Author Topic: Frustration with 7-08 solved! (Read 1173 times)

44 Man · « **on:** September 19, 2012, 11:36:57 AM »

Finally! She's shooting like she should. I got a new 'compact' 7-08 barrel a bit ago and was very excited to finally get one. So I have this sweet compact barrel on my case colored .45 colt frame and it's set up with a synthetic stock. My kind of gun; lightwt, compact, and very 'handi'. I thought I'd get some range time and maybe take it deer hunting this year. So I set it up with a compact Burris 2-7 that fit right in with the whole 'compact' concept. The first range session was very frustrating as I chased bullet holes all over the paper. Well maybe it needs more 'break-in' time. So back I go with more ammo after checking the mount and rings. Still chasing holes all over the paper, but as I ran out of ammo, it seemed to all come together. The third time I thought all I would have to do is fine tune the elevation and I'd be good to go. First shot should have been just above the bull's eye but hit 8" left and 6" high! So I put it in the truck in disgust and checked my loads for my Winchester featherwt 30-06. When I got home I pulled out an old Simmons 3x9 and mounted it up on the 7-08 thinking I'd give it a lsst try. Back to the range today and guess what? It sighted right in with 6 rounds and is just perfect! So I put the burris back on and I was back to erratic scattered shots again. The gun shoots fine, but that Burris needs to go back to the factory! So I will be taking it out this weekend for the early hunt. It is a nice handling, fine shooting gun now. I shot well over 100 rounds of ammo in this venture and was almost ready to give up in disgust. I'm glad I tried the Simmons scope. I've never had a scope that I couldn't depend on before so I kept trying long past when I should have. I'm glad it's solved; I'm relieved and very comfortable with the way the gun shoots now. Whew! It really had me worried! 44 Man

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2012, 11:40:56 AM »

Glad ya got that one figured out, just shows to go ya that even the best of scopes can fail.

Tim

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2012, 11:52:30 AM »

I some times fall into "expected" results. When I do that I think the problem is this or that. I should think broadly about every thing, including the scope. I think bedding, pressure on the barrel free floating the barrel, or up pressure, etc. If I had a Burris (or other quality) scope, it would be one of the last things I would think was the problem. Just goes to show you

I am glad you got the problem figured out, it sure makes you feel good when you do

Good Luck and Good Shooting

cwlongshot · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2012, 02:45:51 PM »

Great news!

Its very satisfying to find and fix a problem!! Reminds me of my problems with my 500... ch4ecked everything, swapped scopes, diff ammo... When I took the scope off a second time, I found the rings recoil shoulder had cracked!!

CW

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2012, 03:09:23 PM »

Quote from: 44 Man on September 19, 2012, 11:36:57 AM

The first range session was very frustrating as I chased bullet holes all over the paper. Well maybe it needs more 'break-in' time. So back I go with more ammo after checking the mount and rings. Still chasing holes all over the paper, but as I ran out of ammo, it seemed to all come together. The third time I thought all I would have to do is fine tune the elevation and I'd be good to go. First shot should have been just above the bull's eye but hit 8" left and 6" high! ... When I got home I pulled out an old Simmons 3x9 and mounted it up on the 7-08 thinking I'd give it a last try. Back to the range today and guess what? It sighted right in with 6 rounds and is just perfect! So I put the burris back on and I was back to erratic scattered shots again. The gun shoots fine, but that Burris needs to go back to the factory! ... It is a nice handling, fine shooting gun now. I shot well over 100 rounds of ammo in this venture and was almost ready to give up in disgust. I'm glad I tried the Simmons scope. I've never had a scope that I couldn't depend on before so I kept trying long past when I should have. I'm glad it's solved; I'm relieved and very comfortable with the way the gun shoots now. Whew! It really had me worried! 44 Man

Sounds like me, except I haven't been back to the range with the 7-08 since. I had a feeling it was the scope, since I had it on paper at 25 yards, but it couldn't hit the target at 50 yards, let alone 100.
I'll give it another shot, after I change the scope and when I have time to reload some more rounds.
Glad it worked out for you.

thejanitor · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2012, 03:10:49 PM »

I am very glad since you are the one who shared the load data that got my 7-08s to dial in Hope you put some meat in the freezer with it! Good luck and be safe. -Brent

briannmilewis · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2012, 07:16:42 PM »

Thanks for helping the rest of us not waste our time in the future!!!

petemi · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2012, 10:40:51 PM »

Funny thing Lewis. I was going through the exact same thing with Patty's Maxi about the same time you had your problem. Turned out the same way after lots of ammo. Bad scope. I put a cheapo spare on it, sighted it in, no problems. Her new scope and rings will be here Monday.

