Author Topic: inconsistency (Read 848 times)

6-24x42 · « **on:** January 25, 2006, 12:47:40 PM »

just got back from the range and have hostile emotions toward my rifle. every other shot was 1.5 inches high, then right back to zero. it continued this way until I got frustrated and left (plus I couldn't feel my fingers due to the frigid Wisconsin winter. Why do I live here)_any suggestions will be appreciated.

Norseman112 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2006, 01:15:07 PM »

Yes it is cold here today. How many shots before it went back to zero? also how are you cleaning the rifle?

John

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2006, 01:21:34 PM »

Sounds to me like a loose mount or bad scope issue or inconsistent lock up.

Tim

243tom · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2006, 01:22:46 PM »

Pack everything up that you need and move to warmer climates......LOL

Oh yah,,and shoot the gun dirty........it makes for better groups.

Paul5388 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2006, 04:29:06 PM »

Dirty usually means the same dirt you've been shooting, ie don't be switching bullets and/or powder. It normally takes me two or three shots to foul the barrel to get it to shoot right again.

This time, I think Tim is right and it's probably the scope and/or mount.

trotterlg · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2006, 05:43:59 PM »

Vertical stringing is a Handi trait. Close the breach the same way each time you load it, also point the barrel straight up and tap the butt on the table to settle the powder in the rear of the case, then lower the barrel slowly and shoot. Handi's have kind of a weak fireing pin strike and can have inconsistant ignition. Larry

6-24x42 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2006, 06:17:56 PM »

The last time I cleaned it I just ran a wire brush down the barrel. Even after 15 shells it was still consistently inconsistent. like I said one shell would be on target and the next one 1.5 inches high, followed by one dead on, and so on. I could see inconsistent lockup as I had some problems with it when I first got it springing open but since then I have had no instances.

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2006, 06:53:33 PM »

If it was springing open, it had a lockup issue--how was it resolved? Did the rifle go back to the factory for repair, was work done on the latch or underlug? Did it just stop, for some unknown reason?

Without being there to observe your technique, it's hard to say, but could it be that you are holding the rifle a bit differently each shot? or that one time you're leaning into the rifle, and the next time, not or not as much?

Do all the high hits group, as well as the "zero" hits, are you getting two distinct groups, one at POA and one 1.5" higher?

How about your ammo- is it factory or handloads? BTW, what caliber are we talking about, anyway?

How many rounds did you fire before getting disgusted/frozen enough to leave?

What distance were you shooting at?

Temperature can have a large effect on how ammo works--for instance, a round that sits in a warm or hot chamber for several seconds will shoot different from one that's been out in the cold and gets chambered and fired in a shorter interval.

Whatever is going on, if it's giving two small groups 1.5" apart, at, say 100 yds, then I wouldn't be too unhappy--but it would be nice to know what's going on.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2006, 06:57:52 PM »

That's definatly a wierd one..I've had scopes go bad on me..and the durn thing would be all over the place on each shot..but never like that.... :shock:

Mac

mt3030 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2006, 07:04:56 PM »

I'm betting on a bad scope. Something bouncing between two positions. I've had that happen to me.

Ranger J · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2006, 04:51:49 AM »

What caliber barrel were you shooting? I am experiencing somewhat similar results with My .44 mag. As a last resort I have switched scopes but have not had a chance to take it to the range yet. I cant blame the weather here though, I just havent found the time.
RJ

safetysheriff · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2006, 11:53:34 AM »

i am wondering if you are shooting handloads or factory fodder? either way, because i've seen it in Sellier and Bellot factory stuff, it's possible you are shooting bullets from two different lots -- causing the "consistent" inconsistency.

i once pulled just two bullets from some S & B .223 fmj's and found the crimping grooves in different places on those two projectiles. the loads came from the "same lot" / same box !!! (what kind of factory stunt is that?)
it was no wonder my groups couldn't be shrunk to a reasonable size.

if you buy bulk, like i have from midway usa, you can sometimes see that they've bulked together bullets from different lots ! that's a ridiculous mistake to make by either midway or by remington, but i've seen it. and if the bullet is seated to a different depth inside the case the pressures can change and the point of impact will, too, as a result.

take care,

ss'

6-24x42 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2006, 04:17:55 PM »

I went out again today and got pretty much the same results. However the wind was whipping up and it got cold fast. I think it was partially my technique. my last two shots at the range were as close as I could get in the weather we had. in order to clear up some of the questions:

1.)It is a 223 handi rifle with the O-ring trick a survivor stock (this started to happen when I put that on but I simply like it too much to take it off.) bipod, and a 6-24x42 cheap barska scope. (wouldn't surprise me if this was the problem but I figured the same as Mac, all over the page.

2.)I am shooting 52gr hollowpoints from ultramax. They are a remanufactured ammo. Have had 0.5 inch groupings with them.

3.) The ammo was all stored in the same place under the same conditions.

4.)I am getting two distinct groupings. one right on the money and one 1.5 inches high.

5.) The lockup issue just mysteriously resolved itself.

I would like to get this issue resolved as soon as possible because I just found another fox to go after tonight while shooting.

Hagen · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2006, 11:46:27 AM »

Many months ago I had my .223 Handi rebarreled with a .308. I was excited to get to the range and give it a try. I had very high hopes that this new gun would be a tack driver. At 25 yards on a sight-in target I had shots hitting all over the place. I tried different loads with the same results. I went home mad and frustrated.

After a few weeks I made a post on this forum describing my problem. One responder commented that the M80 ball that I was using was junk. Still another suggested that the crown of the barrel might be untrue. One more suggested that I try another scope and see what would happen.

Well I have shot M80 ball by the hundreds in an M14 with satisfactory results and I could see no problem with the barrel crown. The scope that I was using was brand new. I replaced the scope with another tried and true scope and my groups from my Handi were now shooting within the same hole, or pretty darn close. I love that gun!! :grin:

Hagen · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2006, 11:48:34 AM »

Many months ago I had my .223 Handi rebarreled with a .308. I was excited to get to the range and give it a try. I had very high hopes that this new gun would be a tack driver. At 25 yards on a sight-in target I had shots hitting all over the place. I tried different loads with the same results. I went home mad and frustrated.

After a few weeks I made a post on this forum describing my problem. One responder commented that the M80 ball that I was using was junk. Still another suggested that the crown of the barrel might be untrue. One more suggested that I try another scope and see what would happen.

Well I have shot M80 ball by the hundreds in an M14 with satisfactory results and I could see no problem with the barrel crown. The scope that I was using was brand new. I replaced the scope with another tried and true scope and my groups from my Handi were now shooting within the same hole, or pretty darn close. I love that gun!! :grin: