Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

[ARELL]

Hi there

I went out for the second time with my relatively new rifle yesterday. Its an SPS Varmint in .243 as per my first post, below:

My First Bolt Rifle - SPS Varmint .243

The first outing left me suprised at how accurate it was out of the box. Groups were all sub MOA using 55gr Silvertips. I was cleaning the barrel after every shot.

Like I said, I went out yesterday eve. It was perfectly still and fairly cold. I want to cold bore zero so I was leaving about 5 minutes inbetween shots with the moderator removed.

The first three shots I fired were within half an inch... great! After that it all went downhill. I shot a further seventeen rounds, all of which went all over the place. The last two shots were four inch's apart!

I've heard that the high velocity 55gr Winchesters will ruin a barrel in the long term but I can't see any reason for the sudden decline in accuracy.

Can anybody give me any ideas on why this might be happening?

Thanks,

Rich

 

[Advokaten]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

1 something has gotten loose, base, ring or even stock bolts

2 You doubted your rifle and succequently shot shitty

3 Your scope has gone tits up.

4 Your rifle will not print to poa with the moderator taken off/on again, bedding issue or issues with moderator mount.

/Chris

 

[ARELL]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

Thanks Chris

Thats some good food for thought.

1. I'm pretty sure everything is rock solid on the rifle.
3. The scope is brand new and should be good enough quality to not worry about.
4. I am very carefull to re-apply the moderator exactly the same each time with identical torque etc.

Did I miss any out?!!!

I know there are many people on this site who take incredible care to reload their rounds and spend huge amounts of time and money on perfecting that individual combination of round & rifle, I am in complete awe of such dedication! But with a simple hunting rig such as mine, is it really worth trying out a myriad of different rounds? What would people expect a good group to be with a 'factory ammo and rifle' set up such as mine?

 

[Wheres-Waldo]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

ARELL, no reason your simple huntig rig shouldnt shoot, theres something gotten loose/out of whack that your overlooking im sure.

Im at my work computer so I cant take a look at your set-up, but set aside some time to look over the rifle carefully, from muzzle crown to butt-pad. Check for contact between barrel and stock with a loaded bipod.

WTF is a moderator?

 

[ARELL]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

Yeah, I am also at my work computer so I will have to thoroughly inspect it when I get home. Thanks for your input.

Moderator = suppressor/can or 'silencer':

 

[Kells81]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

Replace the stock and repeat...

Putting pressure on the bipod the proper way will put pressure on your barrel and it will go down hill.

 

[ARELL]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

That sounds like a fairly straight forward solution.

I am currently saving for a B&C Tactical stock. Until then is it worth 'free floating' the barrel by grinding out the polymer stock? I am not even sure if it contacts the barrel on the Varmint model but will check it out tonight with the dollar/tenner test!

Thanks again for all the quick and informative responses.

Rich

 

[DMann]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

The factory injection molded stocks are notorious for flexing. If you do the dollar (or Pound note) test - i.e., a bill will slide between barrel and foreend without binding, the length of the barrel channel, then it is free-floated already. What could be happening is the foreend is flexing when you load it and touching the barrel during the firing string.

An easy fix is to hog out a couple of parallel channels in the foreend area and epoxy a couple of metal rods in there to add stiffness.

Or sell some stuff and get the B&C.

 

[ARELL]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

Cheers DMann

I know. I design injection molded parts for a living and hate the stock for all its flaws and flexibility. Having said that, it's cheap and serves the purpose of being replaced (the main reason I chose a Remington 700 was for it's incredible strength of aftersales).

I like the idea of installing some tension bars along the forend. I'll get the stock in the workshop next week and have a fettle!

Haha, I've already sold one kidney, my house and my girlfriend to pay for the set up (shooting in the UK is NOT cheap!). I want the B&C fitted with a detachable mag which sets me back £860 ($1,400) in total.

 

[DMann]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

I re-read my post and realized I left out a word or two - not enough coffee in me yet. I meant to say the flex is probably happening when you load the bipod. That may make more sense. A friend has the same thing with a Savage M12 - he did the metal bar reinforcement fix and all is well.

Too bad you had to sell the house - girlfriends are replaceable.

Vince Bommomley has a great magazine over there and a web version here: http://www.freewebs.com/precisionrifle/index.htm I seem to remember an article or two about DBM systems and so forth that are available there in Jolly Old. Still with the weakness of the dollar, your buying power for an "imported" system might be better.

Regardless, keep sending rounds downrange and enjoy your new rifle.

 

[ARELL]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

Yeah, I have considered buying from the USA but it's difficult finding anyone willing to export stocks let alone metal parts.

That website is full of very interesting articles. Thats the weekend gone then!

Thanks for your help, I'll post some pics next week of the stock being strengthened for anyone who might be interested.

Rich

 

[oneshot onekill]

Re: Cr@p groups from new rifle. Help!

Yea, the weight of the Can coupled with the flimsy forearm on that stock has almost certainly caused the barrel to touch and that's where your accuracy was lost. I had the same thing happen to an SSG on a hot Florida afternoon.