Rough Day at the Range

[rezz]

After having a pretty good outing with my 22-250 last time everything went to pieces today.
Was scattering shots all over the place for some reason. I thought maybe the new Harris bipod was the culprit but took it off and had the same trouble.
Maybe I shouldn't have cleaned the barrel after last go round???

Might also be the scope. I'm not used to the higher mags of this Bushnell 6-24 Banner. Does the POI change that much when adjusting to different mags?

[quickdtoo]

Power changes can result in different POIs, I have a Leupold VariX compact that is  bad about this, but it's predictable and goes in the right direction, raise power from 2x to 7x and the POI raises about 2" at 200yds, so it helps in that case. It's usually prevalent in lower cost scopes, but obviously not limited to them!

If you have the parallax set wrong for the range you shoot at, it can cause POI changes due to parallax error, the markings on a scope's AO don't always correspond to what it is in reality. I adjust the AO to be free of parallax at the range I'm shooting at by setting the rifle in bags or rest and looking thru the scope and adjusting the AO until there's no movement of the reticle on the target when I move my eye position around slightly without touching the rifle. For 100yd as an example, then I make note of the position of the AO in reference to the markings or make a new index mark for that range. If there's parallax error, unless you have your eye in the exact same position each time you shoot, the impact change will show as bigger groups.

Tim

[cheatermk3]

Sorry to hear you're having trouble with your 22-250.

How many rounds do you have through the rifle, and was it new or used when you bought it?

What range are you shooting?

5-shot groups, 3-shot?

What ammo are you using?  Same as last time?

what does "all over the place mean?

To answer your question about the scope's different mags, if the POI does shift after changing magnification, and nothing else, the rifle should still be grouping the same, just hitting a different place on the target.

Sometimes it takes a few rounds for a scope to "settle in" after an adjustment.  This is more often the case with lower-priced scopes but it happens with some of the higher priced ones too.  There is more that goes into a scope than just the clarity of the lenses.

Also, many rifles shoot better dirty than squeaky clean. 

Let us know exactly what's going on, then it will be possible to help you troubleshoot your system. 

[Bob_VT]

I have found that after I clean my 223 it shoots wild for a bit.... then high but drops back in after about 7-8 shots.  I don't even bother to aim for the "fouling" shots anymore.

A good test for a scope (once you overcome the problems) is to zero in on 100 yards and shoot 3-5 shots.  Let the gun cool and adjust your scope right 2" (which is either going to be 8 or 16 clicks depending on the adjustment) and shoot 3...... then up 2" shoot 3  .... then left 4" and 3 more.....  get the picture?  You should make sure the scope is adjusting properly.  [KEEP TRACK on a piece of paper of your movements with the adjustments!!!] This drill usually tells if everything is working the right way.

[quickdtoo]

"Shooting the box" as Bob explained will reveal the tracking of the scope's adjustments, but the coarse reticle of the Bushnell may also be partly to blame for group size, along with either needing a good cleaning or being too clean, but a fine reticle or dot is much desirable for shooting small groups.

Tim

http://www.savageshooters.com/Pages/Mueller_Eraticator_Review.html

[Ditchdigger]

Check and make sure the action is still locking up tight,mine shot completely loose (.006" between the breechface area) after about 70  rds..    Digger

[rezz]

I'll give the 'box' a try next time and see what happens. Was shooting at 100yds and had a pretty good group last time out with Vmax55s. Shots scattered all over today, 3 high, 4 right, 2 low, etc today. Tried different ammo and pretty much the same. The only things that changed was that I cleaned the barrell.

I had some trouble with the scope last time. Found it difficult to see through it at times, especially after a shot. It went black and I constantly had to adjust to get it where I could see again. Same today, it was like the eye relief changed
Might have to RMA it to Bushnell but will have to try it again first.

[quickdtoo]

Another thing to check is make sure the latch and shelf are dry, storing a rifle muzzle up, the oil you put in and on the barrel runs down and will collect on the breech face and on the latch which can cause inconsistent lock up, in addition to sticking brass if it's not wiped out of the chamber before shooting.  I started storing mine muzzle down once I realized this might be a problem since a good share of inaccuracy complaints are solved by the gunsmiths at H&R by drying the latch, their words, not mine, but very true.

Tim

[rezz]

Thanks quick.
Everything appears to lockup good with no gaps or looseness but I'd say there was some oil involved.
I'm going to leave it dirty this time and try again when I get a chance.

[tuxdad]

I had some trouble with the scope last time. Found it difficult to see through it at times, especially after a shot. It went black and I constantly had to adjust to get it where I could see again. Same today, it was like the eye relief changed
Might have to RMA it to Bushnell but will have to try it again first.

If I didnt know any better it sounds like you might've "trashed" your scope ....  I've had the same thing happen with me on another gun.. Seems the glass wasn't installed properly and with each shot it'd shift... If you have another scope, try shooting with that... Hope you get things fixed with it..

Tux

[rezz]

Tuxdad,
Yeah, I wondering the same thing.
Went and read the article on parallex that quick gave me and will try again.
If things don't improve the scope may have to go back to Bushnell.