Re: My Rifle - UPDATED 12-11-10 (Pics)
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jthoss0837</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The glass? Yeah im proud of it, because its so far, the first thing i can say is "mine." I worked hard for the money i earned to pay for it, the rifle, the parts, etc.</div></div>
That may be the case but it doesn't ensure the scope is without fault. Suck up your pride and try another scope that is proven and rule out that issue. That's what a true rifle looney would do. I bought a ford truck one time that I was proud as hell of. Cool looking, jacked up 4X4, V8, mud slingin' tires...turned out to be a huge pile of crap that I had to put a lot more money into to get it right. My pride started to wane a little after the new short block was ordered. There's been a woman or two as well that I was pretty proud of....in the beginning....and more money never did fix them.
Etc........
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jthoss0837</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Managing work, school, and family its difficult to fiddle with this, and the ideal solution for anyone is something quick, simple and effective.
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I wish I was your age again...life was so much more easy and uncomplicated. Regarding the rifle, you need to realize that you have to rule out things and fix that which isn't right. You are from what I call "The Me, Now" generation, always looking for the quick/easy way out of a problem. Most of the time that's not going to apply to accuracy issues in a rifle.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jthoss0837</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Im sure i do have a large amount of errors in my system, But at least im asking for help. And you've got to learn somewhere, and you sure has hell cant learn without making alot of mistakes along the way.
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Arguing with the advice/answers you get isn't going to fix your rifle......
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jthoss0837</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Yeah, i've made mistakes, and no i dont want to fuck with the base, because like ive said, we have hunting rifles, that shoots hand loads, that shoot circles around most rifles, including mine. Did we torque the base down? No. Did we Torque the screws down? No.
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Each rifle is an individual, remember? THIS one might benefit from making sure the base is tight.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jthoss0837</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
That being said, i was looking for other possibilities other than the base screws, which is going to be a pain to get out, due to them being lock tightened.
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Can you get your hands on a soldering iron? Loc-tite is a NON ISSUE with heat applied to the screw head. That said, I never loc-tite a base screw, torquing to spec is sufficient for what I shoot....just sayin'.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jthoss0837</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Im not going to apologize at the fact that i dont have 1,000+ dollars to spend on a leupold or Nightforce, and in my current position i cant see myself spending more than what i did on a scope. Would it be worth the money? Yeah im sure its top notch quality, but for my uses i doubt it would be worth wild. And from the reviews i've read, people i've talked to etc the vortex viper is one of the best scopes for the price.
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You don't need thousands of dollars to make a rifle shoot, which is the ENTIRE point of my first post on this thread. Make a few things right and rule out the possibilities. Regarding your choice of vortex scope, a buddy of mine jumped on that bandwagon and tried two of them, both failed and he now has Leups back on his rifles. I've never had an issue with a leupold, personally, and I'd be more inclined to purchase a used one before I'd purchase a new vortex....but that's just me. I also do not own a NF, but would like to someday. Until then I tend to go with what has never failed me, leupold. My kid has a $200 leupold VX1, which I had M1 turrets installed, on his .308....plenty of scope for a hunting rifle and it does fine for him. Just sayin'......
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jthoss0837</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Now you, being an older guy, no offense. Have been around alot longer than i have, and have learned from experience. My dad scoffed at me when i was getting a rifle, and that the scope i was looking at is 500 dollars, and the stock is 500 etc. He shoots a 7mm mag, handloads, and a decent nikon scope. We both have shot this rifle and it consistently hold 1/2" groups, which is plenty good enough for him.</div></div>
My dad owns three firearms; an ancient mossberg smoothbore bolt action 20 gauge shotgun that he deer hunted with, a marlin 69A .22, and a S&W .22 revolver...Needless to say he was never that much into shooting. I didn't get much from him in my youth per shooting, or per firearms. Consider yourself blessed with your dad scoffing at you. I had to learn everything from trial and error, and I'm quite sure the trials and errors are not over yet because I'm still here on this planet.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jthoss0837</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
So I guess I'll end this little spiel on this note. I apologize for stubbornness, ignorance, blatant disregard to seemingly obvious information for the experienced shooter. I have forgotten that the majority of people on this site are more experienced than me. So i'll buy a torque driver, tear everything down, Re assemble every thing including the base/action/rings to spec. Check for scope alignment and lap the rings if need be. I could polish a turd and keep the SPS-V stock with the effort and money spent into that, but im planning on upgrading anyways, so a B&C will be in my sights.. With the money/time spent into this rifle, i mind as well take the time to do it right, rather than rush it to try and see results. </div></div>
I simply told you what I would do if it were mine. Do as you wish, but if you are going to do anything, start at the foundation of it all. You got a little improvment with an ammo change, but in my opinion it should do MUCH better than 1 MOA @ 100 yards...because I've been right where you are a few times. Most of it is just spending a little time checking things out and looking for problems. Learn how to bed the base onto the reciever. It's a Rem 700, chances are it is bowing and shifting a little, bedding and torqing it will rule it out, trust me. Seriously, check out the mag box and see if it is binding the action, if it doesn't wiggle a little with the stock bolts tight then it needs to be made a little looser in the stock. Binding that mag box WILL bow the action and cause you problems.
With the random POI shifts that you describe the things that immediately jump out at me is/are; barrel contact in the stock, poor action to stock fit, loose action, mag box binding, loose base, bad trigger, a problem with the scope, bad ammo, shooter error, etc. Change one thing at a time if you want to LEARN what the problem is. It may not be just one thing and changing several things one at a time will show improvement as you go along. If you want to just fix it as fast as possible then make the system as rightous as possible and then look for an improvement.
Wish it weren't near freezing rain here, I'd go shooting today instead of typing on the damn internet..........