.308 Survivor Problems

[prairiedog555]

I shot my new .308 survivor last night. (bull barrell)  What a disappointment.  gun locks up tight, no visable spacing, have new Bushnell legend scope on it (very bright) warne rings are tight.  Groups all over the place at 25yd.
I admit I did not clean it prior.  I know I should have, and I read that it would help groups, but I thought that ment that it would shrink groups from 1.5 to 1 in.  not 3in swings between cold shots.
Are you telling me that cleaning and polishing will eliminate this? 

I love the look, feel, trigger, balance of this gun and I am ready to sell it.  I know I sound like a stupid teenager, but I have never had this wide wild grouping action in any gun since I bought a SKS with russian ammo.  I checked the rings, tight, premium 150gr ammo, I guess it could be the scope, but brand new out of the box, not banged up.  Also, what Gr. bullit do you guys reccomend with this barrel?  I think it is a 1-10 twist.
Thanks

[Fazak]

As mentioned previously in other threads, I'm relatively new at playing with these rifles also, but I've discovered that there's a learning curve associated with shooting these Handi's off a rest. Flyers are guarenteed unless the rest is placed under the frame hinge. Also, be careful that you're not applying any downward pressure on the rifle as you hold it on the bags.

As many other people have discovered, the barrels on many of these rifles require a break in period before they smooth out and begin delivering consistent results. I haven't been giving my .223 the typical break in proceedure, but between range sessions I give the barrel a thorough cleaning with copper solvent and standard bore cleaner.

Don't give up on your .308 yet. These rifles must be "learned" and the barrels have to break in before you're going to find it's true accuracy potential.

They're worth the trouble.

[quickdtoo]

PD555, Read the FAQ and Help accurizing links, you can rest assured that you haven't experienced anything that's new, shooting a single shot break barrel requires some techniques that may be new to you compared to a bolt gun with one piece stock.

The transfer bar requires a full pull to the rear to keep it in the firing position, letting off the trigger at the break will cause inconsistent pin strikes and accuracy will be poor due to it.

It may not like the ammo either, I wouldn't assume just because you're using premium ammo that it's gonna shoot one hole groups, most NEF/H&Rs shoot standard ammo very well, the Rem Cor-lokts and Federal Fusion ammo seem to be consistently good shooters across the spectrum of calibers.

As Fazak said, cleaning good from the get go is important, and taking it a step further and doing a good bore polishing with a fine metal polish like JB or Flitz as mentioned in the FAQ, will reduce range time considerably, I do all of mine before I even shoot em, I don't have a poor shooter in the bunch in over 25 rifles.

Also, just because the scope is new doesn't give it a free pass, there have been many NIB scope problems reported here in the past, don't rule it out. I just had a problem with a brand spanking new Nikon Buckmasters, so it happens.

Also, make sure the latch and latch shelf are oil free, storing a rifle muzzle up allows oil from the bore and barrel to run down into the frame resulting in an oily latch shelf which can impact accuracy big time, it's the number one reason for firearms returned to H&R for accuracy problems. Some shooters report that oiling the latch can improve accuracy, but the majority shoot well dry, and that's been my experience so far. I tried the oily latch on my last range visit, didn't work on 2 different rifles.

And if all else fails, give H&R a call and make arrangements on their dime to have it fixed, their CS is second to none!

Hang in there, we're here to help, you aren't the first and not the last to have an accuracy problem.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,100416.0.html

[safetysheriff]

II admit I did not clean it prior.  I know I should have,     

if you fire a bullet through a greasy or oily barrel the hydraulic pressure generated therein may be enough alone to ruin it.   nevermind the by-products of combustion that might accelerate the barrels wear on succeeding shots......

please get in a habit of cleaning / drying-out your firearms any time you are getting ready to fire them.

best regards,

ss'

[poncaguy]

I replaced the Survivor stock and forend with the Choate stock and forend on my 308, it shoots MOA now............