Author Topic: bad day at the range= tinkering time  (Read 785 times)

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Offline beckerhead

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« on: October 11, 2005, 11:37:21 AM »
After a horrible day at the range yesterday 3" and 4" groups from a previous sub 1" gun I was out of my mind with what and why? I knew the super clean bbl would shoot a bit different, (bore foam followed by iosso lap X4) but this was crazy! Got home and started from the top down. I found 3 loose screws on my rail, fixed that. Saw a rub mark from the plastic forearm retainer on the bbl so I sanded off the high spot on the plastic. Added an "O" ring and snugged it down. I had to work so I sent it to the range with my dad. 41 clicks and 9 shots later it was back to about 1 1/4" groups. Bearing in mind that pop doesn't hold too steady I should be able to get 'em back under 1". I am shooting 150 Fed. power-shok speer grand slams right now, may change if I can't get under 1". By the way, the gun is a 308 ultra. I guess I didn't clean my screw holes good enough before, I think that is the biggest culprit. But I have been wanting to try the "o" ring and see if it helps, and that side pressure from the forearm retainer couldn't help either. Will let you know after the weekend.

Offline AZ223

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2005, 05:12:08 PM »
Sometimes, a bad day at the range is just a bad day at the range. You know the saying, "tighten the nut behind the stock." But I've found that it works best to make changes to equipment methodically. Keep track of what you're doing, and do one thing at a time rather than several. If you're changing the rifle (such as O-ring, etc.), keep the ammo the same as what has worked in the past. If you're changing loads, leave changes to the rifle alone. Some days I've made myself crazy making changes, set it back to the way I started, then went out a week later and shot a dime-size group at 100. Good luck; I know it's frustrating. But have fun! If the targets start making me crazy, I grab a bag full of lemons (all over the place here in Phoenix) and go to the desert and blast 'em! Then when the bees come out attracted to the smell, I pick them off with my 10/22. :) Does wonders for confidence...
Life was so much simpler when I thought I knew everything...

Offline lostsniper308

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2005, 05:05:01 PM »
join the club man. I've got a .308 Ultra and curious me decided to change not just the load but the rifle's set up a 1" went to...well....patterning. So now i'm just getting it to shoot consistantly with Super-X 150s at 50yrds for Deer season. As for these rub marks, where is the blueing worn off for it to be from the plastic retainer?
B Co. 1-22Inf 1st BCT 4th Infantry Division
OIF 08-09 out of the army now

Offline jack19512

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2005, 06:11:33 PM »
I know exactly how you feel.  Had one of those days myself not long ago.   :grin:

Offline DanielWGriggs

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2005, 09:14:55 PM »
guess everyonce in a while we all need to make lemonade. Thanks AZ. I love the .22's myself.

Offline Mac11700

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2005, 05:42:05 AM »
Boy oh Boy...do I know bad days at the range...on those you wonder why you even got out of bed...take for example the other day...went over to the public shooting range...got all set up to chronograph my 25-06 loads and get sighted in...well...a couple pictures is worth 10,000 words...



My first group thru the crony...I notice my shots are starting to string...but my target looks funny...so I adjust the scope a-little...hmm...time to switch over to the center bull...



My scope is set to 2.8 power...and I take my next 3 shots...then move it up to 10x...and this is what I see...I've only fired 6 shots so-far...So...I yell at the Father-Son..in the both to my left...and he say...He's not shooting on your target...I'm lining him up...well...he was lining him up alright...dead on mine...

Sometimes it all our fault...other times...it's not...and it's the idiots that we have to deal with...these 2 didn't let up...and continued shooting my targets...so I gave up for the day...and headed home...

Went back 2 days later with it...and could not keep anything on the paper..I was totally disgusted...I .realized after getting home the scope moved...and I took it off..added a drop of loctite to the plastic rings (Burris Signatures)...and added large o-ring to the forend...I went back a few days after that...it was off the paper...and took 10 rounds to get back to the 2 on top...adjusted it down...and shot the 3 that are 2" above the bull......then decieded to try shooting left hand for the last 3...Hah...that isn't soo good...but atleast it would have been a kill :wink:


Dealing with idiots is a real pain...if they aren't shooting up your targets...they are blasting away with all magnums...and AK-47's...or something...consintration goes out the window real quick when someone touches off a 300 Weatherby mag next to you...the muzzle blast from theirs rips you...

Bad part...I have to try it again tommorrow...I took off the o-ring...and bedded the forearm in the barrel screw slot. and sanded open the barrel channel a-lot including the plastic spacer where it was touching..to see if it will help...if not...I'll have to bed in front and back of the stud and shoot it again...





Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline quickdtoo

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2005, 06:02:01 AM »
Lookin good on the bedding job!!! A full range report is required, ya know!!!! :wink:
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Mac11700

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2005, 06:17:58 AM »
I know...I got some 110 grain Accubonds loaded as well to try first...I got foaming bore cleaner in it right now..soaking a-little...and then I'll finish it before I head into to work..

Time for some yard work now...cause I'll be scouting and placing stands this weekend...for deer hunting...

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline Norseman112

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2005, 07:54:50 AM »
Mac,
I hope your bedding job(looks good btw) gives you great results...I think it should serve you well.

Norse

Offline Mac11700

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2005, 08:06:34 AM »
Me too :agree:

I can always add a little more if needed...instead of having to sand it all back down...the groups tightend up pretty good and stopped the verticle stringing with the large o-ring...so...this is why I sanded it down even more before I added the Acraglas..I have about 1/8" gap around the barrel...so it won't touch...cause these 25-06's get really hot fast...

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline myarmor

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2005, 12:05:26 PM »
Well while we are on the subject.......I am there too.
I went to my range today, perfect conditions, and get mediocre results.
30-06 UltraComp, is the culprit. Shot 3 brands.  Winchester 150gr Super-X
PMP 168gr Soft Point, and PMC 147 FMJ's.
Super-X's printed the best but not buy much. About 1 -1/4"
The PMP's about 1-3/4"
The PMC FMJ's....forget about it. 4" away. :)
 I know that I am using somewhat cheap ammo, and that on the up side I am in the boiler room. But for me, unless 1" I get, I am disappointed.
I guess I am going to have to go after some better ammo.
Federals are on my list next range time.

Offline Mac11700

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2005, 03:29:47 AM »
Arron:

Federal Fusion is my prefered factory load....I don't remember if you did but you really need to polish the bore as well.FWIW...I don't even waste my range time with the cheap type ammo anymore..it just isn't worth it.I know it gets expensive...but you can go to Nosler Pro Shop...and get factory seconds on just about all of the premium line..for 1/2 price or better.Looking at the new Fusion bullet..it seems to have a bit longer ogive than some of the others...so I would say to try handloading some Partitions and see how they do...or some Accubonds...or my favorite's ...the Combined Technology Silver Ballistic Tips...http://www.noslershop.com/2ndsheader.html

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline Mac11700

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2005, 08:19:38 AM »
Well...I'm back from the range with really disapointing results...my groups were all over the paper with both the very accurate factory Winchester Supreme 115 grainers and some 110 grain Accubonds handloads...from what I can tell...my new Atec scope has let go..it won't zero at all...the rings and scope base it tight and not moving this time.....even at 25 yards with the forend pulled off I couldn't keep it under 3-4"...so it's history...I'll send it in and have it replaced then sell it on the forum to someone when I get it back...

My 338-06 did soooooo much better today with my handloads...but that's for another thread...

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline quickdtoo

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2005, 08:27:18 AM »
Sorry to hear that about the Aetec, it has a good reputation from all I've read about it.....hope mine on the Whelen works well. Maybe Simmons will replace it with one of the new Master series which is getting rave reviews from the gun rag writers. Looking forward to the .338-06 range report!!! :agree: :agree: :agree:
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Mac11700

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #14 on: October 14, 2005, 08:43:39 AM »
Me too Tim...me too...I just posted on the 338-06...

Mac
You can cry me a river... but...build me a bridge and then get over it...

Offline beckerhead

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bad day at the range= tinkering time
« Reply #15 on: October 18, 2005, 09:04:37 AM »
Well, I went to the range Sun. and with about 7 or 8 pistoleros, and SKS heads bangin' away around me still turned in 4 better groups than last trip. average was still over 1" but no stringing, or crazy fliers. I know tightening the mounts helped, but considering it was about 90F and my gun no likeee the heat I am convinced that the "O" ring kept me a little tighter overall. One interesting tip I scavenged from a benchrest forum was after cleaning to swab the bbl with graphite in alcohol solution, let dry about 2-3 min. and run a dry patch down the bbl. This eliminates the foulers needed for my gun, and most others I know of. I always hated keeping a dirty bbl all season long, OR wasting ammo on some "nobody knows where it goes" fouling shots. It really  worked well for me, you might want to try it. I use an old eye dropper with 3 or 4 good puffs of graphite and about a tbsp. of 90% alcohol. It is basically controlled carbon fouling, only alot less abrasive. the benchnuts say it also cuts copper fouling down quite a bit.