Spent some time at the patterning plate (grease plate?) today at Kiowa Creek, shooting a couple of light 16s. One English and one American. The weather today was absolutely wonderful, sunny, high 60s and light breezes (who needs a spring break, eh?), I was shooting short (2 1/2-inch), one ounce RST 8s and this little event answered several questions for me today. My basket case M12 is right on the money, throwing nice predictable I/C patterns with maybe a little lead built-in, maybe 65/35 patterns at 30 yards. My W. Richards is throwing it's usual (& nearly perfect) 60/40 patterns, but....hard right, from a half to a full pattern at 30 yards. Upon closer examination, the 1/4-on cast I had put into the gun when I bought in (back in 2012) is now at about 1/8-cast off. Not sure how that happened over these intervening years, but the results are hard to argue with. I knew something was off this fall while shooting it at ruffed grouse, as I had several unexplainable misses (of the jaw-dropping variety). I got so frustrated with it that I switched over to another gun and, thankfully, went right back to more-predictable outcomes. Oh well, it's back to the stock man again for another bend.

They do that sometimes, Lloyd. The Spanish gun I had bent 1/4” left is back to neutral. Hope it sticks with the second bend.

Best,
Ted

And here I thought it was all me. Well, redemption of some sort I guess. If the next bend lasts at least that long I should be all-right this time. If I'm fortunate enough to still be chasing grouse then, I'll gladly go in for my third try.

You told me a couple of days ago that you didn't pattern unless there was an issue.
I was surprised to see your post this AM!
Glad you figured it out.

I've often wondered if wrapping the grip of a gun that has been bent in a pack of dry ice for as long as it takes for the dry ice to evaporate (sublimate), would "set" the bend permanently.
JR

This seemed to have happened fairly quickly last fall. It was beyond unseasonably warm then, well into the 80s on many days (and the inside of my vehicle when the sun was shining was likely even warmer). I don't believe I've ever used this firearm in such warm conditions before. Normal temperatures in October up there usually range from the 40s at night to the 50s and 60s during the day. In desperation, I was even hunting in shorts, an orange t-shirt and high-topped sneakers some days (which because of ticks, I seldom ever do). I'm wondering if the relatively high heat and humidity had something to do with it?