-class support mechanism designed so that only a straight back reaction can occur after a shot? I can see how a sling stud can cause muzzle jump but I don't see how adding 'grease would hurt anything. Sorry just brainstorming some ideas, I am not into taking unethical shots but those poor groups would still be dead deer,at 1000 yds, if you were shooting a ray gun with unlimited energy and penetration. Your videos get better and better each time watch them, think Ill subscribe, thanks Cortina.

[@1014p]

So you guys lock your rifle into basically a shop vice block? Is this that so called rail gun type of shooting? Just seems weird to me. Might as well add molded wedges to clamp down on the stock so it really won’t move after shot.

[@twhaz2001]

I was told by a multiple world champion. (not rifle) NEVER change anything at a Match. It has served me well. Thank you for sharing. Not many would share that with others.

[@michaelmatich9837]

Amazing that something that seems so inoculous could cause such a difference! Kudos for the determination to figure it out and the mental fortitude to recall the details. Lessons learned!

[@RobertSimpson-i3z]

What is the pad material on the bottom and sides of the front rest? Looks like maybe HDPE on the sides. Can’t see the bottom well enough. Thanks

[@rotasaustralis]

Haha ohhh Eric, when did you acquire this propensity for such luxury? You're married like most of us & all of a sudden you think you shouldn't be in the shit? Anyhow, that test was very revealing & confusing. If I had to bet that greasing that front rest would make things better or worse, I would've lost that bet. Still though, instead of assuming, you did yourself a service by thinking carefully & then testing the variables you knew of. Now you know for sure what the problem was. Yeah, you made a mistake but, you won't make that mistake again.

[@billcarlson852]

Come on, your Calvin kline's were bound up to tight.......

[@gus97cobra23]

Eric, I would like to thank you for all the great information that you share, i have learned alot from you and look forward to ever new video you put out. I look forward to meeting you one day! Russell Weeks

[@GusL-gv3wv]

Hey Erik I would love to build a gun for out to 500 yards any suggestions on what caliber?? Thank you for any input!!

[@juliusjames5577]

Can you explain why that grease would affect your group negatively? The rifle should still be tracking straight back under recoil? I can’t figure out why this would affect accuracy?

[@X-ForceBro]

0:43 😂 I totally understand bro I'd missed it my dope with a 6.5 creedmoor at 450 yards for the first time trying to shoot groups and was a foot under the target it's tough out here man

[@andrev7226]

Hi Eric. I just watched this very interesting post. Could it possibly be that some grease found its way into your chamber by means of the chamber flag you inserted after greasing the action? Best regards from South Africa

[@russellmiller212]

F class is a new phenomenon to many of us..5 shot strings measuring just over 1an inch at 1,000 yards. Shall we redefine m.o.a.?

[@med0ri]

I reckon by having the grease it's introducing very little muzzle jump

[@keithmilliken6290]

Nice, but sad to see you are human also besides being such an excellent person. I enjoy your videos immensely. Thank you. Have a nice forever, Uncle Keith

[@dannywarren1549]

Hay eric thanks for all you videos... but can you do a very very simple load development video... basic step by step... every body goes on and on and take way to much jargen...

[@bingogarvin2924]

Hi, don't know how things are done now, I shot rimfire competition,preparing for a match would not clean rifle till after match, would be filthy,if you cleaned it would undo everything you did to get ready

[@clapton924]

Usually lubing your foreend is a good thing. Hmm 😏

[@scottsutherland3088]

You really beat yourself up over this stuff, and you may have some people thinking that this is a farce, however when a person is falling trees the tipping with a wedge 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch at the base can be 6 to 10 ft depending on height of the tree.

[@Fixxer82]

But why did the grease variabel open up the group? Did the grease make it so the rifle became more sensetive to outside vibrations from your pulse ect? Harmonics?

[@ecleveland1]

It's hard to believe that a thin film of grease on the tip of the forearm could make such a difference. There are so many variables in shooting I'm surprised anybody can shoot consistently good groups at longer ranges.

[@beefcakes27]

As Maxwell Smart would say, "The old greasy stock trick."

[@bigrod0069]

Sure does suck when ya do something that you never would think it would ever change it for the worse that bad. That's How we learn all we do, all them little things. Crazy it did that.

[@tonystewart7287]

Thanks Eric for the update, 20hr drive stewing on it! at least you can sleep easy now. Can’t trust the Cat’s Pyjamas 😂

[@bobwiese6128]

Wow Erik, impressed that you went thru this journey segment still learning. Kudos Sir. Much Respect from Wisconsin.

[@jaquesbuckle4132]

It is difficult to believe the results of your test. Do you think that you can duplicate this test to see if the result will duplicate itself. As they say "one swallow does not make a summer" Always enjoy your video's.

[@philipmedlin8902]

That's crazy. I'm not familiar with your rifel. Can you fill me in on what you are shooting.

[@tymarkham3931]

Sorry that happened to you, but you always have said Constance constantly, so that is what i do every time 👍🏼 well i try to 😂

[@dasschiess-wesen2214]

have you got a video where you speak about you control your breathe and your bloodpressure?

[@emmanuelmonge6965]

hey, umm youtube unsubbed me even though i always watched your videos til like 2 months ago when i guess i was unsubscribed.

