Gunsmithing Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

[Ishallbie O'Cullkillin]

Factory Rem 700VLS, one piece Ken Farrel base, Badger rings, Leupy VX 3 upgraded with M1 knobs. This rifle consistently prints .5 MOA at 100yds with 175gr SMK's, but accuracy goes to hell out to 500 & beyond. To my knowledge,I have checked all possible potential obvious flaws. I bought this gun when I was green, and never checked the bore before I bought it. There is a flaw in the bore about an inch down the tube from the throat where some of the rifling is gone, for about 2" in just one cut. I never bugged Remington about it because I was so impressed with the groups at 100yds. Now that I am shooting 500+, I am looking at a barrel replacement. I am thinking that the barrel is deforming the bullets and it's not showing up til way downrange. Any input?

 

[Hateca]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

Could it be you’re just not as good at 500 then you are at 100, and the rifle has nothing to do with it?

Just asking since the further distance you get the harder it becomes. A lot more variables to contend with at 500 then there is at 100.

 

[jbell]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

I have to agree w/ HateCA on this one. I would check to see if there is a loose nut behind the trigger, that seems to be where most of my accuracy issues are found. As far as the barrel damage I say there is only one thing to do...box it up and ship it to Jered and Dave at APA for a complete rebuild and never look back!

 

[Ishallbie O'Cullkillin]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

LOL! I realize now that my barrel is way past warranty. Fair enough, only thing is, all I'm trying to do is bang a 16"x20" piece of steel & having real problems at 700yds. My 13yr old son emptied a 10rd mag into that 700yd steel 6 out of 10 were hits, using a RRA NM AR15 with a Burris Fullfield 3x9. I can do it too. My other rifles, which are not as accurate at 100yds seem to hit with more consistency. I am likely going to re barrel anyway, just trying to figure this out if I can. Maybe 175grs is to heavy and is not stabilizing, as the VLS has a 1/12 twist.

 

[keithtb1]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

Change out to 168's and see how they print. How are you grouping at 500? 600? Is it consistently bad or is there a pattern to where the bullets are impacting. Are you reloading or using factory rounds? If your reloading, your loads may not be optimal for those distances. The factory loads should helped to determine that. Good luck.

 

[FF_T_Warren]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

if your kid can hit at 700yds, two thumbs up to you, thats awesome.

 

[mdesign]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

Are you missing because of vertical, horizontal or just random group size? Maybe it would be good to see what is happening between 100 and 500. What does the load that prints .5 at a 100 look like at 300?

I've seen this happen on occasion where a load would group well close but really open up a little further out if there was an underlying problem with the load or bullet selection.

 

[cantseearanymore]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

yeah bullet might be unstabilized and losing too much steam. You can rebarrel these days for around 400 or so. It will be a tackdriver after that. You will have nothing to blame.

 

[desertHK]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

Somtimes, it's the load also. Just because it shoots sub MOA at 100 yards, doesn't mean that it stays sub MOA out to 1K. I usually test my load at 100, 300, 500 and then 1K. If it doesn't make it to 500 sub MOA, I need to go back to the drawing board. Like others suggested also, once you extend beyond 500 yards, every little thing will magnify. Sounds to me that you can shoot. I would experiment with the load a bit before replacing the barrel, unless the barrel is completely toasted. But then again, if it were, then I wouldn't expect it to hold sub MOA at 100 yards. Just saying...

 

[benchduck]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

are u behind the gun the same when u shot 500 as 100 are you loading it the same or the same rest

 

[AUJohn]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

At 400 it's fine but 500 it's not?
Have you REALLY tested it at 300+?
What are your groups like?

 

[Swan]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

1) What load are you running with the 175smk's?

2) Load develop at 300yds/300m, not 100yds.

3) Sell the 175's and buy some 155/155.5's and develop a load.

4) If gun still sux ballz, then screw on a new barrel.

 

[81sfo]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

What is your load for the 175s? If they print good at 100yds they should look good at 500.Have you spent more time at 100 than 500yds?I recommend you not rebarrel yet,dont sell the 175s,keep the same load you have been using.Shoot at 500yds and leave behind the 100yd line.Youll see that the more you practice at the 500yd line and learn about the factors that affect the bullet flight.The better your groups will get.You need to take in account the marksmanship part of it too,natural point of aim,cheeckweld,eye relief,breathing,trigger control.There are so many factors that hardly matter at 100yds will matter the further you go out. try dry firing,aswell.I say dont add any more variables by changing the load,keep it as is and get out there and shoot at 500.good luck.

 

[Ishallbie O'Cullkillin]

Re: Loss of accuraccy past 500yds

Load for the 175's is 44.3 gr RL 15. As stated before, I have other rifles that are not grouping .5 moa at 100yds that I can score more hits on 16"x20" steel at 700yds. It's either the rifle, ammo, or optic, and I will proceed from here using components of known reliability in conjunction with process of elimination. I have not shot groups on paper past 100yds with this rifle yet, so can't answer that yet. I am shooting on the coast range, and getting to the targets is a bitch, but when this problem gets solved, there is one more spot for a 950yd gong. Thanks for all the input, and I will try to get a better idea whats going on by shooting for groups on paper, and report back. Again, thanks. Matt