Author Topic: Can you help me with with these crazy groups? (Read 1236 times)

RicMic · « **on:** October 14, 2005, 04:03:38 PM »

I have the standard weight .243 Rossi. I shot it today and got 1 inch wide by 4 to 4.5 tall groups at 100 yards and was wondering if some one out there ran into this problem and solved it.

kjeff50cal · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2005, 12:29:36 PM »

It may be the forearm, it may be too loose. Tighten it as tight as you can with your fingers.... Also try this when you benchrest put the rest under the hinge part of the forearm. One last thing space out your shots let your barrel cool. The standard weight barrel I liken to a buggy whip and heats up very rapidly.

kjeff50cal

RicMic · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2005, 01:34:59 PM »

I tried spacing the shots out, cool barrel each shot with the same results as a hot barrel. The forearm was tightened down pretty good to start with. The only thing I did not try was the bag under the hinge. I talked with a gunsmith today and he advised placing a washer around the barrel nut to relieve pressure that the tip of the forearm is putting on the barrel. Soooo, I bought and fitted a neopreen washer. We'll see on Wednesday if it works. If she shoots as tall as does wide I'll be a happy man.

Loosecat · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2005, 12:40:21 PM »

I replaced the sling/barrel screw with a cut down allen head metric 6x25 screw - used a drill to inlet it into the stock a wee bit. Replaced the sling screw with a standard stud just in front of the new barrel screw. Good improvement in groups and the set up is definatly more solid - an barrel screw that moves around with the sling as much asthey do didnt seem to make sense to me.

RicMic · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2005, 08:11:16 AM »

I tried different variations of bedding the forearm, neoprene in front and behind the lug, neoprene in front only, neprene behind only, and carboard behind. Neoprene behind the lug gave great groups until the group moved, 3-4 shots max, 2 inches away, left or right. Neoprene front and rear made the gun nuts, shot patterns. Carboard behind the lug had the gun shooting 1 inch wide again but 2 to 2.5 inches up and down, better that the stock configuration which was 1 inch wide by 4 to 4.5 inches high. Well, I finally fixed the whole thing by using it as a partial trade on a Thompson Center Omega!

trotterlg · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2005, 05:57:24 PM »

I had the exact problem with an identical rifle. I finally just sold it and got a NEF. For what is is worth I discovered the problem was that the powder position in the case was very important, if you loaded the rifle, pointed the barrel straight up and thumped the butt on the bench, then lowered it slowly to the target and fired it was nearly perfect. Just not too easy to do when hunting. I think it has something to do with a weaker than normal firing pin strike on the primer which gets inconsistant ignition. It was new when I bought it and after 300 rounds it still had the problem, and I hand loaded for it also, nothing worked. Larry

RicMic · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2005, 02:26:53 PM »

You may be right about the hammer being weak, sometimes I would pull the trigger, the hammer would fall completely but, the gun did not go bang. What a shame it would have been a great light-weight carry rifle for general pest control and occasional deer.

ilv2hnt · « **Reply #7 on:** November 01, 2005, 03:56:55 AM »

Are you shooting reloads or factory ammo?? I have a ROSSI PENCIL BARREL I CALL IT that after reloading once the brass has to be trimmed below trim length to get the chamber to lock up properly, whe you closed the breech the break open lever would not pop all the way out like it would with new brass or factory ammo, and I figured it out that way although it has never opened up on me after firing. As for the stringing of the shots, you have to let the barrel on mine completely cool and I mean completely cool to get the accuracy out of the barrel that it is capable of doing. Although one shot is all you need so line your scope up with that first shot and if you are shooting long range remember if you do need a 2nd shot move your aim accordingly

Maryland Hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** November 14, 2005, 10:17:47 AM »

RicMic,
I got almost identical groups with mine this weekend, 41/2" up and down, but left and right in line. I do have the forend tight against the barrel. How and where, exactly, is the washer put on to eliminate this. Would it be just as easy to sand out the contact points on the wood?

MH