Author Topic: Most Inaccurate Factory Rifle (Read 4237 times)

vernonp · « **on:** March 14, 2006, 06:58:06 AM »

We hear a lot about the most accurate rifle. In your experience, what is the most inaccurate factory rifle. I have CZ's, Savage, Kimber, Remington and just bought a Ruger 77. I have owned in the past Ruger 77 , Weatherby Mark 5 and Vanguard, Winchester 70 and Sako. There has been others but of the ones listed I shot all a lot. The poorest accuracy from these rifles has been the Ruger 77. The ones in the past did not shoot well and the new one I just bought in 22-250 looks like it is going to be a poor shooter.--------What has your experience been. Vernonp

Zachary · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2006, 07:26:50 AM »

I own several makes of BOA rifles. Remington, Winchester, Browning, Sako, Tikka, and Kimber. I would say that all of them shoot 1MOA or better with at least one kind of hunting factory load. As such, I cannot say which make is the most inaccurate from my own rifles.

I know that there are those who have had horrible accuracy experiences with the Remchesters. Like I said, all of mine are shooters. Am I just lucky? I don't know, but at the same time I cannot dismiss what other members on this site have experienced.

I have never owned any Rugers, probably not for any particular reason other than I have never really warmed up to them. I have, however, shot some Rugers, namely the 77. Some were accurate, while others were not. I my LIMITED experience with Rugers, I have found them to be generally less accurate than my other rifles. Again, this is not to say that Rugers have consistently bad accuracy problems.

Zachary

mjbgalt · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2006, 08:46:37 AM »

vernon, if you handload, try Varget and 50 grain V-MAX bullets. my cousin and i got his model 77 shooting in one afternoon...34.7 grains of Varget and he was under a nickel.

-Matt

jvs · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2006, 12:34:57 PM »

The two bolt actions that gave me the most problems at the range were a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight and a Marlin MR-7. Both seemed to have slipped through any Quality Control inspections. They both shoot well now, but they also took excessive work. I have never had any problems at all with Remingtons, other than what would be considered normal for any other brand. Remember that a 2 1/2 or 3 inch group can be considered an Industry Standard. To be fair, you also have to consider who put mounts, rings and scopes on some rifles and who tinkers with stuff they shouldn't. There are alot of 'Outhouse Gunsmiths' out there.

I have seen Rugers that shoot good, and I have seen Rugars that were way off. I even saw a brand new Sako that had a 6 inch group at 25 yds. When I see something like that, the first thing I question is who did the work.

KN · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2006, 12:49:02 PM »

Model 70 coyote in 22/250 when they first came out. Mine had an oversized bore, (.006") at the chamber and tapered down to nominal about mid barrel. Which means the bullet was free to travel about 2/3 of the way down the barrel before it ever encountered any rifling. At that point I'm sure it striped the jacket off and threw the remaining slug any where it pleased. It would litterally not shoot a 30ft group at 100meters. Took 6 months and a lot of complaining to get them to fix it. Still would never shoot any better than 2" after I got it back. Big dissapointment for what I thought was going to make a good prairie dog gun. Took a beating on it and bought a 700 rem. No more winchesters for me. KN

a45gunslinger · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2006, 01:45:16 PM »

I'd have to say the worst over all are the handi rifles...don't get me wrong I like and own a few of them but they all needed some tinkering to get them to shoot. Except for the H&R slug gun that shoots better than some bolt action rifles i've seen. THe actions are hand fitted and aren't alway as tight as they should be..Someone told me that they gaurantee a 3"group at 100yds. I'm not sure of the truth in that. But my new 7mm-08 shot 5" groups all day long when I first got it...after a little tinkering it shoots the same loads to an honest 1-1/2" group for 5 shots- Kevin

Warthog · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2006, 02:03:45 PM »

I've owned 4 rifles that I couldn't get to shoot decent groups. They all came in green boxes.

