Scope Question

[dgrant]

Ok this is really the first year I have got into shooting guns I have shot them in the past but really getting into it now and I bought a Savage Axis 22-250 and I bought a simmons 3-9X44 scope and tried to sight it in and would get it shooting real good then take it out the next time and it would be way off and I would get it sighted in again and the same thing the next outing. So I took it off went to Academy and traded it for a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x50 and I took it out and shot same thing get a good group and go to shoot again and it would be several inches off. What gives? Anther question I have is it better when shooting at 100yrds to have to zoom all the way in or out or half way or is it a personal preference?

[dc1986]

lots of possibilities.Same ammo?Are you letting the barrel cool between shots?Wind?Are the scope mounts tight,ect...

[Old Bald Guy]

Loose scope mounting screws or action screws loose or it could be bedding.

[dadogg]

Since both scopes are doing the same thing I would look at the mounts and make sure they are solidly attached to the rifle and use some blue threadlock on the screws. If that looks good it may be the stock not having barrel clearance. Probably the scope mounts though from what you said

[Okiehunter]

Sounds like a gun problem. Could be a number of things. Don't clean the gun and see what happens. Make sure the barrel is floated and the action is bedded right. If it is grouping I am betting you have a action/barrel problem.

[AP Fred]

Try some different brands of ammo and make sure all your screws are tight.

[ted_kennedys_liver]

just because someone says they tightened mounts doesn't mean they did. check them yourself.

[OLIVER65]

Mounts

[Texas Grown]

Give the barrel more time to cool off between shots. Running a bunch of rounds through it will heat it up a bit and usually cause the "point of impact" to rise before it stabilizes. Then the next time you take it out, it's off a bit, and some times inches. The heavier the barrel, the more time it will need to cool down between shots. Light weight barrels heat up faster, which in turn raises the "point of impact" faster. But also cool slightly quicker too. Open the action between shots, sit back, talk to your neighbors if they are friendly, and let it cool a bit. Or even wait till after the range officer calls for a target check before you shoot again.

A fouled barrel will shoot differently than a clean one. Example: I've got a '67 Win in 30-06 that shoots groups "loose" till about the 3 or 4th shot. Then they tighten up till the 8th or so shot. Then loosen back up a bit. If I plan to hunt with the gun, I always put some loads through the barrel till I hit that 4th shot, then stop, pack the gun, and go hunt. When I'm through hunting I clean the barrel if I haven't exceeded that 8th shot before storage. If I'm in the field and exceed the 7th shot, I field clean, then refire at a target till the 4th shot again.

Also, changing ammo to a different brand, bullet weight, or any combination, will also give a different "point of impact". Stick with the ammo you sight in with .

[dgrant]

I've been shooting Remington 45grain hollow point the whole time have gone threw the screws several times.

[ducks-and-bucks]

Ha, sound like a savage rifle. make sure you have the right SIZE scopes rings. 1 inch scope, 1 inch scope rings, 30mm scope, 30mm scope rings, and so on. Check and tighten every screw you can see on the rifle until it is good and snug. If none of that fixes it you got a problem with the gun it'self, or just too cheap of scope qualities.

[ducks-and-bucks]

How big of difference is it making after sighted in then going unsighted... take your wind conditions into consideration. That light of a bullets gets pushed by the wind some.

[Brazman]

x2 on checking to make sure the objective lens isn't sitting on the barrel. With 44 and 50mm objective lenses, gotta make sure you have tall enough rings to get the scope up and off the barrel. Also take a $100 bill (because everyone has one of those, right?!) and check for barrel/stock clearance if it's supposed to be free-floated. I GUESS you could do it with a $1 too... If it's touching anywhere, that'll throw it off too.

[dclifton]

Can u post a pic? And how much difference are we talking ??! When u go back out and shoot it?

[viper3853]

i had the same thing happen, i was about to throw my scope away, i did some grinding on the plastic stock to free float the barrel and striped the whole thing down, cleaned the base and tightend to correct specs with locker and replaced the rings with Leopold and its shooting MOA.