Can't sight in 7mm08

[Catahoulajim]

Help,

 I can't get my youth 7mm08 sighted in.  Ten boxes of shells 140 GR core-loct, managed recoil core loct, and winchester 140 GR CXP2, three different scopes, floating the barrel, o ring between fore end and barrel, bedding the scope rail, scrubbing the barrel, mounting the scope on different ring to rail locations, restting gun under receiver, and letting cool between shots.  I got real excited when it shot a 3 round 2 1/2" 100 yard group, but then it started shooting all over the target as usual.  My other two handi rifles 444 and 44 mag both took a little work, but are very consistant.  I am not set up for reloading and just need hunting accuracy.  Any recomendations?

Jim

[petemi]

Jim, unless Tim or someone can brainstorm a solution, I'd trade it for something else.  My 7mm-08 and .22-250 are also Minute of Deer.  I seldom use them.  I have other Handis that shoot much better, but I too have never reloaded for either.  I don't have the dies yet.

I just re-read your post and picked up on "Youth".  Could it be the short stock??

Pete

[Catahoulajim]

Pete,

It is a short stock, but I don't think that would cause the problem.  Hopefully someone can shine some light on the subject.  I hate to pass my problems on to someone else.  If not, my next step is to send it back to the factory for evaluation, they may step up and make it good.

Jim

 

[Bigeasy]

Jim

Might want to try a different scope, just to be sure its the gun.

Larry

[gcrank1]

Three different scopes, and it sounds like all the tricks, hey, does it have rifling that looks any good?
Do you know how to slug a bore? If you can do it  you may find it is overbore which would give you a real good reason to can them and get 'em to do you right.
Other ploy; did you buy this new in a shop? If so, take it back to them and explain what you have gone through (take notes to hand then). They should be willing to work with you, after all, a rifle is sold with the implied warrantee that it will do what it was intended to do; ie, shoot decently. Maybe not benchrest competition but 'decently'. You paid good money; somebody owes you a rifle.

[Catahoulajim]

I did read an article before on slugging a bore and will try that, what dimension am I looking for on a 7mm 08?  I did buy the gun new but that was two years ago and have been tinkering with it since.  It currently has warne mounts,  a nikon scope, securely mounted, and torqued.  I am pretty sure it is a bore issue. 

[gcrank1]

If the bore, not the groove, dia, is as large or larger than the dia. of your bullets (regardless of cal.)they just arent going get purchase on the lands (Ive seen bores like this). Ideally the groove dia. is what needs to match your bullet dia. so it 'seals' up the bore and prevents gas etching of the grooves when  getting past the bullet.
A soft lead slug or round ball (buckshot) just over nominal bore dia. is best. A cast lead bullet for the caliber may work, but it doesnt have to be full length or it can get hard to 'hammer' through. Just cut off the cyl. portion about 2/3 of the shank length. Squeeze in a vice a little to oversize it a tad, slop the bore up good with slippery lube and tap it in with a soft faced hammer, then work it downbore with a rod. You do not want the blunt tip of the rod digging into the barrel. Wrap it with tape to just under bore dia. to help hold it centered on the slug. I have a selection of solid rods to choose from; if you do this with a cleaning rod you want something threaded in the tip to keep from wrecking the threads. Many are 8x32, so get a brass screw that fits, chuck it in a drill, and file the head until it slips into the muzzle. It will now center the rod tip and stop the potential damage. Save it for another occassion. Then you need to measure to the thousandths the slug and your bullets, and take notes as you go. 

[Catahoulajim]

Thanks for the bore slugging info.  I will get to it this week and post my findings and follow up actions.

Jim

[quickdtoo]

It's long passed time to send it back to H&R, that would be my next move, their standard of accuracy is 2" or less 3-shot 100yd groups with factory ammo, let them fix it!  It could be a poorly fitted barrel, overbore, bad chamber, etc, lots of things you have no control over. They're real good about making repairs on firearms that are long out of warranty, even second hand, they're fast too as long as parts inventory isn't a problem.  

Tim

http://www.hr1871.com/Support/repairs.asp

[STUMPJMPR]

I saw you said you floated the forend/barrel.  I find pressure lenghtwise messes with these guns a alot.  When I changed forends and receivers on my .243 barrel I went from  a 1" group to 8-10" plus.  The length of the forend was too tight.  It took a slight wack to to install it.  I sanded the plastic spacer until it slipped on with no pressure.  My groups shrank back to the 1" range. 

