Cold bore vs warm bore POI

[ws6duramax]

Question for the experts on here.

I have a Bear Creek Arsenal Ar in 6.5 Grendel. It has a BIG shift in point of impact from 1st shot cold bore to 2nd shot warm bore. It's right at 4 inches of elevation and also left to right. After 1st shot, there is no change and it actually shoots great groups.

I've tried 2 other loads and 2 factory loads , all have been roughly the same shift. All groupings are pretty good on all loads , but my original one definitely is the best.

What are any possible reasons for this big of a POI swing? I'm leaning towards just a low quality/tolerance barrel , but thought I'd ask the more experienced. I'm very inexperienced when it comes to reloading, but I have good friend that has been helping me out.

 

[hammerd13]

Are your cold-bore shots, also clean-bore? If your bore is clean initially, some fouling can improve shot consistency.

Also, you mention 4 inches of elevation...what distances are we talking about here? 4 inches at 50 yards (approximately 8 moa) is a much different animal than 4 inches at 400 yards (approximately 1 moa).

 

[42769vette]

It could also be your handguard.

 

[ws6duramax]

Are your cold-bore shots, also clean-bore? If your bore is clean initially, some fouling can improve shot consistency.

Also, you mention 4 inches of elevation...what distances are we talking about here? 4 inches at 50 yards (approximately 8 moa) is a much different animal than 4 inches at 400 yards (approximately 1 moa).

They would all be fouled bore shots.
100 yds , so 4moa shift

 

[ws6duramax]

It could also be your hamdguard.

What effect would the handguard have? Barrel nut is tight, and nothing is touching the handguard.

 

[AndreusMaximus]

What effect would the handguard have? Barrel nut is tight, and nothing is touching the handguard.

I assume he was thinking that you may have a traditional-style handguard. If you have a free-float handguard then you're right, it shouldn't have any effect, AFAIK.

 

[ws6duramax]

I assume he was thinking that you may have a traditional-style handguard. If you have a free-float handguard then you're right, it shouldn't have any effect, AFAIK.

Yeah , it's a free-float handguard

 

[42769vette]

I assume he was thinking that you may have a traditional-style handguard. If you have a free-float handguard then you're right, it shouldn't have any effect, AFAIK.

This I'd where I was going.