Need Help with Howa 30-06

[lgm270]

Struggling with a Howa 1500 stainless bolt action in 30-06 with Butler Creek stock.  If you fire five consecutive shots, it produces two separate groups of 3 shots and 2 shots each, sevaral inches apart for a total group size of from 5-6 inches.  It does this with all ammo, bullet weights, types, etc.

We tried a Bell & Carlson stock, but no luck.   People tell me I have a "bedding problem."

Any suggestions?

 

[trotterlg]

Probably depends on how the groups are seperated, up and down or left to right or some place inbetween.  Larry

[mannyrock]

   How tight are you tightening your front action screw?  It's not suppose to be tightened really hard.  Just turn it till it stops, then give it another half turn.

  Overtightening the front action screw is a common mistake that can create lots of problems with groups.

   And, how long are you letting your barrel cool between shots?   You should always open the action and let the rifle cool at least 5 minutes between shots.  If you are not, then I would not be surprised to see your rifle grouping in two different places, particularly if you have a lighter than normal barrel.

   I would check both of these factors before I started fooling with the bedding.


Best regards, Mannyrock

[mjbgalt]

tighten the front screw in front of the triggerguard first, then the other. make sure when the floorplate is open that the little magazine box isn't jammed in there, it should wiggle a tiny bit.

i had a howa that wouldn't shoot also. i did not bed mine, just sold it and got something different to play with. however i would bed it now and free float it and adjust the trigger.

[charles p]

A few years ago I purchased a torque wrench that measures inch pounds.  I put 60 inch/lbs on plastic stocks and 35 inch/lbs on wooden stocks.  I was amazed to learn how much I had been over tightening my stocks.  My groups have improved as a result.

[lgm270]

Thanks for all the helpful hints.  I'm very conscious of letting the barrel cool 10 minutes between groups. 

I may indeed have tightened the front action screw too tight. I will check it out.  Again, many thanks to all who responded. 

[Val]

How tight a group do you get with the first three shots? In my expierence you can typically fire three shots without overheating the barrel. The previous suggestions were good suggestions. Another possible problem is that the stock is touching the action or barrel someplace and as the barrel/action heats up pressure is applied somewhere that could result in what you are seeing. Use the old business card technique to determine if the barrel is free floating. Remove the action from the stock and apply some sort of transfer medium to the action from the recoil lug and back. I use some deep blue stuff called Prussian Blue that I buy from Brownell's, lipstick will work but don't let your wife find out you stole a tube of her makeup. Reassemble the action and barrel into the stock. Disassemble and look for transfer of the lipstick or whatever you used to the stock. These are the touch points that need to be removed. I believe that the Howa 1500 has a pressure point at the front of the stock. I free floated the barrel of my Howa 1500 and glass bedded the stock. It shoots consistantly with 3/4" three shot groups. I use three shot groups because my loads are all hunting loads and two shots is all you usually can get often you only get one shot, so that first shot needs to be on target) and a third shot is pretty rare.

When shooting on a bench, I wrap my hand around the barrel and if I can't comfortably keep my hand wrapped around the barrel, I let it cool until I can.

[Val]

I should add that, the back of the recoil lug should touch the stock. Some rifles have a screw that goes into the bottom protruding part of the recoil lug, in theses cases the protruding part of the recoil should sit on the stock.

[mjbgalt]

hard to confirm that on these rifles. that's why i suggested bedding it.

[Coyote Hunter]

Could easily be a scope issue as well.  The best way to find out is make sure everything is tight and if that doesn't work, try a different scope.