[@contactericjones]

What electronic target system are you using? @Erik Cortina

[@lisamcgrath9012]

I've been looking for the same information - hopefully some insight soon - thanks

[@lisamcgrath9012]

R.I.F... I see it now. Silver Mountain Target. - Thanks

[@contactericjones]

Just to clarify for anyone wondering. It's the SOLO E-Target system by Silver Mountain Targets www.silvermountaintargets.com/

[@yosefmartinez9318]

I heard that many guys are claiming the rifle every single round I guess that they burn the barrel because of the amount of times just causing friction 🙈😫

[@dytont73]

Where I live, we believe that if you step in shit, you're going to be lucky :)

[@wayneholmes8183]

What is the carbon plate over your barrel? Is that to stop mirage from the hot barrel?

[@mickroberts5166]

FFS man, get over yourself. You made a mistake, you are human. Live and learn

[@cretcher9419]

I am in total disbelief that the lube could make that much of a difference! Just crazy to imagine. Thanks for making a video about this!

[@randyemenhiser2573]

I don't understand why greasing the outside of your stock would cause that.

[@jdlr3777]

If I had to guess, it's changing the way the rifle recoils which changes the follow through.

[@pgbcredneck]

shi...crappy lesson, thanks for passing it on. love the machine shop vids

[@MichaelLloyd]

What are you using to track the impacts? It doesn't look like a Longshot.

[@iMakos101]

I don't get it... Whats the science that makes grease do that? Change the barrel harmonics?

[@ronmartblog]

Oh no - thanks for sharing your findings so others can learn from this

[@jessewerner4067]

And all of your shooting buddies buying you grease tubes!

[@JRotten]

I'd jump for joy if my best day shooting was as good as your worst 😁😁😁.

[@joshrandall8473]

So what's the science behind it? I slides easier changing barrel harmonics?

[@motorcyleadventuringwithmi2778]

Text book example of the Scientific Method.

[@barryoakes5976]

Lmao,, “this is bullshi..”. Ahh the country life

[@patrickcolahan7499]

What is the material on the sides of the rest. If it is a polymer, they react to grease and can become very sticky. Just the opposite of what you would expect. Hate to mention this but what is the perfect situation, every shot is like the last. True in loads, true in mechanics and true in equipment. Thanks for sharing this, reinforces what we do and what we do not want to do.

[@dragonflyfab9703]

💥

[@kokonanana1]

Often Teflon.

[@scottwinters3255]

We have to be related. If it wasn’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all!

[@IRishbuck58]

Great video live and learn. God Bless you for honesty 😅

[@angelaprater2679]

Unreal just that little grease cost you placement.😮

[@mgabriel2636]

Shouldn't those front rest glides be teflon to start with? What kind of front rest is that?

[@brentrasmussen2440]

Did you see any difference in the velocities between greased and ungreased?

[@JimParvin-o9e]

It changed the harmonics of the whole damn thing.

[@nandocrudele7924]

No offense, but that sounded like 16 min of crying. The grease caused your lack of steadiness to be more apparent, isn’t that correct? You are normally much more scientific on explaining but this was just finding an excuse for failure.

[@ErikCortina]

LMAO Ok, you are obviously the expert so I won’t argue with you.

[@crcdesign9886]

What is that target you're using? And is it something that's hard to setup?

[@blaynemacpherson8519]

What is your target? The app or system on your phone etc? Never change your routine.

[@ErikCortina]

Silver mountain target

[@ralphproudfoot620]

I have stock tape on my rifle as soon as we can shoot here again I'm going to put some grease on and see what happens

[@bobwiese6128]

Breathe, my perfectionist friend, Breathe...

[@Urban_Tarzan]

What equipment do you use to see the target hits in real time like that?

[@douglasbattjes3991]

Eric, Were you in Edinburgh, Ind. for the match last weekend, wish I'd known, would have driven down.

[@ErikCortina]

Yes I was.

[@Thoseaboutto911]

Still would like to see the group after cleaning?

[@paulcompton7861]

Why change ANYTHING mid competition? That's the kind of lame thing an idiot like me would do! ;)

[@ErikCortina]

It wasn’t a change.

[@jsgll...godgunsliberty1197]

who cares when thats the most important issue in your life. . .

[@davepartlow6430]

That's very interesting Erik. My mind goes to railguns that slide pretty easily and shoot extremely accurate. I would think you'd want it to slide easily, not roughly, in the rest, shoulder pressure being the resistance. Would load development with a greased rest change your groups?

[@ErikCortina]

Rail guns have rails that keep them from torquing. These rifles don’t.

[@ericwahlberg9096]

Who knew? It's clearly the little things.

[@andrebosgraaf2086]

Hoe would this rifle shoot from a harris bipod?

[@greggjohnson7667]

Exactly how does grease on the forend cause that?

[@ianrobertson4537]

What happened to you has happened to all competitive shooters. It displaces your brains and replaces them with mush. You know what I mean, match nerves.

[@ErikCortina]

I didn’t put grease on stock because I was nervous. 😂

[@extremepyro624]

Wonder if the velocity changed any with the lube on there allowing more recoil. Itd be cool to mount the Mantis X on the end if the barrel and see if it picks up what difference in movement was there. I can just imagine how this would pan out in my world trying to figure stuff out days later. Wife: I've been talking to you for 10 minutes, did you hear a word I've said? ME: Ah yeah, WIFE: What'd I say? Me: Ahhhhh, sorry I was thinking about something. I did hear , " Did you hear a word I've said though"

[@bpintogsxr1000]

Wow. That’s crazy. Hey now you know.

[@jamessammann9183]

Erik.that is ,amazing, shooting at 1000 yards

[@richardlawton1023]

Was it also the variable of the different tension in the front rest?