Author Topic: accuracy gone (Read 679 times)

josebd · « **on:** April 09, 2004, 04:14:54 PM »

remington 700 bdl varmint barrel,.223.this gun was grouping just about everything i loaded up for it,but now it seems like the more i clean the bore the worse it gets. loaded up some blc2,27.2,50 vmax,was grouping within 3/4 and better at 100. 2 days ago went to shoot it didnt group good,the day before i shot prairie dogs,shot about 60 -70 rounds. cleaned it alittle,but it didnt group good,so went back and cleaned it real good,stil no good. ive been using shhoters choice copper removal,with patches only. do i need to use the bronze brush?

E T Hunter · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2004, 05:13:30 PM »

:-D josebd,

Since I don't know your shooting and gun knowledge I will give somethings to check for. Some of the things I like to start with, are screws and bolts, such as scope and stock mounts. Loose mounting has caused me problems in the past. Also make sure their is no dirt or debris between barrel and stock. I am assuming the barrel is floated. If so I take a dollar bill and slide it between the stock and barrel to check clearance, it should slide back to the foreward mounting lug if clear.
You might also check the crown in the end of the barrel for burrs or dings. I always clean the bore from the receiver end to help eliminate crown problems.If you are gun knowledgeable I did not intend to offend you in anyway with my suggestions. I know how frustrating zero problems can be. hope I have been some help. There are some on this forum more knowledgeable than I am.

Randy :grin: :grin:

lilabner · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2004, 04:35:59 AM »

I agree with Randy's ideas. Only other possibility I can think of is an ammo problem. Maybe the bullets aren't good - it happens sometimes - or maybe the loading dies got their settings changed somehow or maybe the cases weren't trimmed right or maybe it was a bad powder lot. For sure, it isn't the barrel because barrel wear would cause a very slow, very small and gradual loss of accuracy. Your scope is the most likely problem - either the scope or mount may have worked loose.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2004, 06:39:16 AM »

josebd -

A few years back Dad gave me a Savage .22-250. The thing shot great for several years but suddenly I couldn't hit a standing coyote at 100 yards. I'm not talking a near miss, either, but rather patterns measured in FEET!

Over a 1-1/2 year period I tried all the usual suspects: action screws, scope mounting screws, new scope, another new scope, ad nauseum. Finally I discovered that after a very thorough cleaning with copper remover, the next trip to the range the group sizes would settle down as the barrel fouled, the rifle would shoot a few good groups, then return to shooting patterns. We're talking maybe 30 shots for the whole cycle, and that number was diminishing to under 20 by the end.

While still working with the rifle, my wife took pity and got me a new Ruger Varmint/Target in .22-250 for Christmas - so my immediate problem was solved. Eventually I came to the conclusion that the Savage barrel was the culprit. After investigating the expense of rebarreling, I decided to try selling the rifle (sans scope). A guy at a gun show wanted to rebarrel it and gave me $250. That and another $150 got me a like-new Ruger in .257 Roberts, with a Leupold 4x mounted.

Just a thought, maybe now is a good time to trade up to a newer rifle? Or two?

Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be.

josebd · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2004, 10:26:58 AM »

well i cleaned the bore real good with bronze brush,set up target 40-50 yards,wind blowing bad,shot with the wind, first three shots after cleaning grouped 7/16, i hope this is a good sign!

redial · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2004, 07:02:52 PM »

Sounds like you may have some hard carbon buildup in the throat. It gets smooth and shiny so sometimes it's hard to see. But it ain't coming out with wet patches!

Target shooters see this quite a bit, given the amount of powder normally burned. Bronze brushes will keep you ahead of it - or periodic applications of JB or RemClean like I prefer.

Sounds like you answered your own question!

Cheers!

Redial

josebd · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2004, 02:49:05 PM »

finally got a decent day to shoot 100 yards,winchester cpx1 i think its called, that white box from wally world 45 grain hollow point,5 shots,4 together little less than 1/2 inch group,1 flyer inch to left. 5 shots from winchester brass,cci 450,blc2 27.0,55 grain v-max 4 together 1/2 inch group 1 flyer inch to left. i dont know about the flyers,could've been me but its odd how there the same.looks like i just need to keep using the bronze brush, i dont think it will hurt the barrel from what i've heard from everybody