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Diagnosing a Precision Rifle

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  • henryfrank

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    Oct 27, 2013
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    Hi all,

    I have been having tons and tons of headaches with my .308 Remington 700 AAC-SD that I purchased recently. It won't hold any groups smaller than 2-3" with Federal Gold Medal Match even with a bedded stock, great scope, and me doing my part.

    Is there a gunsmith near Houston who would be able to at least diagnose the rifle for a reasonable price (college student who only scraped this gun together after many many months of saving :( )? The gun is still under warranty and I would rather send to Remington, but I need to know what's wrong with it first.

    Please advise somebody and estimate how much it would cost.

    Thank you!
    Capitol Armory ad
     

    Koinonia

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    Have you checked how the scope mount is fastened? Check the areas the mount connects to the rifle at, as well as the scope.

    It's entirely possible that your scope is what is all screwed up.
     

    vmax

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    what twist is the barrel and what was the grain of the Monarch bullets verses the Federal ?

    Also, do you know anyone with a trigger pull gauge who can check your trigger pull weight?
     

    henryfrank

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    Oct 27, 2013
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    The twist is 1 in 10 so it should be much better with the heavier bullets. Monarch was 145 gr. and Federal were 168 and 175. If you click the link to the album on reddit, I took pictures of everything I used and the groups I was getting.
     

    BigBoss0311

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    So my first question is, how proficient are you as a shooter?
    Do you have extensive experience with bolt guns?
    What position were you shooting from and were you using any of the following: sling? bipod? mount? rear bag?
    Did you check your equipment and make sure the scope is correctly mounted, the rings are properly torqued, and the rail is mounted properly?
    You say you bedded your stock, what did you use and have you done this before?
    Is everything else on the rifle stock?
    Has anyone else (who is proficient with a bolt gun) shot this rifle as it sits?
    What were the conditions you were shooting in?



    Video of you shooting would help greatly. I am assuming the rifle has been zeroed. 2-3" groups are quite large, so there is definitely room for improvement. You may want to post this on sniper's hide as well. The amount of knowledge there is astounding. You can also post this in the regional sub-forum on sh and see if you can meet up with someone local to go to the range ans see if they can help you out.
     
    Last edited:

    vmax

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    I think you need to go back to the lighter bullets and start from there. Also not sure if you did any sort of barrel break in or not.

    Not busting your chops but fundamentals like breathing control can really effect your group sizes
     

    henryfrank

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    Oct 27, 2013
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    I understand that you think it's me, but I can assure you, I am not the only one who did this. I group pretty well with other firearms and have grouped well with this gun with the Monarch ammo.

    Can one of you please suggest a good gunsmith who specializes with precision in Houston who has reasonable prices?
     

    ArmyZach

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    Aug 21, 2013
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    Eliminate variables.
    Is the barrel really floated?
    A rub point between the stock and the barrel can cause hell with consistency.
    I agree with Koinonia, scope mount is also a likely culprit.
    I posted without reading your reddit post - I'll read it now.
     

    ArmyZach

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    Check the barrel - slide a dollar or business card between the barrel and stock all the way down to the action.
     

    Green-Harley

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    I had a similar problem with my T/C Encore. I pulled the Weaver rail and retorqued it and it's perfect now, I had over torqued the rail initially. Went from 4" group to 1". What area are you in?

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
     

    henryfrank

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    I am sure the barrel is free floated. Also, I am in the downtown Houston area near the medical center. I don't see how the rail torque matters though. :/
     

    Green-Harley

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    I don't either, I read it in an article on scope mounting, but it worked for me. I had tried several different scopes first, but that's what worked. Who installed the mount and rings, and do you know if they used a torque driver?

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
     

    PhulesAu

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    Torque values make a lot of difference. Especially with the thin sections of mounting rails. There is also the possibility you might need to bed, the scope mounts. You also might want to recheck the screws that hold the action, they might need to be " Adjusted" while at the range. The sweet spot, might not be the manufacturers recommendation.
     

    Green-Harley

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    My last one I just snugged up after each shot per my dad's instructions, I didn't have my torque driver at the time. I just touched it after almost every shot during break-in. The store I bought it from installed the scope for me when I bought it. It's been sub MOA with anything I feed it since.

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
     

    jrbfishn

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    If You get sub moa groups with one ammo and not others, look at the ammo. Bullet weight, shape, vellocity all make a difference. Also, the ogival angle and weight distribution of projectile. You may need to try reloading different bullets, powders and charges to maximize accuracy. Guns these days are made for a greater range of ammo, some of them though get very picky about what they want.


    from a non-recovering coffeeholic
     

    Sapper740

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    I am sure the barrel is free floated. Also, I am in the downtown Houston area near the medical center. I don't see how the rail torque matters though. :/
    Henry, you stated in the OP the stock is "bedded" but in this post you say your rifle's barrel is "free-floated". Which is it because I have suggestions for either situation?
     

    Younggun

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    Henry, you stated in the OP the stock is "bedded" but in this post you say your rifle's barrel is "free-floated". Which is it because I have suggestions for either situation?

    Umm, it's probably both. Bedded action and free float barrel is pretty much the standard for accuracy.
     
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