Gunsmithing Could bedding be out of whack ?!

[Aimsmall55]

Ok guys. I've got a Ga Crusader .308 that is literally a one hole at 100 gun. Well today I was doing load development and it was crazy. The first two shots would go in the same hole then the next three would be either 1 to 1.5" higher or lower but still in the same hole. In essence 5 shots 2 holes about an inch from each other. This happened several times and I was just confused. I called a buddy of mine who is a custom gun builder and he told me to loosen the front action screw a little and push the barrel. If it moved more than a little then it was the bedding. Well I did that and the whole damn barrel popped loose. Does my conclusion that the bedding is kaput stand up with you guys??

 

[19Scout77]

8162211844

 

[ShtrRdy]

Have you considered the scope to be the problem?

 

[17874]

Could be as simple as paralax adjustment on your scope.

 

[jonaddis84]

Your description of "the whole damn barrel popped loose" is quite vague. If I were to read it and not know any better Id think you meant the barrel came loose from the action. Well I know that is not the case, so what do you mean by barrel popped loose?

Your bedding would have to be visually fked up to cause that kind of issue I think.

Im going to go with scope or base issues on this one.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Your description of "the whole damn barrel popped loose" is quite vague. If I were to read it and not know any better Id think you meant the barrel came loose from the action. Well I know that is not the case, so what do you mean by barrel popped loose?

Your bedding would have to be visually fked up to cause that kind of issue I think.

Im going to go with scope or base issues on this one.

It's a brand new night force with badger ordnance rings. It ain't the scope.
Here are two of my crusaders. On the left is the gun in question. On the right is my 6.5 Creedmor. You see the difference? Both of them have their action screws screwed to spec

 

[Mike_in_FL]

i could and have created a gap like that bedding a rifle myself. To me it only looks as if the rear/tang of the action was lower when it was bedded into the stock. so comparing it to the other rifle is apples and oranges to me. as was said already, unless the material is falling out in places, soft, something like that, i wouldn't suspect it. i would say if you completely loosen the action screws and the action can be slid around in the stock that it is bedded improperly even though the material has cured correctly.

 

[MAGUA]

Ok guys. I've got a Ga Crusader .308 that is literally a one hole at 100 gun. Well today I was doing load development and it was crazy. The first two shots would go in the same hole then the next three would be either 1 to 1.5" higher or lower but still in the same hole. In essence 5 shots 2 holes about an inch from each other. This happened several times and I was just confused. I called a buddy of mine who is a custom gun builder and he told me to loosen the front action screw a little and push the barrel. If it moved more than a little then it was the bedding. Well I did that and the whole damn barrel popped loose. Does my conclusion that the bedding is kaput stand up with you guys??

Maybe you should go back to the load development drawing board.. Ha Ha. Did your original load do the same thing ?

 

[McCrazy]

Are you saying that once you slightly loosened the front action screw and applied pressure to the barrel that is was basically unsupported and free to move up and down within the stock? If so, it may well be the bedding is done.

Doesn't sound to me like a scope issue or parallax issue.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Maybe you should go back to the load development drawing board.. Ha Ha. Did your original load do the same thing ?

Maybe you should put a valid and helpful reply. Haha

 

[Aimsmall55]

Are you saying that once you slightly loosened the front action screw and applied pressure to the barrel that is was basically unsupported and free to move up and down within the stock? If so, it may well be the bedding is done.

Doesn't sound to me like a scope issue or parallax issue.

Exactly what I'm saying. Finally someone. Thank you

 

[MAGUA]

Maybe you should put a valid and helpful reply. Haha

Your gun was a " one hole " gun and then you started load development and it started to shoot erratic ! GO back to your original load and or let someone else shoot the rifle.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Your gun was a " one hole " gun and then you started load development and it started to shoot erratic ! GO back to your original load and or let someone else shoot the rifle.

Look dude the only place it's going is back to GA. You are picking a fight. I don't like to fight. Leave me the fuck alone

 

[MAGUA]

Look dude the only place it's going is back to GA. You are picking a fight. I don't like to fight. Leave me the fuck alone

Picking a fight ? I asked you if your original load did the same thing ? No answer. You go to pieces over a fucking question. I don't think your gun is out of " whack " i think you are.. LOL.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Picking a fight ? I asked you if your original load did the same thing ? No answer. You go to pieces over a fucking question. I don't think your gun is out of " whack " i think you are.. LOL.

Why in the hell would I post this thread if my previous load, or any loads for that matter did this. Common sense seems to be a little out of "whack " on your end.

 

[bodywerks]

If you started load development and a different load it when you start seeing the weird grouping, go back to a 'one hole at 100' load and see if it still does it

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[Aimsmall55]

If you started load development and a different load it when you start seeing the weird grouping, go back to a 'one hole at 100' load and see if it still does it

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

I did. I still had vertical stringing. Even with fgm175 smks

 

[AR-10 Shooter]

WOW! And you have the audacity to quote General Lee?

 

[Topstrap]

Ok guys. I've got a Ga Crusader .308 that is literally a one hole at 100 gun.

At what point was this gun shooting one hole at 100 yards?