Muddyboots · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2006, 02:42:35 PM »

Ruger No.1 in 7RM finally beat me after two years of bedding, trigger work, mounts, you name it. never could get it better than 1.5" which for most is fine but not what I expect and usually get from my other rifles. The Ruger was traded in for CDL 7RM that is absolute tack driver. Sorry Zachary but T-3 synthetic in 300 WSM still hasn't delivered better than 1.5" no matter what I have tried. Every conceivable load and changed to permanent mounts and rings and still no go. It's got one foot out the door and another on banana peel right now. Every other rifle I own gets MOA easily. Heck, a 38 yr old Savage in .270 still shoots 3/4" after literally thousands of rounds. I truly don't believe it matters what color box it comes in, some shoot and some don't. It is sometimes luck of the draw. In 38 yrs of actively shooting and tens of rifles come and go, these are the only two rifles that haven't delivered. I'd buy another Ruger and a Tikka since I liked both rifles except for their individual performance. I've seen plenty of both shoot real good so go figure. Then again maybe most rifle troubles are loose nuts behind the trigger??
Muddy

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2006, 09:45:25 PM »

Worst out of the box for me has definitely been Remington----nope you won't catch me ever buying another one---at least not without a major redesign.

Qaz · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2006, 02:06:34 AM »

M1 carbine built by Underwood in the 40's. It is not accurate, but it is total fun to shoot :-D :-D :-D . I have a Remington that I shoot better off hand than the M1 off a bench. Did I mention that the M1 is fun to shoot!!

Mikey · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2006, 02:54:47 AM »

Had to have been that Remington 788 I once owned. Mikey.

jro45 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2006, 03:04:04 AM »

The most inacturate rifle I ever owned new out of the box was a savage 300 Win Mag. The group size was 1'. I messed around with it for a couple years then put a different barrel on it. It now shoots a 1" group at 200 yds

james · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2006, 03:12:34 AM »

The only rifle I couldn't get to shoot was an early model Ruger mini-14. I'm talking 8 inches at a 100 yds. I've had rifles that had the barrels shot out that would out shoot it. I bought the new Mini when they came out for my father. He had a pace maker and couldn't stand the recoil of anything more. I put a B-square mount on it and scoped it then started trying to find the right load. The targets looked like they were shot with a shotgun. I had the receiver drilled & tapped, as the mount did not appear to be very stable, but it didn't help. My father passed away and Mom gave me the rifle back but I keep it only because it was my father's.
james

lilabner · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2006, 06:42:55 AM »

The most inaccurate factory rifles I have experienced were all military rifles- a M98 in 8 mm. a Lee-Enfield .303, a Krag 30-40, a 1917 Enfield. I own a 1903 Springfield that does consistent 1 inch 3 shot groups but it is the exception. I believe military rifles are designed to function when dirty, muddy etc. and probably don't have real close tolerances. I've bought a bunch of used rifles and the most accurate was an old tang safety Ruger 77. Second place was a Rem. 700 Classic built shortly after they started making them. I had a Rem. 721 that wasn't a very good shooter. Also, one of those awful late 60s Winchester Model 70s. Didn't keep them very long. You know, some people who get a bum rifle write off that make and they all build the occasional clunker. Rifles have gotten more accurate. When I started shooting, minute of angle was something very rare and special in a sporter. Now, I am disappointed if I can't make a gun shoot MOA or better. I've bought two inexpensive rifles - a Savage and a Vanguard - in the last couple of years and both shoot sub MOA.

longwinters · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2006, 11:15:19 AM »

Winchester Featherweight in 7m-08. A good buddy got it late last year. A beautiful rifle but shot 4" groups no matter what we fed it. He traded it for a Rem CDL in 7m-08.

Long

Swamp Yankee · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2006, 03:05:09 PM »

It was a 303 SMLE Enfield. By the time I got it, it was well used and abused. You were lucky to hit the target at 50 yards.....Jim

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2006, 07:08:03 PM »

No question, in my case a Ruger M77 in 30-06....

skb2706 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2006, 08:42:28 AM »

gun in general - Mini 14 (some cry baby on another forum kicked me off for saying so too)

bolt action rifle - Winchester Mod. 70 post-64 in .308.....ex-wife gave it to me for a gift....now they are both gone and I don't miss either one.
That rifle was so sloppy .....must have been the assembly line practice model.

Squeeze · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2006, 08:47:58 AM »

My worst inaccuracy experience was a T/C Encore. I gave it my
best try, a fair amount of effort, and ammo, and even after a
trip back to T/C, it went out the door shooting the best load I
could develop, into maybe a 1.5 MOA group. And this was a .308 Win,
which I usually get great accuracy from, in a number of other rifles,
and brands. This will be the last T/C firearm for me.

