Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

[samnev]

I have had the SR 556 for a year. Zerod the Troy sights (almost dead center) and put an EoTech 552 on it. I have less than 500 rounds through it. Always shot well (groups under 2") with any bullet weight I fed it from M193, M855, Federal GMM and various hand loads. Recently took it out and groups were 10-12 inches @ 100 yards. Didn't make any diifference what ammo I fed it. Thought it might be the Eotech so I put an TA31F on it and even @ 25 yards gruops were 2-3" and now the Troy sights had to be moved half way to the right to zero it.
Recleaned the bore with Montana Gold and Break Free. Made no difference in groups. Had Range Master shoot the rifle with the Iron sights and groups were centered after rezero but about 12". The same results when I shot it.
I have never had a rifle do this before. Stripped rifle, checked bore everything seems normal except the gun will no longer shoot anything approaching a decent 100 yard gruop.
Any ideas to what could suddenly cause this problem, or is a trip back to Ruger in it's future?
TIA

 

[KevinB-KAC]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

500rds seems really really low for any issues like that.

Do you have a borescope? Almost sounds like the chrome has started to peel.

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

It would be gone yesterday if it was mine. Call them up, and I'm sure they'll take good care of you.

 

[samnev]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

Ruger has a plant here in Prescott where they make their pistols. I am taking it to them today hoping they will ship it back to the east coast for repair.
I agree that with so few rounds through it to go south all of a sudden was a big disapointment.

 

[Afghanvet09]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

Have not seen one of these Rugers up close, but looks like an AR clone, but with piston. If my AR did that, one of the first things I would check is if the barrel nut has come loose and barrel is starting to shift. If it has become loose, you will get the type of problem you described.

If I get any major issues I'm on the phone to the factory and emailing their customer service department with a link to my public thread on SH. The internet and websites like this can be leverage to make them do the right thing, nobody wants bad pr for their products.

 

[samnev]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

That's pretty much what I did only over the phone. They promply sent UPS out to pick up the SR 556 and it's now on it's way to Ruger in NH. The thing I can't figure out is how it's shooting fine one outing, there very next it's all over the place. The gun wasn't dropped or mishandled in any way between sessions., STRANGE.

 

[scotharr]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

12" groups.....something is loose. The barrel may not be secured to the upper receive properly. The scope may have problems. That is a HUGE group and only some serious movement is going to cause that. I'd place my bet on the barrel moving around.

 

[samnev]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

I tried 2 different scopes (TA31F & Leuopld 6.5-20X40 Vari-X III) as well as the EoTech 552 I originally had on the rifle as well as the iron sights. That's when I gave up and had Ruger pick it up with I included some of the before and after targets.

 

[widnerkj]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

+1 on loose barrel. it happens sometimes. even on some service rifles i've used. It's a simple remedy.

 

[cgmaster1]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

They took care of mine paid shipping both ways and were great to deal with. Very good customer service I didn't expect from a large company. When they tested mine it shot under .5" group at 100yds. I have not had a chance to shoot for groups just sighted in and shot about 1.5" group shooting from sitting position. I will try to shoot it when I get home if I have time.

 

[bengates]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

+2 on loose barrel. I was lazy on a build and didn't get the nut tightened to 35ft/lbs and it shot like poo. Tightened it to the appropriate level and the groups tightened. My 2 cents.

 

[samnev]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

I will post what the SR 556 shoots like when I get it back from Ruger.

 

[2clicks]

Re: Help: My SR 556 Now Shoots Shotgun Patterns

Sometimes gas pressure variations will cause shots to group badly. In my case it was a gas block that came loose on a 600 yrd NRA match it was held in place by some set screws that weren't loctited. It was in the instructions to loctite the screws but I didn't get a set when I bought the upper.