Rifle grouping problems

[Mac]

I’ve been having hell trying to find an ammo my 308 likes. I used to use hornady custom match but they no longer make it. It used to group them really well especially for a factory rifle. Now I’ve tried everything I can get ahold of. The latest being hornady black that per the numbers is the same bullet and same velocity as the hornady rounds my rifle liked. Took it to the range today and these are the groups I got.




First shot being the lowest in all the groups. Is this ammo related or is there something else I can look into? The best groups I can get with this rifle now are maybe 2” groups with a federal round. Unsure of what is going on


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[MadHatter]

Scope it

[db@100]

Try the Federal Premium 168 gr. Matchking. If it won't group them, then look at the rifle or operator.

[TacticalCowboy]

What are you resting on, and what part of the rifle are you resting?

[Mac]

What are you resting on, and what part of the rifle are you resting?

Resting on bags front and rear for these shots, tried a lead sled and bipod.

[JakeGraves]

Are you sure everything is tight? That looks like maybe a loose pic rail or scope ring. Action screws can also throw off groups if they are not tight.

Interested in what rifle you are shooting...

[Jason Fry]

Agree, I'd go with a screw loose somewhere. If it's vertical stringing that bad, it's not the ammo. If you want to get fancy, have the action bedded and the forearm floated.

[Mac]

Are you sure everything is tight? That looks like maybe a loose pic rail or scope ring. Action screws can also throw off groups if they are not tight.

Interested in what rifle you are shooting...

Remington 700, everything is torqued to spec as far as scope and rings. Bottom metal was added and torqued to manufactures specs and rechecked today as this was my first thought as well

I’m gonna double check rings and bases later tonight when I get more time

[Ag 96]

If it’s progressively vertically stringing up as you shoot, its probably stock flex. As your barrel heats up, it forces it higher and higher. Some of the Remington synthetic stocks were notorious for this, or it could be an action screw has loosened up. Is this a gun that previously would hold a group?

[Mac]

If it’s progressively vertically stringing up as you shoot, its probably stock flex. As your barrel heats up, it forces it higher and higher. Some of the Remington synthetic stocks were notorious for this, or it could be an action screw has loosened up. Is this a gun that previously would hold a group?

Yessir the only thing that has changed is I ran out of the ammo that gave me 1/2”groups and a cover for the suppressor which I’ve tried without and gotten the same results. It’s in a manners stock and have never had any issues with them flexing. The action screws were still at 65ft/lbs when checked. I was able to get about a 2” group without any noticeable verticals stringing with different ammo and the same setup. Just found it odd the hornady was stringing and if I was missing something to check on.

[Mac]

Thought it could possibly be a parallax or cheek weld issue but one of those groups is a different shooter and almost an identical spread.

[Etxbuckman]

Resting on bags front and rear for these shots, tried a lead sled and bipod.

Whatever you do, do NOT use a Lead Sled for serious rifle zeroing. Been there, done that and wasted tons of time, money, and ammo figuring it out.

[DirtyDave]

Skinny Sporter Barrel? Heat issue most likely.
How much time between shots? Try waiting several minutes between shots and see what happens

[Ag 96]

That’s strange… Manners are a quality product, so I doubt it’s flexing. The fact that you changed bottom metal recently might be related. Was it shooting well after that? I would still suspect stock contact and heating up, but could be wrong. Check your free float and make sure the bottom metal and receiver are aligned right… it might tighten down to 65 pounds, but still not be totally seated right.

Totally different setup, but I’ve got a Win model 70 that’s very particular about how you put the floor plate on. Can’t really tell why visually, but you’ll know when your shoot it that something is amiss.

[Walker]

Check your free float and make sure the bottom metal and receiver are aligned right… it might tighten down to 65 pounds, but still not be totally seated right.

We're not torquing lug nuts here