HELP PLease!!!

[Chumleyhunts]

Well, I'm at a loss, so I am looking for outside opinions.

While trying to sight in my Win 94 Big Bore .375 yesterday with new factory loads, I ran into a problem.

The gun is shooting very erratically now. It formerly shot very well.

I checked the mounts, all is tight there. The scope is a Leupold 2-7.

The gun seems to hold Left and Right, but strings up and down with no rhyme or reason. First 2 shots, about 4" separation. (2nd shot high). Second two shots, about 9" separation. (second shot low). Third 2 shots, both over the entire back stop. Could the scope be wacked? It has Kwik Site side mounts on it. Could the mount be torquing the scope to cause this?


Due to my work schedule, I am writing this gun off for this season, so I have time to make whatever fixes I need to make.

[Foggy]

sounds like you got scope issues. swap out scopes . even a inexpensive Bushnell from wally world will tell you if your Leupold is messed up. Sometimes a broken cross hair or internal damage is hard to spot.

Just My two cents
Foggy

[mrbill2]

If changing scopes don't fix the problem. Try some different ammo.
Mr. Bill

[Graybeard]

Before changing the scope I'd first check to be sure the connection of the scope to the rifle is still tight. Loose screws more often than a defective scope is the cause. Make sure the ring screws are tight as you remove them and then once the scope is off make sure the base screws are tight and use blue loc-tite on them but NOT on the ring screws.

Then put scope back in place either same one or another you know to be working correctly and try again. If problem persists I'd next make sure all copper fouling is removed from the barrel down to bare metal. Being a lever gun the last item I'd check is the fit of fore arm to barrel to see if for some reason that has changed due to weather or it getting wet and swelling.

Most likely something is loose in the connection of scope to rifle or the barrel is copper fouled so badly it needs a good cleaning. That Leupold scope is about the least likely cause but even Leupold's have been know to go haywire so after ruling out the other possibilities it is worth checking also.

[Castaway]

All of the above is good advice and they probably hit on the possible cause.  It sounds like barrel heating isn't the problem since the first two shots were apart but that can sometimes cause groups to open if the barrel isn't allowed to cool between shots.   Other possible causes would be screw tension on the fore stock.  My experience with Winchesters is that overtightening the barrel band sends accuracy south.  Another possibility, unique to lever actions lies with the magazine cap retaining screw.   Check it for snugness and if it has wallowed out the the recess in the barrel in which it nestles.  Having said that, my guess it is something mechanical since it shot fine before, most likely, as mentioned previously, with the scope.  Fouling will send accuracy out the window, but not to the extreme you are experiencing and it tends to creep up, not as in this case, "blow up."

[buffermop]

I would start with the iron sights first and see if the gun has a pattern. It it can hold a group than it has got to be the scope setup.

[dave375hh]

The best way to check a scope that is spreading groups up & down is to turn the scope 90deg tighten it back down and see if the spread becomes side to side. It could be a broken erector spring and would be an easy fix for Leupold to do.

[Castaway]

Any update on what was causing your problem?