264 grouping issues

[JackOfAllTrades]

I shoot old ammo all the time without accuracy issues, but I do store my ammo correctly.   Since you changed scope, then change ammo something 'newer' after you've given the barrel a good cleaning. (I don't think a dirty barrel will do this bad, but it would be a good idea).   You weren't possibly shooting 6.5 Remington through it?  -Just a question..
I think you're going to have difficulty finding factory ammo heavier than 140gn.
 
-Steve
 

[Bob33]

There's something here that doesn't add up. You have a rifle that shoots well and has for 50 years: let's say 2" groups. You put it in the gun safe, take it out a year later, and now it shoots 9" groups with the same ammunition and scope that worked well for all that time?

[ckr]

My guess is there is a bedding issue or even more likely a cracked stock.  A friend had the same problem with a older ruger 7mm. One year it was great, the next he had 7in groups.  It took us a while to figure it out but we found a running crack on the inside of the stock.  We got a new one from Boyd's and bingo back to dead nuts

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

If you reload, find the correct COAL for your rifle.  Hornady makes a good tool to measure the bullet seating depth with a shell and find out where the bullet meets the lands.  I was having terrible
Accuracy with mine, I found that lengthening the cartridge tightened it up significantly.  Now under and 1" at 100.  I reload mine so they are just short enough to fit in the mag. 

[grousetracker]

theres only 2 things it can be, bad mounts or rings. the gun will not change just from storage, same scope,bullets. the stock is not going to fail with out abuse or swelling. how did you sight in the 2nd scope if the gun shoots all over? if your sure the scope is good check the mounts rings or have a buddy shoot to confirm gun issue.

[264winmag]

I don't reload unfortunately.     I didn't sight in the other scope. I gave it a quick bore sight the just shot a group of 3 aiming at the bull all 3 times. no need to adjust 2nd scope.  same awful group. even if the 2nd scope was off it would still group.           I will work on cleaning the copper out and go to range again.  will update tomorrow!   thanks for the input

[TwoSixFourWins]

Look on midwayusa, they have a lot (relative to what used to be available) of loaded ammo offerings. Might try the hunting shack 140 VLDs or something from nosler? You are obviously not shooting a ton if your box of cartridges is five years old, splurge a little and buy some good ammo.

[CAMPMEAT]

I had a problem like that a few years ago, shots all over the place. Found out it was the scope, sent it back because it had a lifetime warrenty, fixed the problem. 

[snowshoes22]

Have you checked the crown for dings.

[Three_Oh_Eight]

I live near you and have lots of M70 scope mounts and bases and the cleaners mentioned above.  If you want, I would be happy to have you over to tear the gun down, clean it down to metal, inspect the whole thing inside and out and then put it back together with a different set of mounts/rings.

[CAMPMEAT]

I just thought of something. We were shooting steel a couple months ago and a guy had the same type of problem, shooting all over the place. He gave it to my buddy who's a gunsmith. He took it apart and found that it had a lot of oil all over the barrel, action etc. He cleaned it up and it made a world of difference. Wasn't perfect, but helped out quite a bit. Just a thought. 

[thinkingman]

I had a problem like that a few years ago, shots all over the place. Found out it was the scope, sent it back because it had a lifetime warrenty, fixed the problem. 

That was going to be my guess too.
If it wears a gold ring and suddenly loses accuracy, that's the problem.

[CAMPMEAT]

I had a problem like that a few years ago, shots all over the place. Found out it was the scope, sent it back because it had a lifetime warrenty, fixed the problem. 

That was going to be my guess too.
If it wears a gold ring and suddenly loses accuracy, that's the problem.

My scope was a Burris, sent it in and had it back in 2 weeks. Of course those were the gold ol' days...

[coachcw]

maybe you can trade to the guy with the .257 Roberts ?

[Heredoggydoggy]

As I recall, the 264s were  notorious barrel-burners.  The bore might be copper-fouled, but if that doesn't work to your satisfaction, maybe it's just time to get the old beast a new barrel after so many years.