Gun wont group UPDATED: GOT GROUPS

[Stickerbush]

well I was mistaken on the bullets, I was shooting federal 150 grain soft points( blue box)

[cooltimber]

tighten front bolt 1st,then bolt on trigger guard, when you put rifle back together.

[baker5150]

It's the caliber. You need a magnum. Minimum .338.  A 6x24 scope, trigger job, and a Boyd's stock. Hand loads shooting thru radar and dip the bullet tips in platinum. 

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Probably just the ammo.  I've had bad luck with some and nice tight groups with others.   Experiment, it's a good excuse to go shooting.

[JakeLand]

Federal blue box are horrible!!! They aren't even close to being a consistent round go with a better quality manufacturer like Barnes or hornady and of course make sure everything is looking clean tighted and level

[steeleywhopper]

Trigger pull may be an issue? I know a Ruger I had would not group well until I had the 7lb trigger pull eliminated.

[Derek Sutton]

I had a similar issue with the first rifle I bought as an adult.  Sighted it in with a hand full of rounds and hunted a couple of years without any problems.  Went to the range before the next season and couldn't get anything consistent; high, low, left and right.  WTF!?!?!  Tried a few different loads, had the scope remounted, sacrificed a chicken but nothing helped.  At the end of my rope I took it in to the shop where I bought it thinking I'll be buying a new rifle.  As I started to explain my problems to the counter guy, Webb, asked "how did you break in the barrel?".  I replied "went to the range and sighted it in".  Webb smiled as he started to outline the proper barrel break in procedure then said I most likely have copper build up in the rifling.  For close to an hour he went to work on the barrel with Sweet's 7.62 Solvent.  The first 5 or 6 patches came out more blue than I have ever seen. Once the patches came out clean Webb said "you're good to go".  Never had an issue after that.  If you're still dealing with target inconsistencies start with the Sweet's and make sure you have all the copper fouling out of the rifling. 

Webb stressed using the correct cleaning equipment like; The correct size jag and nylon brush for the caliber you're cleaning.  1 piece ball bearing rod that allows the jag and brush to move in the rifling freely. And a bore guide because it will protect the breach and ensure the rod stays in the middle of the barrel.  Avoid using brass brushes because they can dull/ smooth/ damage the rifling edges.  Using a gun cradle makes the whole cleaning process so much easier, for $50 the Tipton Range/ Cleaning Box works great for me. 

#1 Load a patch with Sweet's and run it down the barrel.
#2 Wait a few minutes then make a couple of passes with the nylon brush and when the brush is 'gummed up' it needs to be cleaned before using it again.
#3 Run new patches down the barrel until they come out clean and dry.  (If you want to conserve patches you can flip them over after to use both sides)
#4 Continue that cycle until there isn't any blue on the patches.
#5 When finished run a patch with protecting oil. 

I was amazed how much better the ball bearing 1 piece rod and jag works so much better then the break down style rod and slotted patch puller I used growing up.  And having 2 rods eliminates having to switch out the jag and brush.  For under $200 I bought everything, and more, than needed.  Additionally he said Hoppe's 9 and many other solvents won't come close to what Sweet's will do. 

Just in case here are links to examples of the items needed:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1903148105/tipton-deluxe-1-piece-cleaning-rod-carbon-fiber
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2093148654/bore-tech-proof-positive-rifle-cleaning-brush-8-x-32-thread-nylon-package-of-3
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/815732/tipton-universal-bore-guide
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/643582/sweets-762-bore-cleaning-solvent-200-ml-liquid
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/134140/tipton-range-box-with-empty-universal-cleaning-kit
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1255118238/pro-shot-cotton-flannel-cleaning-patches
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/147049/tipton-gun-cleaning-patch-trap

The break in process Webb recommended was to shoot 10 to 20 rounds, cleaning all of the cooper out after each shot, as described above. Continue with shoot & clean, shoot & clean until you see a significant reduction of the cooper residue.  Then shoot another 20, cleaning after every 2- 3 shots.  After each cleaning cycle be sure the barrel has cooled before shooting another round.  The concept is once correctly broke in the cooper won't build up nearly as bad.  And after broke in only clean the cooper out of barrel after 20 to 25 rounds.  Sounded a little overkill and time consuming but I'm a believer.  After breaking in my next 3 rifles properly suddenly I've become a much better shooter... 

