Post by: Sporting_Man on February 26, 2010, 04:40:26 PM
This rifle throws 3 inch groups when clean (copper removed), on average. After I shot 20 rounds, it starts tightening... I made a couple of clover leaves today from the dirty, warm barrel on 100 yds, of course.
I consider myself a decent shoot, have other rifles that I always clean and they do well with their barrels clean... This one is my best looking, best handling and best liked of them all.
Now, experts, please tell me, should I keep this rifle - it drives me nuts..? What can be done to improve consistency here..? Is it worth it?
Thanks
Post by: Bob33 on February 26, 2010, 05:16:36 PM
This rifle throws 3 inch groups when clean (copper removed), on average. After I shot 20 rounds, it starts tightening... I made a couple of clover leaves today from the dirty, warm barrel on 100 yds, of course.Does the rifle always shoot 3" groups with this ammunition from a cold, clean barrel?
Do the clover leaf groups come from the same ammunition as the 3" group?
Accuracy issues are very difficult to debug. Sometimes it is simply a matter of too small a sample size. Imagine throwing 1000 darts at a board. Somewhere along the way, three consecutive tosses will touch each other, and somewhere else along the way three consecutive tosses will be five inches apart. Are the darts bad? Is the thrower bad?
I would not discard the gun yet. I would have someone else shoot it and eliminate any possibility of human error first. I say that not to offend you, but it is a process of elimination. After you have positively eliminated the human error factor, the next step would be scopes and barrel contact. You've eliminated those, apparently. Ammunition is next. I have seen guns shoot 1/2" groups with a certain ammunition, and 3" with different "premium" ammunition. Guns, especially ones with lightweight barrels, are usually extremely finicky about their tastes in ammunition. You may need to try five or more to find something the gun likes.
If it comes down to the gun shooting well when dirty, that's easy: don't clean it. Seriously. If it is matter of the barrel shooting poorly when cold, that's a problem, especially if you plan to hunt with it.
Go through the steps, one by one. Take your time, take good notes. Remember that small sample sizes can be misleading. The military shoots thousands of rounds when testing ammunition. One good group, or one bad group, can lead to false conclusions too easily.
Post by: bobcat on February 26, 2010, 05:29:35 PM
Post by: DoubleJ on February 26, 2010, 05:48:29 PM
Post by: Big10gauge on February 26, 2010, 06:07:27 PM
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 26, 2010, 06:11:28 PM
First to answer your question - My first shot today was actually pretty decent, a tiny bit lower than expected... Then it warmed up (not hot by any means - I take my time between shots) and started scattering. At the end of the session, same ammo (Sierra Game King 130 grains) ended up clover-leaved twice... And no, I am not offended by going through your checkup list. Of course that human error is just as likely to be a reason...
DoubleJ,
This trigger is 3 lbs. I got rid of my otherwise good Ruger Hawkeye because of the heavy trigger. That's when I got this Featherweight...
Thank you guys, any advice and opinion is appreciated.
Post by: Huntbear on February 26, 2010, 06:53:41 PM
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 26, 2010, 07:12:46 PM
As stated above, check the action screws, and the scope base and ring screws. Is it already bedded? All things to look at, and maybe change.
It seems that the action is bedded nice and neat. Barrel is free floated, evenly from all sides. Could not notice any contact with barrel.
Post by: Huntbear on February 26, 2010, 07:44:17 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 26, 2010, 08:05:03 PM
Post by: Sporting_Man on February 26, 2010, 08:54:08 PM
have you checked the barrel free float when it heats up???
Not positive. You got me on this one! However, that clearance between barrel and forend stock looks very substantial while the barrel is cold.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 26, 2010, 09:07:51 PM
Post by: BPturkeys on February 27, 2010, 06:57:38 AM
It sounds as if you have done everything possible to make it shoot and alas, it just won't shoot like you want. It sounds to me like the barrel has one of two problems; your rifle was one of the first off the line after Winchester installed a new set of reamers, new reamers produce loose barrels, loose barrels shoot loose groups (can improve with a little fouling), or, and not as likely considering the groups "tighten up" as the barrel fouls, is that the crown is defective. But the bottom line as I see it from what you are saying is that the barrel itself is the culprit and there is very little that can be done to fix these problems. I good gunsmith can re-crown the barrel and maybe that will fix it but you're talking spending a fair bit of change on a maybe.
Sorry man, it is sad to give up a gun that you really like.
Post by: tbotts on February 27, 2010, 08:44:42 AM
If this or any of the other ideas already mentioned don't work, I would just keep it dirty and use it, since you like the rifle and it groups well after 20 shots.
Post by: yorketransport on February 27, 2010, 09:26:04 AM
I've had better luck with slight upward muzzle pressure on skinny barrels. A couple of business cards under the forend would be an easy test.
Andrew
Post by: high country on February 27, 2010, 05:20:30 PM
when you shoot from the bench does your barrel touch anything? what is your technique for bench shooting?
Post by: davew on February 28, 2010, 05:41:13 AM
It's a 30/06, and shoots much better with 180's than 150's. You might want to try different bullets through yours, too.
I glass bedded the action and put the pressure point in using fiberglass tape and epoxy resin.
Post by: Sporting_Man on March 01, 2010, 01:21:01 AM
Besides, ammo is not cheap, so excessive range visits cost serious money, escpecially for rifles that are inconstistent like this one.
Post by: wsmnut on March 01, 2010, 07:32:43 AM
I called Browning/Winchester Service. They said "send us that rifle". A few weeks later they sent me a NEW rifle. How is that for customer service?
Give them a try.
wsmnut
Post by: Bob33 on March 01, 2010, 07:59:53 AM
Post by: buckman on March 02, 2010, 10:18:55 PM
Post by: Alchase on March 03, 2010, 08:09:26 AM
Post by: MagKarl on March 03, 2010, 11:26:59 AM
Post by: woodswalker on March 03, 2010, 11:36:03 AM
Quote
The factory bedding is a little squirt of hot glue gun type gunk at the recoil lug, that's it.
Yup, that is why mine get PROPERLY rebedded...then shot for group and pressure upward applied to check that. THEN I get serious about shrinking the groups.
Post by: GoldTip on March 03, 2010, 12:02:14 PM
Post by: Sporting_Man on March 03, 2010, 01:27:24 PM
What I like about this one is a comfy cheekpiece, which gives a better ballance for sure. The Sporter should be much more consistent - it better be!!! I am hoping for the best. Will slap a Leupold VX-II 3-9X40 on it and hit the range on Friday.
Thank you all for encouragement and advice.