Pete

scratchmark · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2012, 11:32:12 PM »

Now that makes me wonder. i went ta sight in my 7-08 a couple weeks ago and the first 3 holes at 100yrds were about an 1 1/2 group, but when a tried to adjust my point of aim, i started hasing holes as well and just gave up for now. Better check that scope.

petemi · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2012, 12:15:41 AM »

I got Patty's maxi barrel back after being cut and crowned. I put her old scope back on it and bore sighted it. I then "put it on paper" with .38s at 25 yards. That seemed to take a lot more than it should have. I moved it out to 75 yards and changed to maxis. It'd throw a couple 4 or 5 inches right and left high, then the same low, couldn't dial it in. I changed scopes, went through the drill again and ended with two touching in the quarter size bull and one an inch left that I know I pulled.

Pete

44 Man · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2012, 06:12:28 AM »

I'm glad I have my friends to comiserate with! I never would have spent all that ammo except that the barrel was new and an unknown as to how it would shoot. When the bullets scattered all over 8" to 10", I didn't know if that was the barrel, the fit, the ammo, needing breaking in, or the scope. I have checked Burris's website and this scope has the 'forever' warranty so it is going back next week! Thanks for sharing your stories with me. 44 Man

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2012, 06:22:12 AM »

Thanks guys, for the reminder of why I like open sights

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2012, 12:32:13 PM »

Wish I could see open sights. I bought an old style Pro Staff off the classifieds a few weeks ago. Mounted it on my 357 and it's all over the place at 30 yds

It shot milk jugs pretty good at 150 yds. with the old cheap Tasco I had on it, so now I load a couple different loads and give it another shot. Then I guess put the Tasco back on and see. Need to find out about the warranty if any on a used Pro Staff scope. Years ago I got rid of a beautiful Winchester and then found the scope was bad

Glad you got it figured out. It's frustrating wasting time and ammo.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #13 on:** September 20, 2012, 01:07:56 PM »

I see a kinda ironic common thread here...

Myself is also included as I have a old cheapo Simmons scope in the cabinet that I use to test scopes in question... I also had one of my favorite Leupold's fail me once. I bought it that way, but it was broken just the same.

The irony is we all know and have our own higher priced scopes. We all use at least a couple of them. yet we all seem to have a cheapo on the shelf or on another gun or in some way avalible to us that we know or that we have relied upon when the "high end" scope fails.

Kinda funny...

My eyes are "going" heading toward 50 has done it to me.

But I can still see and use open sites, I just wont use them for big game... I have done it three times. All three times I could not shoot accurately so I passed on the shot... TWICE it was the biggest rack buck I havent yet shot...

The first was a 169" 10 pointer. He was thru a screen of prickers, at about 75 yards walking away form me. I had a Ruger 77-44 with open sites. I scoped it the next day... Later that next year one of my students showed me a picture of the big buck he shot the season before. He even described the area and one of my stands. He said he had the rack scored too, one hundred seventy something points. After deductions 169". Very nice deer for Connecticut.

The next was opening day of muzzle loader season, it was drizzly so I left the scope off the rifle and headed into the woods after work. Looking thru binoculars I see this tree that resembled a deers horns, only larger...then the "tree" moved... I was looking at a bedded buck, about 60-70 yards out!! It was THE largest horns I had seen on a deer. I tried to see the deer without the binoculars, no dice. He was invisible, I watched him for 10-15 minutes all the while trying to change position to be able to see him for a shot... no dice. The the wind shifted and he slipped away without a sound or unnecessary movement. I had no shot cause I could not see him... This isn't gonna happen again, I'll stick with a scope for a hunting at least deer hunting rifle!