[QUOTE ]Well today I was doing load development and it was crazy. The first two shots would go in the same hole then the next three would be either 1 to 1.5" higher or lower but still in the same hole. In essence 5 shots 2 holes about an inch from each other. This happened several times and I was just confused. I called a buddy of mine who is a custom gun builder and he told me to loosen the front action screw a little and push the barrel. If it moved more than a little then it was the bedding. Well I did that and the whole damn barrel popped loose. [/QUOTE]

Popped loose could mean different things. On my Savage the barrel nut could of come loose, on yours by your description it could of been loose from the action. If it moved in the stock and wiggled up and down that means another. If it don't drop snugly down into the bedding and sit firmly while tightening the screws then the bedding could be the culprit. Did you do the bedding? Sure something isn't wedged between the action and the bedding? Is there any bedding that extends past the action and supports part of the barrel?

I think others were trying to help but passing along your frustrations and thinking everyone is trying to be a smart ass won't help solve your problem. I'd say most of these guys trying to help have been down this road and can help pinpoint your problem very quickly but getting together on the same bus with description of the problem that everyone can recognize is the only way of solving it.

[QUOTE ]Does my conclusion that the bedding is kaput stand up with you guys??[/QUOTE]

Nearly everyone on here will go out of their way to get you back up and running but not very many put up with comments like they've been given and help you work thru it. Up to you to decide on how you wish to proceed.

Good luck,

Topstrap

 

[codyki]

"Moved a little" is a little vague. Professionals generally use an indicator in their bedding process to verify it is actually stress free. That said I would remove action completly and re-install into stock correctly and at suggested torgue.

Since your load testing I assume your reloading... make sure case length is not too long after re-sizing. Assuming that is ok tell me how many firings your cases have on them and if you have annealed them.

 

[Aimsmall55]

WOW! And you have the audacity to quote General Lee?

Look guys. I am no expert on this stuff. I simply wanted opinions and thoughts. I apologize about some of my previous comments. Ar10 ... You are right. It was uncalled for. However, when I'm getting responses that I perceived as belittling I got a little angry. Maybe they were legitimate but I took them the wrong way. The rifle really will shoot one ragged hole with 5 shot groups at 100 yards if I do my part. I shoot ftr, and the only reason I was trying a new load is to get that extra bit of bc. My usual load is 48.0 power pro 2000 mr. 175 smk 2.236 to the ogive. I wanted to step up to the 185's. but this is honestly the first time the rifle has done this. It is going back to Ga P Monday for rebarreling. They said they will address the problem there.

 

[Aimsmall55]

"Moved a little" is a little vague. Professionals generally use an indicator in their bedding process to verify it is actually stress free. That said I would remove action completly and re-install into stock correctly and at suggested torgue.

Since your load testing I assume your reloading... make sure case length is not too long after re-sizing. Assuming that is ok tell me how many firings your cases have on them and if you have annealed them.

Was brand new lapua brass

 

[Aimsmall55]

This is what I'm talking about...

 

[codyki]

reload and retest your groups with the once fired lapua brass. often new brass has excessive neck tension that standard reloading dies with expander cannot duplicate. your pic shows it can shoot... now it's just eliminating the puzzle pieces to return it to it's potential

 

[JelloStorm]

Picking a fight ? I asked you if your original load did the same thing ? No answer. You go to pieces over a fucking question. I don't think your gun is out of " whack " i think you are.. LOL.

Yeah he's not picking a fight man. All guns like different loads, so just try your original load to see if there is still an issue. Also, letting someone else fire your rifle to see if maybe it's not the rifle at all is not a dig against you....

Fuck. I'd pay to have LowLight or some other shooter more experienced than I show me what my rifle can really do with a real operator behind the glass!

 

[jsthntn247]

Only way to test the bedding is with a dial indicator, lossening and tightening action screws. I'm sure gap would be glad to sale you another barrel though.

 

[Kells81]

Brand new scope, rings, and base does not mean its good to go... Are they brand new in regards to the gun shot one way and now shoots another?

I have found if a gun shoots one way then goes to shit un expectantly something most likely came loose..

I.E. I had a rifle go all to hell while shooting and it turned out the windage screw on the leup bases broke off.

The best bet is to pull the rifle apart and put it back together... Seems like a PITA but may save you some grief

 

[wvlapua]

My 308 sps did pretty much the same thing in load development with 155.5 berger fullbore projectiles. The fix was a faster powder and loading them closer to the lands. It would put the first 2 in 1 hole then the shots 3 and 4 would be roughly 1" right in the same hole with #5 back in the same hole as 1 and 2. I too was a bit frustrated at first knowing it will shoot much better.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Brand new scope, rings, and base does not mean its good to go... Are they brand new in regards to the gun shot one way and now shoots another?

I have found if a gun shoots one way then goes to shit un expectantly something most likely came loose..

I.E. I had a rifle go all to hell while shooting and it turned out the windage screw on the leup bases broke off.

The best bet is to pull the rifle apart and put it back together... Seems like a PITA but may save you some grief

The scope and rings were taken off, screws retourqued, base screws checked , set screws tourqued, action screws retourqed. Haven't shot it yet but will report in the am. It's still going back to GA for a new barrel, more free bore, planning on running the 208 amax for ftr. So it needs work regardless.