[trotterlg]

You have already spend more on ammo than the gun cost you.  At some point with any problem you just have to accept that there may be no solution to the problem and move on.  Larry

[snapcrackpop]

Did you check or re-touch the crown?

I like my actions to open easily, if they don't I sand the forearm where it contacts the reciever till it does.

[Catahoulajim]

My forend goes on by lightly squeezing between idex finger, barrel, and thumb.  The barrel will open on its own by pressing the release button.  Maybe I will try shooting without forend if slugging measurements are acceptable. 

I have spent as much on ammo as the gun cost, but many threads have stated they might not start grouping til the barrel is well broken in.  If I could shoot in my backyard, and didn't have so many other hobbies, it wouldn't have taken this long.  I do enjoy a good challenge and this has been a good learning experience.  My hobbies often involve things that most people say aren't worth fixing.   Its all good!



 

[trotterlg]

As long as you want it for a hobby rifle and don't have to actucally shoot something with it, you have probably found your perfect gun.  Larry

[gcrank1]

Good for you for not being totally bummed out by this; you sound like I guy I could ride the river with.

[necchi]

Sounds like that darn 308 when I first got it,. Sitting at the bench one day scratchin my bald spot and handleing the rifle tryin to figgure out what it wants, I noticed some side to side movement (bink! the light goes on)
Got it home and really started looking and sure enough I wasn't getting a precise lock up each time,



That's what I found, I could push it to the other side and get .003 !! Tough part was when I followed the faqs it would lock up tight on a piece of foil on top. and you could see NO light through there. I added a thin .001 shim and it solved the problem. Now (with hand loads) I'm getting sub moa.  

Look in the faqs again under lateral movment and you'll find a few tips
here's the link;
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,205311.msg1099075154.html#msg1099075154

[Catahoulajim]

Hey Guys,

Went to my shop and slugged the barrel, measured .285 max diameter.   When I got home saw the barrel fit post, my gun appears to fit tightly against the receiver without noticable play.  With forend removed I can get minute lateral movement, but so little I don't think it would even take a .001 shim. 

Thanks for the support,
JIm

[LHitchcox]

Have you tried to shoot it with the forearm removed and the receiver on on the front rest? If you are having forearm issues that will show it by giving a tighter group. If it shoots the same, you have something else wrong.

[STUMPJMPR]

The minute lateral movement seems like your problem.  Any lateral movement can translate into a big group at 100 yards.  Since you already altered the gun I would suggest fitting the barrel to the receiver as described in the Faq's.

[Catahoulajim]

Shooting with the forearm removed and front resting under the receiver looks like my next move, but it may be a week and a half before I can get to the range.  Open to all sugestions.

[Catahoulajim]

Will review barrel fitting procedure and compare what I am calling minute lateral play to my other good shooting Handi's.

Thanks,
Jim

[briannmilewis]

Will review barrel fitting procedure and compare what I am calling minute lateral play to my other good shooting Handi's.

Thanks,
Jim

You know if you fix this rifle, they will have to chisel the smile off your face after a few months because it will have frozen that way.

[gcrank1]

How did the rifling engraving of the slug look and measure and what do your jacketed bullets measure.

[bikerbeans]

Might check the torque on the stock bolt.

[Catahoulajim]

Slug measured  .285 Bullets measure the same with a dial caliper, will have to look at grooving.  I have previously checked stock torque.

[blind ear]

.  My hobbies often involve things that most people say aren't worth fixing.   Its all good!



 

A man after my own heart.    Does it string in any dirrection or just scatter the rounds? Have you smoked the locking lever lug and shelf to check contact? Do the fired cases show any smoke stains anywhere? any faint rings at the case neck or case body? Have you tried go - no go guages in the chamber? A chamber cast?  I am just groping for clues as I guess you feel that you are doing. ear

[jeepmann1948]

How does the crown look?

[STUMPJMPR]

The slug should have measured .284 but .001 oversize wouldn't cause too big of groups.

[Catahoulajim]

Haven't looked closely at the crown, smoked the locking lever, noticed smoke stains, or gauged the chamber.
It dosen't string in any particular direction.  Will follow up on all sugestions that my tool inventory will allow.
Thanks

[quickdtoo]

See the easy crown touch up in the FAQs, that's so easy a caveman could do it!!! 

Merry Christmas!!

Tim