Many of you guys probably already know this but wanted to relay the information Webb shared because it saved my sanity and $$$ by not buying a new gun.  It was surprising how many of my rifle hunting friends have never heard of how to properly break in and clean their guns to ensure all the cooper is removed.  Hopefully a few of you will benefit from my experience and long ass post...

[biggfish]

If you're looking to stay cheap with better results remington core lokt is the only cheap ammo I've had good results with. Don't have a .308 but the .30-06, .30-30, and .270 send them down range consistently with 1.25" groups at 100 yds. If you're not worried about price I'd buy at least a box of everything you can find and pick a winner to hunt with.

[rasbo]

If you're looking to stay cheap with better results remington core lokt is the only cheap ammo I've had good results with. Don't have a .308 but the .30-06, .30-30, and .270 send them down range consistently with 1.25" groups at 100 yds. If you're not worried about price I'd buy at least a box of everything you can find and pick a winner to hunt with.

I have used the core-lokts all my life,they have never let me down...

[Bill W]

I've only found one rifle ever I couldn't make shoot.  It had something wrong with it that neither me nor a good gunsmith could fix.  It sits in someone's shelf now.   

I did buy a rifle once that the previous owner said "won't shoot".  I looked inside the barrel and couldn't see rifling.  After a good cleaning, checking the bedding and making sure the scope, and bases were tight I started again.  I kept that rifle for 20 years before it went to it's next owner.  The groups I was getting after cleaning and servicing were in the .8 range at 100 yards. But then it's hard to find a bad Remington 788.   I did find rifling after that first good cleaning.

One other issue with it was a cheap scope with the "innards" knocked loose.  I replaced it with a scope of known quality that I'd used on other rifles.

[JLS]

Derek,

I agree on one piece cleaning rods and jags.  Every gun owner should have them.  If you're using a three piece rod and slotted tip, you're slowly ruining your rifle.

Get a bore guide and a good rod, along with the appropriate sized jag.

I've used Sweets, Barnes, JB Bore paste.  They are all good, but Wipe Out is by far the easiest.

FWIW, I have several rifles that I'll shoot well over a 100 rounds through without cleaning them, and accuracy remains well under MOA.

[PolarBear]

Federal blue box are horrible!!! They aren't even close to being a consistent round go with a better quality manufacturer

That's funny. I easily get dime sized groups at 100 yards with that crappy blue box ammo out of my daughter's .243 and my old 30-06.   

[SemperFidelis97]

I was thinking the same thing polarbear.  My kids .243s shoot lights out with the blue box ammo.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

[PolarBear]

I was thinking the same thing polarbear.  My kids .243s shoot lights out with the blue box ammo.

Sent from my E6782 using Tapatalk

I shot for Federal for 12 years so I am a little biased. 

[jackelope]

Federal blue box are horrible!!! They aren't even close to being a consistent round go with a better quality manufacturer

That's funny. I easily get dime sized groups at 100 yards with that crappy blue box ammo out of my daughter's .243 and my old 30-06.   

That doesn't mean that ammo will shoot that well out of everything. I'd be shocked if it did, personally.

[Bob33]

Believing that a certain ammunition which shoots well or poorly in one rifle will shoot  the same in a different firearm is a fool's errand. Two identical rifles of the same make, model and caliber will often shoot differently with the same ammunition. Very slight variations in barrels can result in different harmonics as a bullet travels down the barrel.

Conclusion: only your rifle can tell you which ammunition it prefers or dislikes.