Author Topic: A riddle you all can help me with - we have a winner! (Read 844 times)

Bullseye · « **on:** July 30, 2003, 05:39:29 PM »

Have a fairly new T/C 14" barrel, caliber to remain unknown to prevent any preconceived perceptions. Barrel has a brand new Leopold scope on it. 5 shot groups run about 1 1/2" - 2" at 50 yards with sometimes 2 or 3 holes touching and the others fliers to open the group. It is not the shooter because I can shoot harder kickers on the same day and get under 1" groups. Crown looks good, scope mount is tight. Have floated the forend, used different forends and shot without a forend with no difference in groups. Have used different powder and weights, different bullet weights and factory ammo, same results. Only thing I have not done is put a different scope on it since I do not have an extra laying around. Scope was new, but who knows.

Does anyone have any other ideas, or did I finally after all these years and about 15 barrels get one that just plain won't shoot.

Thanks
Darrell

jhalcott · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2003, 06:10:23 PM »

well, er, maybe!
I would try a scope from a friend to see if it is the scope. Some times powder/primer mixes cause this.If you have tried factory loads and still get the problem ?? Have you tried the feeler gauge trick to see how much gap is in the lockup of the gun ? For a vertical two grouping problem, the most common problem is barrel heat. This causes a mirage effect. you did not say how far away the groups are from each other. If 2" at 50 yds/five shots from a 44 mag off a benchrest, some thing is wrong. I have had this problem using 1.5 or 2x scopes(old eyes) that went away with 4-8x scopes.
I hope i've not confused you too much, jh

RonF · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2003, 01:53:23 AM »

I agree - try a different scope.

RonF

38-40 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2003, 10:57:05 PM »

Bullseye
Some barrels are finicky about placing the forearm on the sandbags the same each shot. You probably know that. I would check the lockup on your barrel, that is, the relationship of the locking lugs to the frame water table. To do that mark the top of the locking lugs with a felt tip marker and open and close the action a few times. The ink should be rubbed off about half way up the locking lugs. If it is more, lockup is probably loose and the barrel will not shoot well. At any rate, you can return the barrel to the factory for evaluation free of charge.

Paladin · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2003, 06:25:49 PM »

I'v got an idea, pick someone to send it to and let them try to iron it out, than if they can't say in two weeks they send it to someone else or if they get it to shoot they send it home. the sender pays the shipping (penalty for not making the barrel work) what do you think?? :-D :-D :-D

Bullseye · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2003, 02:16:56 PM »

38-40, you are the winner.

Sent the barrel back to T/C. They said that the locking lugs were engaging to deep and not locking up tight. They said that they shot a 1/2" group at 50 yards with factory ammo. I shall find out this weekend. Out of about 15 factory barrels, this is the first one I had that would not shoot. I hope this fixed it.