I have tried now need help

[stanw]

I have a new Encore pro hunter in 30-06. It groups 1.25 inch at 50 yds and 4.25inches at 100 yds I have ground down the forarm so only the screws touch and the ears next to the frame frame don't. Rest on sand bags as close to the trigger guard as possiable. Factory reloads 150 winchester silver tips and reloads 150 nosler ballistic tip and hornady sst's with 49 to 52 grains of IMR 4320 even 180 grain round nose with IMR4320 at 46.5 and 47.5 grains. any other suggestions would be greatly appriciated. Thanks Stan

[BobT]

Stan,
Without seeing your gun I'm not quite sure but you said that you "ground down the forend until only the screws touch" . If the screws bottom out in the holes and the forend isn't touching the barrel any where then it is free to move around and contact the barrel in different places every time you fire a shot. If the gun is grouping 1.25 at 50 then theoretically it should be grouping 2.5 at 100. Such an increase in group size would indicate one of two things to me, either a scope or mount issue or an unstable bullet. To "float " an Encore forend I just use a couple of 300 series stainless washers around the screws between the forend and barrel.

Bob

[NightKnight]

Stan,
I would make sure my scope base and mounts are tight first, like Bob suggested.
I assume you handload, so the next thing I did is vary my bullet seating depths. I usually start about .050" from the lads and move my bullets deeper in .005" increments, making 3 rounds at each new depth.
Before going to the range, I also use wide, clear tape (the kind used for taping boxes closed) on my hinge pins. This was to make sure my hinge pin didn't rotate while I was shooting it.
I went to the range and fired my 3 shot groups, looking for the tightest one(s).
I then made up 10 rounds of the most promising loads and returned to the range to confirm my previous test results, making sure I let the barrel stay fairly cool during firing 2-5 shot groups. I found 2 seating depths that were the tightest, so I went with the longer of the 2. Both groups were exactly .54", CTC, for 5 shots at 100 yards.

I used IMR 4064 powder, Nosler cases, CCI BR-2 primers, and Nosler AccuBond bullets for my testing.

Good luck and keep trying,
NightKnight

[stanw]

sorry I should have said that the only thing touching is the spots that hold the screws in the forarm I ground down the rest of the parts of the forarm that touched the barrel and frame. I will try the washers and tape. I hope it is not the scope but will try. the mounts are tight, weaver style may try leupold mounts. I agreewith the 1.25 should be 2.5, just can't figure out 1.25 to 4+ grouping haven't given up, fun to figure things out just got upset last night with all the reading I have done thought it was time to ask. took my scope off and found it tight but had metal fileings between the base and rings so it is still moveing even tight. leupold rings and mounts which ones low med or high work best with the pro hunter?Thanks alot Bob and Knightnight

[Keith L]

Roll the pin on a smooth flat surface.  If it rolls smoothly it is round and all the tape in the world won't really make a difference.  The only time the tape would help is if the pin is ground oval, then it may allow wobble if oriented wrong.  If you can tell it is oval call TC and ask for a new one.  If it is round concentrate on other things, like scope mounting.  My bet is that is were the problem is.

[stanw]

well I tried new mounts and found my windage ajustment was broke so I bought another leupold and shot a few old factory rounds great group now for some reloads and 100 to 200 yard shots. I just can not believe I broke a leupold scope! I will say that I learned alot about this rifle and thanks for all your help. PS My wife keeps saying "I told you so" now I feel stupid OH well not the first time. Catch ya later Stan

[30-06man]

don't tell leupold you broke the scope send it back and they will repaire it under warranty well at least that's what they did for me as i did the same thing with a older one. if you have any more problems call t/c they will help. and i see you reload but still i want you to try this ammo if anyway possible. the fedral fusion and see how your encore likes it 150grainers in mine and its grouping at .4 of an inch at 125 yards!! it loves it.

[stanw]

1.25 inch group of three shots at 100 yrds one half moon slice on forhead. I can now work to loads it likes. I was tired and it was getting dark happy even with blood on face.    30-06 man wife said I could try some of the fusions I will get some. It may be awhile as the closes place is 75 miles to get good ammo. Thanks

[30-06man]

sounds good. and i couldn't survive with the closest place being 75mi away i would be buying from midway a lot more.  my remington likes those fusions also but it does better with a $18 box of core lokt express it also shoots good with the hornaday light mag all around a inch, but the encore 06 is a tack driver and i think i could get 400 yards out of it for varmint if i get a larger scope

[BobT]

Glad you got it figured out Stan!

I have had a couple of problems with Leupold scopes in the last few years most recently on my 209x.50  Encore, my shooting buddy had the same problem on his a couple of weeks ago. To be fair these were the bottom of the line "Rifleman" models. Leupold will fix your scope if you return it. They have never charged me for repair work and were always very pleasant to deal with.

Bob

[Lone Star]

The above is yet another good example of the problems of shooting a cheap scope - even one with a "brand name".  Competition with the cheap offshore optical junk has forced even Leupold to lower their standards so as not to loose too much of the lower-end sport optics market.  The result is more cheap junk.   Even though it is becoming dated, this is still one of my favorite scope sites:

http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/scope.html


.

[stanw]

this is a VXII 3X9 I think the real problem is I always tap the adjustment dials because I am use to the old junk scopes I know I should not but old habits die hard. I do believe that every company has lowered there standards on things But I still trust leupold as being the poor mans top of the line although they are not the best out there they are alot better than most. only my opinion.

[30-06man]

i don't think anything has happened to Leupold. Leupold hasn't lowered their standards and i have had many an and haven't had any problems but one and it was a accident. i dropped my 30.06 out of my stand the the scope hit a huge rock 20ft down and shattered. they replaced it within 3 days with no questions. you may get a bad apple so to speak but what can be expected were humans and they make mistakes. but the Leupold quaintly hasn't gone down one bit. if you tap the adjustment it will tear up i have done it on other scopes.  Leupold is the standard in my mind and they are one if not the largest scope company in the world and made here in the USA. i just won't buy their lower end binos because they are cheap

[Awger]

Even though it is becoming dated, this is still one of my favorite scope sites:

http://www.charm.net/~kmarsh/scope.html

Ken is an old roommate of mine... I'll let him know he's getting dated.