7mag grouping problems! Help

[TGoody]

It's not looking good.... I got 2 back to back shots close, but still throwing rounds....

[bboswell]

How did you adjust / check parallax?

I ask because I'm seeing more and more side focus rifles with poor accuracy because this step wasn't performed correctly.

[trophy8]

First, wind shouldn't move a 7 mag like that at 200.

I would check your action screws. That's a really cheap stock. Could be moving in it.

Properly torque everything. Not hand tight. Consistency is key here. Buy an inch pounds torque wrench. Use it every single time you turn a screw. Write down what you have them at.

Check the crown.

Make sure you are over tight on anything. Action screws included.

Get rid of that dang vortex

[TGoody]

I don't guess I know what you're asking on parallax. It has the side focus for yardage and I make sure I am holding the same cheek weld on every shot

When I put everything together I used a torque wrench and set every screw per spec. I just didn't have it on me when I saw that those two screws had backed off slightly

The cross wind was 15mph, I just assumed that was enough to move it

I'm thinking of getting a different stock, but "cheap" it is not.

I really like the vortex scope, y'all need to qui hatin...

I'm still leaning towards needing to try different ammo

I did forget to mention I had a gunsmith knock my 26" barrell down to 24"

[lodgepole]

I had a 7-08 that was doing the same thing. I would shoot 5 shots and 3 would touch each other, one would be 1-1.5 inches left and one 2-2.5 in low and right. I chased this problem for months experimenting with powder weight, powder type, seating depth, as well as torquing screws, trying different scopes. It ended up being the crown. Had the barrel re-crowned and the problem went away. Funny thing though after re-crowning I had to re-formulate my load. It would not shoot my usual recipe any more. Had to back off by half a gr.

[bboswell]

I don't guess I know what you're asking on parallax. It has the side focus for yardage and I make sure I am holding the same cheek weld on every shot

When I put everything together I used a torque wrench and set every screw per spec. I just didn't have it on me when I saw that those two screws had backed off slightly

The cross wind was 15mph, I just assumed that was enough to move it

I'm thinking of getting a different stock, but "cheap" it is not.

I really like the vortex scope, y'all need to qui hatin...

I'm still leaning towards needing to try different ammo

I did forget to mention I had a gunsmith knock my 26" barrell down to 24"

Barrel cut between the tight 100 yard group and the problems now?

[TGoody]

Barrel cut between the tight 100 yard group and the problems now?

Yessir. After the barrel was cut (recently) can't get a good group, but the guy is supposed to be very squared away....:/

[Lungbustr]

Well obviously leaving out you had the barrel cut down is a huge deal. Probably should have the gunsmith re crown it.

[bboswell]

I don't guess I know what you're asking on parallax. It has the side focus for yardage and I make sure I am holding the same cheek weld on every shot

Read up on it, instructions should have come with your scope.

The dumbest thing any scope maker ever did was put yardage marks on the side focus knob.... Adjust until you can make slight adjustments in eye position with no crosshair movement on target.

[Lungbustr]

Read up on it, instructions should have come with your scope.

The dumbest thing any scope maker ever did was put yardage marks on the side focus knob.... Adjust until you can make slight adjustments in eye position with no crosshair movement on target.

I dunno, they sure are nice as a reference number for getting you in the ballpark quickly after ranging a target. Also on my S&B's they are pretty darn on the money. I still verify as you described though.

[bboswell]

I dunno, they sure are nice as a reference number for getting you in the ballpark quickly after ranging a target. Also on my S&B's they are pretty darn on the money. I still verify as you described though.

I get that but seems most people take the numbers as gospel instead of a ballpark reference.

[bboswell]

Well obviously leaving out you had the barrel cut down is a huge deal. Probably should have the gunsmith re crown it.

This.

And when he cut it he changed all the harmonics so your load search just started from scratch.

[TGoody]

This.

And when he cut it he changed all the harmonics so your load search just started from scratch.

Yea I guess that's what I'm thinking now which sucks. Would he not have checked the crown beforehand!? He knew this was going to be a long range shooter...

[bboswell]

Yea I guess that's what I'm thinking now which sucks. Would he not have checked the crown beforehand!? He knew this was going to be a long range shooter...

When he shortened the barrel he removed the crown and had to cut a new one. It is possible that his new crown is bad due to dull tooling etc.

The crown is the last thing to touch the bullet so the slightest burr can make foe terrible results.

[trophy8]

Well that was a good little tidbit you should have told us about haha. That would be the cause!! I hope he will fix it for you