.223 Encore 26" heavy barrel accuracy problem. Can you

[Questor]

I'm asking for load information that works for you. Can you help? Here's my problem:

Our new Encore with .223 26" heavy barrel has made a bad first impression.  It will not group with either of the 50 grain bullets I have on hand-- Speer TNTs and Hornady moly-coated Vmax's.  I tried a few shots with 40 grain bullets and they group into a single small hole at 25 yards but I haven't shot them at 100 yards yet.

Loads are 25.5 grains of Varget, OAL=2.230, primer is Remington 7 1/2 BR.  Velocity is right around 3000fps.

By "will not group" I mean that it consistently hits into a 12" circle at 100 yards, but will not do better.

I wonder if I'm having the same problem I had with the 221 fireball, which would not shoot any of the plastic-tipped 50 grain bullets because the bullets failed to stabilize.

Are you getting good accuracy with 50 grain bullets? What are you using?

Thanks.

[palgeno]

Questor---I have the same barrel in stainless----so far, I have not found ANY brand of bullet in 50 to 55 grains that will NOT shoot 1/2 inch or better at 100 yd-----have tried Sierra, Nosler, Hornaday, Speer, and Dogtown(Midway). Either your barrel is screwed up (maybe crown?) or scope, scope base, or rings are loose. If all variables have been eliminated, send it back to T/C. I have never had a bad barrel, but I guess others have.  pg

[Questor]

Thanks guys. I suspect a bad scope in this case. I'll try it with a different scope and see if that has anything to do with it. I hate problems like this because it'll be next weekend before I can fool with it some more.

[MINNESOTA DICK]

My fix to my 26" hvy barrel was:

Repair the crown and pilled bed the foreare.

I don't which  one did the fix because I did them at the same time.

Shoots real good now.

[Howler]

Have you tried the 50 grain loads @ 25yrds? I ussually use 50yrds when im first sighting in & can tell what a load is going to do @ 100 most times.
Was the same quality control used to assemble both loads? Are you useing new brass or fired? Are you gauging headspace & bullet R.O?

[TopGun]

I use a 52gr Sierra match boat tail over 26.5gr of WW748 in my 26" HB stainless. It's sub 1/2" MOA all day long. I think any 50-53 grainer will work. It's a little hot for a 55 though. If this load doesn't shoot, sell the barrel. I use this load for all my competition shooting out to 300yds. For the longer 600 I go to 75gr Hornady and Varget. Varget will work very well with any weight though. :roll:

[Questor]

Thanks for the feeback so far. Now I get to find out how well TC stands behind their product. They told me to send the barrel back.  

I've since tried a variety of loads and found no 50 grain load that would shoot under 3". 40 grainers did better, but I want the heavier bullet for windy conditions and for coyotes.

This is the only problem I've ever had with a TC product. They didn't hassle me when I called them about it, they just told me to send it back with a note of explanation.