.270 win.

[ras308]

My wife recently inherited a Mod. 70 .270 win.  I went and shot it the other day, the bullets are hitting in a horizontal line, one side of the bull, then in the bull, then the other side of the bull???  I have cleaned the barrel very well, it had lots of fouling!!!  Just in case this does not solve the problem, what do you all think it may be?  I don't think the barrel is free floated, but I wouldn't think it should vary as much as 4-5 inches???  Also, the scope is older, but appears to be in good shape and tight.  Thanks in advance.

[gunnut69]

This is usually a bedding problem although I've seen a bad scope produce similar patterns.  To check the bedding first remove the barreled action and visually check the bedding.  Winchester uses a bedding compound(I use the word bedding compound very loosely here) that comes from a hot glue gun, no it really does..  It has a nasty habit of shattering when subjected to recoil..  Also check the barrel channel for rub marks or indications the barrel is in hard contact with the wood.  If the bedding is OK or if there is no visible signs of bedding compound then put the barreled action back tightening the screws on this 3 screw action in the correct sequence.  Start all screws then rap the but on a firm surface to seat the recoil surfaces.  Tighten the front screw nearly as tight as is possible with a normal well fitting and easy to hold screwdriver.  The rear screw is next tightened to just firm and the center just to the point that the front of the trigger guard stops moving about..  then with the floorplate open loosen the milddle screw while keeping the fingers of the off hand on the joint of the wood and metal.  There should be no movement or motion of the metal as the screw is relaxed.  Then loosen the front action screw while using the off hand finsgers again to check for front receiver ring motion as the front screw is loosened.  Tighten the front screw back and perform the same test on the rear action screw(tang screw).  The center screw can be tightened back to norm after the front and rear screw tests are complete.  If the action moves when the front screw is loosened the action is springing.  This can be caused by having a pressure bedded barrel or poor bedding in the action area.  I the front receiver ring rises there is a good chance the barrel is bedded  with upward pressure.  If the front ring and the barrel rise together the action is warped and you have a bedding problem.  The tang should not move when the screw is loosened..period.  The simplest way to check for a scope problem is to swap in a scope one klnows is OK.  Left-right patterns are most often caused by the sction being twisted or torsioned when the action screws are tightened down.  While checking note the condition of the crown..  and the last inch of the bore..  While it probably won't cause the groups you mentioned it can increase group size.  Also does the group always start in the same place(left side, right side, middle) or is the first shots position variable.  If it always starts in the same place it may be a barrel bedding problem(impact changes as the barrel heats), otherwise I suspect the action is twisted..

One other thing I forget to note.  When you've got the metal out of the stock, check the action inlet for marks.  The recoil lug should bear evenly but most importantly check the hole thru the stock where the action screws passthru.  If the screws touch the stock they can cause the action to shift left and right as the vibration of firing happens.  If the bedding is otherwise ok this can cause a hard to find left-right switch in the bullets impact.

[ras308]

Thanks for all the good information, I may do all this when I get more time.  I did shoot it this weekend, it is shooting much better after the good barrel cleaning.  It is not stringing the bullets horizontally anymore.  However, it could be grouping much tighter, but this also could be because I didn't have my sandbags and was in a hurry???  It may not be totally fixed, but I feel much better now.  One thing that may have caused the larger group this weekend, is I did not allow the barrel to cool all the way back down after each shot.  This rifle has a light barrel.  Can I tell by the serial number approximately when it was built?  Thanks again!!!

[gunnut69]

Yes I can give you the date manf.date based on the serial number.  If you post it 'x' out the last few numbers.  This will keep unscrupulous people from making false claims..  In any case if the numbers given span 2 years of serial number blocks I'll reply with the serial number blocks for both years.    I have a special love of the M70.  Even though I mostly use Remington and several ruger 77's(tang safeties).  I have a few M70's(257 Rob, 220 Swift, 300 H&H,243 Win,7mm RemMag,264 WinMag,338 WinMag,6.5x55 Sw) and even a couple of it's forerunner the M54(22 Hornet,250-3000 Savage).  The Roberts is my current favorite.  It's such a beautiful little round.  It kills with little muss or fuss and with nearly no recoil..  The 264 Mag is a super grade and has been a problem child.  Accuracy, while OK for hunting is NOT up to parr.  The 7mmMag is also a supergrade and I was very disappoiinted with the quality of the wood and the rifles groups.  I spoke with Winchester's service folks and it was returned.  They rebarreled and restock the rifle, at no charge whatsoever.   What more could one ask?  Only problem is now the rifle's almost too pretty to drag out into the woods!!!!  Ain't life hard..  
We'll get that little 270 shooting right and you'll be hooked..

[ras308]

I like the .270 win., it'll be great for my wife, may be a little tough on the recoil though???  I bought a model 700 VSSF in .308 a few years back, I love it.  I shot a coyote with a lawn chair rest a couple years back, 435 long steps???  My wife killed her first hog and deer with it last year, she fell in love with hunting too!!!  I'll try to remember to get the SN to find out when it was built.  I plan on letting her shoot the remainder of the factory loads for it this year and get an early start on a load before next season.  I am thinking about loading some 130 grn. Interbonds, she tore up too much meat last year with my 150 grn. Nosler Ballistic Tips!!!