My next disappointment was a Ruger Mini 14. I had heard all of
the accounts of poor accuracy, but I had my doubts that they could
be THAT bad...No more doubts.

Squeeze

Slamfire · « **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2006, 04:26:11 PM »

I had a Medel 96 Swedish Mauser once, made in Sweden that shot nice round 4: groups at 100 yards. It didn't matter what I did to the rifle or the ammo, it just shot nice round 4" groups. If I hadn't had a Model 94 carbine that shot smaller groups I'd never believe they were able.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2006, 06:35:49 PM »

The worst by far was a Rem Model 7 in 223. Then my present Rem 700 with a plastic stock in 243. They didn't shoot anything that resembled group's

countryrebel8174 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 16, 2006, 08:52:02 PM »

i must be lucky, because i have never had an inaccurate rifle....but then again ive only owned 10 guns in my 25 years of life....im sure ill get stuck buying a lemon one of these days

country rebel

smokepolehall · « **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2006, 01:32:48 AM »

Well to be honest i have had 2 rifles that didn't shoot as well as i thought they should. Ruger 77 25-06 mid 80's 2" groups and a Savage 170 early 70's 2 1/2 to 3" group. Thats off the bench at 100 yds. but really thats not to bad for factory rifles! I have others that shoot nickel and dime groups and i have kept them. :grin:

Rancher · « **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2006, 07:40:28 AM »

The absolute worst is a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch rifle. Can't sell it like it is, so I got a deal on a Shilen barrel and we'll see if that helps it any. If it will shoot 1.5, that'll work for a calling rifle.

As for bolt rifles, its a Winchester model 70 in 300 win mag. Thats a little easier sell, so I got it sold and I won't be sorry to see it go.

arkhillbilly · « **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2006, 04:43:44 PM »

remington 700 DM Mountain rifle.....in 260, I'll have a tough time ever buying another one.

CZ527 in 223---the only thing the damn thing will shoot is fed prem 55gr bt

The good thing about getting a lemon is it takes the fun out of shooting, so you don't buy for a while, save on not going to the range in both gas and bullets---I got rid of the remington but i still own this piece

I would buy another Remington before I bought another CZ. If I wanted such a nonperformer I would have had CZ make me an AK47. The CZ accuracy would be acceptable if coming from an assault rifle.

edwennink · « **Reply #25 on:** March 21, 2006, 02:10:36 AM »

Rossi .22lr / .410...

Even after having the .22lr barrel dovetailed and mounting a 4X Weaver, 50yd targets look like buckshot patterns, with all types of different ammo.

Cut an inch off the muzzle and recrowned it, because the ends of the lands did not appear to be uniform...little or no improvement!

Lapped / polished the bore...little or no change...

Took it to my dealer and told him to sell it...that was six months ago and it's still sitting there...

Ed

grousehunter · « **Reply #26 on:** March 21, 2006, 03:50:32 PM »

it drove tacks during the warm months, come winter below 30 degrees and it would'nt hit the broadside of a barn till after the 3rd shot!

myarmor · « **Reply #27 on:** March 21, 2006, 05:04:14 PM »

This is a great thread..very entertaining to say the least.
I have to say :eek: so far with me, and being out of the box..my Handis.
Though it didn't last long till I had them shoot'n very well with a little tinkering and TLC. I enjoyed it, cause I love to tinker and mess around with my guns.
But as far as out of the box is concerned..it's got to be them for me.
-Aaron

Todd1700 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 22, 2006, 09:45:48 AM »

Have one poor shooter and it is a Ruger Model 77 MK II in 7mm magnum. Shoots about 2.5 inches at 100 yards. Trigger job, free floated the barrel and bedded the action and it improved to about 2.25 inches at 100 yards.

I have heard way to many people with similar Ruger m77 experiences to risk buying another one. Sad too because I love everything else about these rifles. They are built rock solid and have a great mauser style action. They just aren't great shooters.

NY Dan · « **Reply #29 on:** March 23, 2006, 12:53:59 PM »

Mini-14 Ranch.......