CW

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2012, 04:47:51 PM »

I'm only 39 but I know my time is coming when I won't be able to see the sights well anymore. Until then I'm going to cherish the days in the woods that I don't have to carry the extra 3/4 to 1 lb of scope weight.

I can't shoot as well with opens as I did before my last eye exam. The eye dr. told me my left (dominant) eye had gotten stronger so I was seeing 20/15 in that eye. He "fixed" it back to 20/20 but I should have told him to keep it that way.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #15 on:** September 20, 2012, 06:44:42 PM »

Quote from: bigvarmnt on September 20, 2012, 12:32:13 PM

Wish I could see open sights. I bought an old style Pro Staff off the classifieds a few weeks ago. Mounted it on my 357 and it's all over the place at 30 yds It shot milk jugs pretty good at 150 yds. with the old cheap Tasco I had on it, so now I load a couple different loads and give it another shot. Then I guess put the Tasco back on and see. Need to find out about the warranty if any on a used Pro Staff scope. Years ago I got rid of a beautiful Winchester and then found the scope was bad

Glad you got it figured out. It's frustrating wasting time and ammo.

bigvarmnt - Send the scope back to Nikon, they have a great warranty. They'll either repair it or send you another scope.

I had a similar situation, I had a real old Tasco scope (over twenty years old) which was made in Japan. A couple of years ago, I took the rifle it was mounted on to check zero for hunting season. Couldn't see a darn thing out of it. I sent it back, since Tasco no longer made that model, they sent me a Tasco World Class 2-7, to replace it. Nikon should have an equivalent guarantee, I know when I lost a scope cap, they sent a replacement at no charge.

44 Man · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2012, 01:45:41 AM »

Yes, it is funny how we fall back on the 'cheap' scope to cover us. This Simmons 3-9 actually came on an old pump air rifle I bought for $15. The crosshairs were turned because of the 'reverse' recoil that is so hard on scopes. I called Simmons and was told they have a lifetime warranty and to send it in. They replaced it with this one I now have on the 7-08. Actually I'm not sure why it has not had a permanent home before now. It is as clear and sharp as this Burris, and actually sharper than an 'upscale' Bushnell Trophy that I have on my 30-06! I like that it is about half the weight of those two scopes also. Maybe I'll stop trying to save to 'upgrade' my scopes to big name brands and just buy a couple more Simmons Master scopes from Midway for $59. 44 Man

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #17 on:** September 21, 2012, 02:41:08 AM »

It was a Simmons that failed and made me get rid of that nice Win 22-250 M70. But I think it can happen to any scope. I was a lot younger then and learned a little from the experience. I will try the 357 with Pro Staff some more. I'll check everything loads, base and mounting. I like the older Pro Staffs before they enlarged the BELL

I'm glad you got your 7-08 to shoot, it's a good feeling when it comes together.
I have a twin to that Pro Staff sitting in the safe that was going on another gun

OSR, if there's a problem I'll contact Nikon. Thanks

gcrank1 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2012, 03:35:10 AM »

I cant count the number of times Ive heard this 'same' tale through the years, even the 'sold it off' part (though I benefited from a buy on one of those

).
If you are chasing shots around the paper and the bore has rifling in it that the bullets fit................
On one rifle a friend had doing this I pulled the scope off and sighted down the rail. Shot 5 into the berm and they all went in pretty much the same place. A different scope worked fine.

Singlebarrel · « **Reply #19 on:** September 22, 2012, 11:13:36 AM »

I have, within the past 6 months sent two scopes back for repairs. One, a new 2/7-33 Leupold and the other a Weaver K-6. Service was excellent in both situations. Leupold rebuilt the scope to factory specs. Weaver replaced the scope as it had too many problems to repair.
It is always, for me anyway, hard to blame something on the scope until I have exhausted all of the variables. With a new scope on a new gun, a shooter can run himself around in circles for a long time before he gets it figured out.