I need help!

[Aaro]

Hey everyone, I need help with accuracy issues with a Remington 700 chambered in .243. I bought this rifle for deer and varmints. I purchased this rifle last weekend and have not been able to get better than 2.5 inch groups at 100 yards. I need help deciding what to do next I have tried three types of winchester ammo in this gun the 100 and 80 grain Power Points and the 95 grain SilverTips the best groups coming from the 100 grain Power Points(2.5 in) and the worst coming from the SilverTips coming in at 3 in. I have checked the scope mounts and bases but not the scope. The scope is a Nikon Prostaff that I bought with the gun. Has anyone had any problems with this scope? My plan this afternoon is  to replace this scope with an old Bushnell that has been on top of my .270 for two years. The gun has a 20 inch barrel and I have done the trigger mod(it did'nt shoot any better or worse after). And in closing before you say Its me everytime I went out and shot the .243 resulting in 2.5 inch groups I also shot my .223 handi placing all three rounds in a one inch circle at the same distance. All help is appreciated.
                                                                           -Aaron

[7x57mm]

Aaro: did you clean the barrel first, or just start shooting it. If new it still might have had crud in the barrel. I have started using Wipe Out for cleaning and now I swear by it. Next, make sure your action screws are tight. You might also take a look at the barrel crown to make sure there are no nicks that will affect accuracy. Shoot three, three shot groups and take note of where each bullet strikes the target. Mark it down on a piece of paper beside you as you shoot. If you end up with a pattern, say two shots almost touching in the same position and one up and to the right each time after proper cooling between shots and groups, then you more than likely have bedding problems. This can be eliminated through something as simple as freefloating the barrel  with a wooden dowel and sandpaper, or it could mean glassbedding the action area. If your barrel is already freefloated now, it could mean you need a small upward pressure point in the barrel channel near the end of the forearm. Hope some of this helps. Tom Purdom

[Aaro]

Yes I have cleaned the barrel several times and the action screws are tight. Ill have to check the other stuff you said with marking my shots and giving plenty of time to cool in between shots. Untill then any other suggestions/tips?

[flintlock]

Aaro....My .243 doesn't like Winchester either...I have sighted in 4 new .243 700s in last few years...all liked one or more of the following....Hornady Custom 100gr InterLok...Remington CoreLokt 100gr....Federal Premium in either 100gr BTSP Sierra GameKing, 100gr Nosler Partition or the 85gr BTHP.

Any of these work well for deer....

btw...Two of the guns had Prostaffs...no problem with either....If you want to test the scope....try shooting a square....Zero at 100...move 3-4 inches right and 3-4 up...shoot...move 6-8 inches down...shoot....then move 6-8 inches left ...shoot...move 6-8 inches up and shoot....then return to original zero...shoot and see if it tracks properly....With a bad scope you usually don't finish the square before you know its not right....

[gunnut69]

Check the crown.. and use a scope that's a known quantity.. Has the bedding been fooled with? .. Had one that had the front sling stud sticking thru into the barrel channel, boy it shot everywhere!

[Aaro]

I think Ive solved the problem. I put the Bushnell scope on and the Silvertips shot a 2 inch group at about 15 steps. Then I shot the 100 grain Power Points and shot three into one hole. Dont know what that equals at 100 yards but I intend to find out. Be back momentarily with results.

[Aaro]

New question, anybody want to buy a Remington 700 chambered in 234? Just joking. I knew it had to be harder than that. After shooting three shots touching at 15 steps I went to the Orchard and shot at 100 yards the first two shots were ~1inch apart and on the walk back to the truck I was already making plans to return the scope on the morrow. Then the third shot came in about 3 to 3.5 inches high but in line horizontaly. Then the forth shot came in 2 inches higher than the first two but a full inch to the right. Ive checked the crown, front sling stud, I also waited 1 to 2 minuets inbetween shots. So now what? 7x57mm, you described my situation exactly and said that I have bedding problems. Does this sound right. This stock is not freefloated should I freefloat it? I have plans to get an Richards Microfit Prone Style -Target Culbertson stock. This would be free floated and all the other goodies. One thing I noticed about the factory stock is that the forearm is very flimsy. I can push on it and force it to touch one side of the barrel or the other. Also I belive the stock is touching the entire length of the barrel. So what next?

[Jim n Iowa]

I shoot a 243 and I have sworn the barrel was surgically clean and still shoot poor groups. Where as it last shot .75" groups at 100. The problem was copper fouling. Left some Sweets in the barrel 8 hours (not recommended on most boards). A dry patch down the barrel produced "strands of copper" when I got off work. For me with a 1:10 twist, 75 to 85 g bullets work the best, with mid range loads of powders like IMR 4831.
Jim

[Don Fischer]

Sounds like a 700 ADL. I've got one with a synthetic stock in 243. One of the worst shooting rifles I've ever owned. Finally had to completely re-bed the thing, haven't found a new stock yet. I doubt I'll ever buy another Remington. This is the second new one I've had trouble with and Remington thinks there fine. HUH!!!!!!

[Judson]

You might think about checking the head space.    I was rather suprised to find out that rifles that close on a No-Go gauge will leave the factory.    A No-Go gauge does not mean that the rifle is not safe but it does mean that their is enough head space that accuracy will suffer.    I have not found a "new" rifle which will close on a Field gauge which would be unsafe however.     Savage and such rifles as CZ and Sako I have not seen this but quality control on many other rifles has really gone down hill.
    As to Savage if you look at how the barrel is installed you will see why I think their head spacing is better then most.    You chamber a Go Gauge, close the bolt screw the barrel in until it contacts then lock down the "Lug nut"

[Slamfire]

You might think about checking the head space.    I was rather suprised to find out that rifles that close on a No-Go gauge will leave the factory.    A No-Go gauge does not mean that the rifle is not safe but it does mean that their is enough head space that accuracy will suffer.    I have not found a "new" rifle which will close on a Field gauge which would be unsafe however.     Savage and such rifles as CZ and Sako I have not seen this but quality control on many other rifles has really gone down hill.
    As to Savage if you look at how the barrel is installed you will see why I think their head spacing is better then most.    You chamber a Go Gauge, close the bolt screw the barrel in until it contacts then lock down the "Lug nut"

Actually Savage uses an assembly gauge, the barrel/receiver threads take a set the first time the rifle is fired. I think it's about 0.002" but that's an old man's memory speakin'.  :wink:

[Judson]

Thanks for the info and the .002 sounds about right, I have never run into a Savage which would close on a nogo or even come close.    I do not care for the looks of the "Lug nut" but it allows for easy and good head space.